Jekyll Lens

Jekyll Lens is a free photo gallery Jekyll theme that converts a GitHub Pages repository into a photography portfolio site without writing any code. This theme is designed for photographers and photo bloggers who want a simple, static website to display their images.

What is Jekyll Lens?

Jekyll Lens is a photo gallery theme built on the Jekyll Static Site Generator (SSG). It produces a static HTML website that can be hosted on GitHub Pages, so there is no server-side database or dynamic processing. The theme was created by ElasticDesigns, based on the HTML5 Lens template originally designed by HTML5UP.

Key Features

• Free and easy setup — Fork the repository, enable GitHub Pages, and your photo blog goes live at a GitHub Pages URL with no coding required.
• No coding required — All configuration happens through the _config.yml file, which includes inline comments explaining each key; images are dropped into the gallery folder.
• GitHub Pages hosting — The site is automatically generated and published when you enable GitHub Pages; a custom domain can also be attached if desired.
• Gallery-driven layout — Upload pictures to the gallery folder and they appear on the page; default images are included so you can see the layout immediately.
• Based on HTML5UP's Lens design — The visual design comes from the popular HTML5UP Lens template, enhanced for Jekyll by ElasticDesigns.

Who is it for?

• Photographers who need a clean online portfolio without building a site from scratch.
• Photo bloggers who want a minimal, text-light way to publish image series.
• Beginners with no web development experience who want to launch a site using GitHub Pages and a ready-made theme.

What can you do with it?

• Professional photographers: Display a portfolio of work with a simple gallery layout hosted at a custom domain.
• Hobbyist photographers: Share photo collections with friends and family via a free GitHub Pages URL.
• Photo bloggers: Publish a photography-focused blog that prioritizes images over text, without maintaining a CMS.

How does it work?

1. Fork the repository on GitHub.
2. Enable GitHub Pages from the repository settings; the site publishes automatically at a username.github.io/repository_name URL.
3. Edit _config.yml with site metadata; each key is explained in comments within the file.
4. Upload images to the gallery folder, replace the defaults, and the gallery updates.

Pricing

Jekyll Lens is free to use — the source repository is public on GitHub and the theme carries no license fee. The only cost you may incur is a custom domain if you choose to attach one to GitHub Pages.

FAQ

Is Jekyll Lens free?

Yes, Jekyll Lens is free. The repository is publicly available on GitHub, and no payment is required to fork or use the theme.

Do I need to know how to code?

No. Setup involves forking a repository, enabling GitHub Pages, editing a configuration file, and uploading images. No programming skills are required.

Where do I place my photos?

Add your images to the gallery folder inside the repository. You can remove the default images and replace them with your own files.

Can I use my own domain?

Yes, GitHub Pages supports custom domains. You can configure your own domain in the repository settings after enabling GitHub Pages.

How do I get help?

If you find a bug or have an idea, open an issue on the GitHub repository. Contributions are accepted via pull requests.