How to Move from Portfolio to PhotoBiz 9 Using AI Website Creator

Overview

If your current website is built on Portfolio, you can upgrade to PhotoBiz 9 using the PhotoBiz AI Website Creator. This process allows you to build a brand-new website on a temporary subdomain while your existing Portfolio site remains live and unchanged.

The AI Website Creator simplifies the transition by automatically generating your pages, layout, text content, images, and SEO settings. You do not need to rebuild your website from scratch.

You can take your time reviewing and customizing your new site before making it live. Nothing will change publicly until you decide to switch your domain.

Why Upgrade from Portfolio to PhotoBiz 9

Upgrading to PhotoBiz 9 is the only way to ensure your website is fully secure, mobile-friendly, and optimized for modern search engines.

Portfolio websites do not include current security and performance standards. Moving to PhotoBiz 9 ensures your website meets today’s expectations for both visitors and Google.

With PhotoBiz 9, your website will include:

SSL encryption for a secure website
Your site can be secured with HTTPS to protect visitor data and build trust
Mobile-responsive design
Your website will automatically adjust to look great on phones, tablets, and desktops
SEO-optimized pages and content
Your site structure, text, and metadata are built to improve visibility on Google
Modern design and faster performance
Your website will load efficiently and be easier to update over time

The AI Website Creator builds all of this into your site automatically.

Important: Your Current Website Stays Live

Your Portfolio website will remain live and unchanged during this entire process.

Your new PhotoBiz 9 website is built separately on a temporary subdomain. You can take your time reviewing and editing it before switching.

There is no deadline to go live. Nothing changes publicly until you decide to replace your current website.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, make sure:

You have access to your PhotoBiz account
You are currently using a Portfolio website
You have access to your images (existing or new)

STEP ONE

Access the Website Builder

Log into your PhotoBiz account and click WEBSITE in the left-side menu.

If you have not started your PhotoBiz 9 site yet, you will be prompted to begin setup. This launches the AI Website Creator for your new website.

STEP TWO

Select your website template

Choose a template from the available design options.

Click the Select button on your preferred template. The selected template will be highlighted.

Click CONTINUE in the right-side panel to move forward.

You can change your design later, so focus on choosing a general style you like.

If needed, you can skip the AI setup, but completing it now will save time by automatically generating your website content and layout.

STEP THREE

Upload your logo

Upload your logo in JPG or PNG format. If you already have a logo uploaded to your global branding, it will appear here automatically.

Once uploaded, your logo will appear in your website preview. You can replace it at any time.

If you do not upload a logo, your business name will automatically display as a text logo on your website.

You can use the Back button or the checklist on the right side of the screen to revisit previous steps if needed.

Click CONTINUE to proceed.

STEP FOUR

Add your images

Upload at least 25 images to your account.

These images are used by the AI Website Creator to automatically build your page layouts and design your website. Your images will also be optimized for performance and assigned image alt text for SEO and accessibility. If you already have images on your image clipboard, they will appear in this section.

If your images are currently on your Portfolio website, you can move them into your PhotoBiz 9 site using the Image Clipboard.

To access your Portfolio site:

Scroll to the bottom of your PhotoBiz control panel
Click Portfolio Site under Legacy Products

Inside your Portfolio site:

Open an image gallery
Select multiple images
Drag the selected images into the CLIPBOARD

Once added, your images will be available to use during setup.

If you prefer, you can also upload new images that are not currently on your website. This is a great opportunity to refresh your portfolio and update your overall look.

You do not need to recreate your entire website manually. The AI Website Creator builds your site automatically, and you can adjust your images later.

Click CONTINUE when your images are ready.

STEP FIVE

Add your business information

Enter your business details, including:

Business name
Location
Photography services or specialty
Style or approach
Brand voice
Language (English, Spanish, French, or Italian)

You will also choose the language used to generate your website content.

This information is used to create your website text, page titles, and SEO metadata.

When finished, click CREATE WEBSITE.

FINAL STEP

Review your new website

After clicking CREATE WEBSITE, your site will begin building.

This process typically takes about 12 minutes. During this time, PhotoBiz generates your pages, layouts, text content, image alt text, and SEO metadata.

Once complete, you can open the Website Editor to review your site.

Your new website will be available on a temporary subdomain, where you can:

Edit text and images
Update layouts and design
Add or remove pages
Customize your content

Your Portfolio site will remain live until you choose to switch.

Switching Your Website Live

When your new PhotoBiz 9 website is ready, you can replace your Portfolio site.

Go to DOMAINS in your PhotoBiz dashboard
Locate your active domain
Select the option to edit or change the main website
Choose your PhotoBiz 9 website

Your new website will then become your live site.

What to Expect After Switching Your Website Live

After you switch your domain to your new PhotoBiz 9 website, you will need to activate your SSL certificate to fully secure your site.

SSL encryption ensures your website displays as secure (HTTPS) in web browsers and helps protect your visitors.

To activate SSL:

Go to DOMAINS in your PhotoBiz dashboard
Locate your domain
Check the box confirming the change
Click Enable SSL

Once enabled, your SSL certificate will begin generating.

It can take up to 24 to 72 hours for SSL to fully activate. During this time:

Your website may temporarily show as “Not Secure”
Your Website Preview in the control panel may be temporarily unavailable
You may see a connection or loading message while SSL is being applied

This is normal and will resolve automatically once the process is complete.

No additional action is required. Once SSL activation finishes, your website will display as fully secure and encrypted across all pages.

What the AI Website Creator Does and Does Not Set Up

The AI Website Creator sets up

Core website pages
Page layouts and design
AI-generated website text
Image alt text
SEO meta titles and descriptions

The AI Website Creator does not set up

ECommerce products or services
Blog posts
Scheduler services
Client Galleries
Quotes & Invoices
Marketing tools or automations

These features can be set up later from their respective sections.

Additional Options or Helpful Notes

Your new website is built on a temporary subdomain until you go live
Your current Portfolio website is never affected during setup
You can edit all AI-generated content at any time
You can change templates, layouts, and images after setup
You can take your time before switching your domain
You can reset and rebuild your PhotoBiz 9 website using the AI Website Creator before going live if you want to start over

Troubleshooting or FAQs

Will this affect my current website?

No. Your Portfolio website stays live and unchanged until you switch your domain.

Do I need to rebuild everything manually?

No. The AI Website Creator builds your website automatically using your images and business details.

Can I still use content from my Portfolio site?

Yes. You can move images using the Clipboard or copy and paste text as needed.

Can I edit the AI-generated content?

Yes. All content can be edited at any time in the Website Editor.

What happens when I switch my domain?

Your PhotoBiz 9 website becomes your live website, replacing your Portfolio site.

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