TIMBER – An Unusual Photography WordPress Theme 1.9.5

TIMBER – An Unusual Photography WordPress Theme is widely considered a "cult classic" in the photography community. Developed by PixelGrade, it earned its name by breaking the traditional rules of web design. Instead of standard vertical scrolling and rigid grids, Timber uses a horizontal-first approach to mimic the feeling of flipping through a physical photo album or a film strip.

It is designed specifically for photographers who want their work to feel like an experience rather than just a gallery.

📋 Key Features & "Unusual" Design

Horizontal Scrolling: The primary navigation is lateral. As users scroll (or swipe on mobile), the images glide horizontally across the screen, creating a cinematic flow.

Smart Orientation: The theme automatically detects the orientation of your photos (portrait vs. landscape) and adjusts the layout to ensure there is no awkward cropping.

Dynamic Loading: Timber is incredibly fast because it uses "lazy loading" on a horizontal axis, only fetching high-res images as they are about to enter the viewport.

Filmstrip Navigation: A unique navigation bar at the bottom allows users to quickly "scrub" through a large gallery to find a specific shot.

📄 Essential Photography Templates

The "Front Page" Portfolio: A massive, edge-to-edge horizontal slider that serves as your digital handshake.

Proofing Galleries: A dedicated area for clients. You can create password-protected galleries where clients can view their photos and select their favorites (perfect for wedding or portrait photographers).

Metadata Support: Timber can automatically pull and display EXIF data (shutter speed, aperture, ISO) from your files, which is a great touch for technical or travel photographers.

The "Journal": A beautifully minimalist blog layout that focuses on long-form storytelling paired with large-scale imagery.

🛠️ Technical Specifications

PixelGrade Shortcodes: Instead of a heavy page builder, Timber uses a lightweight, custom shortcode system to keep the site fast and stable.

WooCommerce Ready: Unlike many niche photography themes, Timber is fully styled for commerce. You can sell physical prints or digital downloads with a minimalist cart that doesn't distract from the art.

Auto-Social Integration: It features a unique way of pulling Instagram or Flickr feeds into your main portfolio flow seamlessly.

🚀 Comparison: TIMBER vs. Photofolio

Feature

TIMBER

Photofolio

Scrolling

Horizontal (Unique)

Vertical (Traditional)

User Experience

Artistic / Experimental

Clean / Modern / Professional

Client Proofing

Built-in / Specialized

Requires Plugin

Best For

Narrative & Fine Art Photographers

Commercial & Studio Photographers

💡 Pro-Tip: The "Negative Space" Strategy

Because Timber is so immersive, it can feel overwhelming if every photo is high-contrast or busy.

The Action: Use the "Spacer" feature between groups of photos.

The Strategy: By inserting a blank, colored, or textured slide between different sets of images in your horizontal scroll, you give the viewer "visual breathing room." This makes the transition between different shoots feel intentional and professional.

Would you like me to show you how to set up the Password-Protected Client Proofing galleries, or do you need the recommended image compression settings to keep the horizontal scroll buttery smooth?