From Photographer to Platform Builder
Hi, I’m Andy Hornby – a professional photographer based in Portsmouth, UK. I’ve been shooting for over two decades, working across weddings, commercial projects, landscapes, portraits, and teaching countless workshops to photographers at all levels.
Over the years, I’ve used nearly every gallery and proofing platform on the market. Some looked great, others worked fine, but most had one thing in common – they were never really built with photographers in mind.
Too often, I found myself paying high monthly fees for features I didn’t need, complex dashboards that slowed me down, and systems that felt more corporate than creative. That’s when I started thinking – what if there was a better way?
Wedding client who no longer want to buy prints from the photographer, or get an over priced album, when they can download the iamgges and get that all done themselves, at a fraction of the cost
Creating FolioDen
I wanted something built for us – photographers who just want to share beautiful galleries with our clients, sell our work, and keep full control over our images and earnings. So, I started building FolioDen.
FolioDen isn’t another tech company trying to cash in on creatives. It’s a platform designed and developed by someone who’s spent years in the field, delivering photos to real clients and running a real business.
The idea was simple: make it sleek, make it easy, and make it fair. No unnecessary clutter, no hidden commissions, no steep learning curve – just clean, modern galleries that work beautifully on any device.
Built on Real Experience
Because I’m still an active photographer, every feature in FolioDen comes from practical experience. I know what it’s like when a client can’t download their images easily, or when a gallery takes forever to load on mobile. I’ve lived those frustrations, so FolioDen was built to solve them.
During our beta phase, I’m working directly with photographers who are using the platform every day. Their feedback shapes what comes next, from advanced tools for professionals to simple setups for beginners. Together, we’re building something truly made for our community.
What’s Next
As FolioDen grows, we’ll continue to introduce new tools to help photographers run their businesses more efficiently – from client management to sales tracking and marketing automation. But one thing will never change: it will always be built by a photographer, for photographers.
Join the Revolution
If you haven’t already, sign up for a free lifetime beta account at FolioDen.com and see what makes it different. Let’s take back control of our art, our galleries, and our earnings – one upload at a time.
Andy Hornby
Founder of FolioDen
World-Renowned, Internationally Published Photographer
Published on October 19, 2025