Ishmael Zouitni
Ishmael Zouitni is a freelance photographer based in Rotterdam, specializing in event and cultural photography. His work focuses on capturing authentic atmospheres, people, and moments from concerts, festivals, and cultural gatherings.
Role
UX/UI Designer & Developer, responsible for design, CMS integration, and development.
Tools
Challenges
& the goal
Before this project, Ishmael Zouitni had no professional website, only an Instagram profile. This limited his ability to present work in an organized way, offer curated collections, or maintain long-term visibility with potential clients.
The project aimed to build a professional online portfolio that elevated his photography, allowed for dynamic photo galleries, and ensured a fast, mobile-first experience. The site needed to reflect Ishmael’s creative quality while remaining simple and easy to update.
My Approach
I designed a minimalist, dark-themed portfolio that prioritized clarity and focus on the imagery. Drawing inspiration from editorial websites, I kept the interface subtle and unobtrusive, letting each photo speak for itself. The homepage showcases five curated images to set the tone, while galleries are organized by event and category for intuitive browsing.
To give Ishmael full independence, I integrated Statamic CMS. This enabled him to upload and manage photo albums without code, ensuring long-term flexibility. On the UX side, I implemented responsive gallery layouts, lazy loading, and lightweight interactions to keep the experience smooth across devices. With so few UI elements, spacing, rhythm, and interaction carried the design, striking a balance between simplicity and structure.
Outcome
The final website gave Ishmael a professional platform beyond Instagram, where his work could be experienced in a focused, high-quality environment. Key results included:
- A polished, high-end portfolio aligned with his creative identity
- Easy self-management of photo albums via CMS
- Improved credibility and booking opportunities with clients.