Lumina
Curated photography portfolio platform designed for visual storytelling.
Overview
Lumina is a portfolio platform built specifically for photographers who want their work to speak without distraction. It offers a curated set of layouts, transitions, and typography choices — each designed to let the photography take center stage.
The Challenge
Existing portfolio builders either offered too much flexibility (leading to cluttered, inconsistent portfolios) or too little (generic templates that all looked the same). Photographers needed a middle ground — opinionated design with enough room for personal expression.
Approach
I designed the template system and the editing experience, collaborating with a small team of engineers and a photographer advisory board.
Key features
- Cinematic layouts — Full-bleed, edge-to-edge image grids with intelligent cropping that respects focal points.
- Story mode — A horizontal scroll experience that presents photo series as visual narratives, with optional captions that appear on interaction.
- Minimal editor — A stripped-back editing interface that presents only the choices that matter: layout, typography, and spacing. No color pickers, no custom CSS.
Results
Lumina launched with twelve curated templates and attracted three thousand photographers during its first quarter. Portfolio load times averaged under one second thanks to aggressive image optimization. The platform was featured in several design publications for its restraint and focus on craft.