The Dimpled Spider

While having a custom-made website allows you to make your visual representation vision a complete reality, using WordPress (and other customizable blog formats) for your website saves you hundreds AND allows you to easily update whenever you have the need. After a thorough, though by no means complete, search for the top portfolio themes for WordPress, these are my favorite 20.

BRICK + MASON

• Supports Google custom fonts library
• Slideout sidebar
• Infinite scrolling
• Advanced grid layout
• Valid HTML5 markup
• Unlimited color options
• Dark and light skin options
• Easy logo customization
• WordPress menu support
• Full width page template included
• Super easy admin panel using the OptionTree Plugin
• Easy thumbnail images with built-in WordPress system
• FREE version upgrade if you purchased this theme
• Advanced jQuery animations and effects

APOLO

• Fullscreen Video Background Support
• Fullscreen HTML5 Video Background Support
• Fullscreen Images Background Support
• Audio Background while viewing images
• 40+ Cufon Font to choose
• YouTube & Vimeo Support
• Fullscreen Galleries
• HTML5 & CSS3
• 30+ Shortcodes
• Amazing Shortcode Generator
• Translate Ready
• Portfolio & Slider Custom Post Types
• Real Support for Facebook & Twitter
• Sidebar Generator
• AJAX Contact Form
• Video Documentation
• Custom Widgets
• Google Map Integration
• jQuery Drop-down menu
• WordPress 3 Menu support
• PSD files included

AUTOFOCUS

• Dynamic Flickr Integration that pulls image sets directly from your Flickr account with only a few clicks
• Support for WordPress 3.0 + Menus
• Lightbox effect for gallery shortcodes using Fancybox
• Custom admin styles for an improved WYSIWYG experience.
• Front page image crop editing.
• Valid HTML5 Markup with Microformats.
• Browser proof CSS for Firefox, Safari, & Internet Explorer.
• An optional portfolio style layout with squared images.
• A strict grid based design mixed with clean typography and a baseline grid.
• A Theme Options page for easy customization of colors, post formatting, etc.
• An optional Featured Posts section which pulls “sticky” posts and displays them front and center.
• 5 widgetized sidebar areas.
• Support for Video and Gallery embedding via oEmbed.
• Optional EXIF data display.
• Periodic error & bug fix updates.
• A custom Blog style Page Template.
• Custom Shortcode styling for displaying other types of content.
• 2 additional & optional ad-spaces for banners & widgets.
• Add a custom logo option.
• A per-post sliding Gallery of attachments option.

CORE

• 3 Homepage styles
• Full Screen slideshow for Photo Gallery
• Built-in Font Manager. You can upload your own font
• Extensive galleries admin. Support multiple images upload
• 4 Portfolio styles
• 8 Custom Widgets
  • Recent Posts
  • Popular Posts
  • Twitter feed
  • Contact Form
  • Youtube Video
  • Vimeo Video
  • Social Media icon
  • Flickr photostream
• Styled typography and flexible page columns
• Built-in Many Shortcodes
• Style shortcodes ex. dropcap etc.
• Media shortcades ex. video, slideshow, image gallery etc.
• Column shortcodes ex. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 columns
• Built-in Shortcode Generator plugin
• Custom Post Type support for Portfolios
• WordPress custom menu support
• Blog page single post and comments
• Timthumb automatically thumbnail support
• Unlimited sidebar. Create and select sidebar for each of your page!
• Contact us page with validation and ready to use PHP mailer
• PSD included
• Unobtrusive jQuery powered effects
• Valid HTML standard

DK

• 4 Homepage Styles
• Full Screen slideshow for Photo Gallery
• 10 Page Templates
• 6 Gallery Page Templates
• Password Protected Gallery Support
• Extensive galleries admin. Support multiple images upload
• Password protected gallery support
• Portfolio content support videos, images or external link
• Social media Profiles Support
• 7 Custom Widgets
  • Recent Posts
  • Popular Posts
  • Twitter feed
  • Contact Form
  • Youtube Video
  • Vimeo Video
  • Flickr photostream
• Styled typography and flexible page columns
• Built-in Many Shortcodes
• Style shortcodes ex. dropcap etc.
• Column shortcodes ex. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 columns
• Built-in Shortcode Generator plugin
• Custom Post Type support for Portfolios
• WordPress custom menu support
• Blog page single post and comments
• Facebook and Twitter integration
• Timthumb automatically thumbnail support
• Unlimited sidebar. Create and select sidebar for each of your page!
• Contact us page with validation and ready to use PHP mailer
• Unobtrusive jQuery powered effects
• Valid HTML standard

FLASHLIGHT

• 6 different Galleries (Fullscreen, Masonry Grid, Inline Slideshow, Inline Attached, Classic 3 Column, WordPress Default)
• Shop support with woocommerce: the theme now lets you sell your pics with ease
• Any Number of Galleries possible, Galleries can be attached to each post, page or portfolio entry
• Exif data display
• Password protected posts and galleries
• Performant javascript fullscreen slider on very large resolutions. Supports pattern overlay of images, autosliding, tooltips, thumbnails and more
• Optional image overlays for background slider, so visitors cant just right click and save your images
• Supports Inline Video Content with the help of WordPress Embed function
• No plugins needed whatsoever, everything is included within the theme
• Translation Ready
• Visual Shortcode editor with preview function
• Custom Widgets like: Recent News, Recent Portfolio entries, Twitter, Twitter + RSS follower count
• Color picker options for any number of gorgeous color settings.
• Unqiue Sidebars for each page/category possible
• Ajax Contact Form
• Extensive User Manual, short videos and professional theme support by me and my team to fix any kind of problems
• Growing community in our support forum: 4500 registered users, 5300 Topics, 25000 Posts. We do care that your site works!
• Portfolios & Portfolio Custom Post types
• jQuery 100% unobtrusive wich degrades gracefully if javascript is turned off
• Code built with SEO best practice in mind
• PSDs included

GARNISH

• Clean-cut Minimal Design.
• Dark & Light Colour Schemes
• Ajax Powered Filterable Portfolio
• Post Format Support (Asides, Images, Galleries, Quotes, Links, Standard, Audio, Video)
• Full Localisation Support (contains .po/.mo files)
• 3 Custom Widgets (Twitter, Flickr, Video)
• Simple Theme Options (Unbranded!)
• WordPress 3.0 Ready (Menus & Featured Images)
• Page Templates (Archives, Full Width, jQuery Contact Form)
• Custom Default Login Logo
• Shortcodes (Columns, Buttons, Toggles, Tabs, Alerts)
• Layered PSDs for Customisation
• Extensive Documentation

GRIDLOCKED

• Gimmick-free, Grid-Based Design & Valid HTML
• Dark & Light Colour Schemes
• Filterable Portfolio (can be used as homepage or site section)
• Tumblr-style Blog (can be used as homepage or site section)
• Post Format Support (Asides, Images, Galleries, Quotes, Links, Standard, Audio, Video)
• Built-in “like” system – no plugin necessary
• Full Localisation Support (contains .po/.mo files)
• 2 Custom Widgets (Twitter, Flickr)
• Simple Theme Options (Unbranded!)
• WordPress 3.0 Ready (Menus & Featured Images)
• jQuery Magic (Re-shuffling grids – try resizing your browser!)
• Page Templates (Archives, Full Width, jQuery Contact Form)
• Custom Login Logo & Custom Default Gravatar Support
• Shortcodes (Columns, Buttons, Toggles, Tabs, Alerts)
• Layered PSDs for Customisation
• Extensive Documentation

IMBALANCE

• Unique homepage design allows you to use the template for different goals whether it is a professional Portfolio or a personal Blog.
• Clean typography
• Special drop-down Menu adds some originality and convenience to your template.
• Options Panel will make your work with template even easier.
• Search engine optimized
• Easy Logo Upload allows you to adjust a template for your unique site.

IMBALANCE 2

• The layout type of Imbalance 2 theme can be chosen from fluid and fixed.
• Depend on your choice the layout can be replenished with text. By default there are only images which can be hovered by users.
• Unique homepage design allows you to use the template for different purposes. In order to be precise this template can be used both a professional Portfolio and personal Blog.
• Choose your personal pagination type from a standard (Prev – Next)Twitter-style “Load More” or a trendy “Infinite Loading” powered by jQuery.
• For your convenience we prepared five locations for the Menu which you can check out and choose at standard WordPress function.
• Built-in social bookmarking buttons allow users to share links to your site in a single click.
• Your work with template will be eased due to Options Panel.
• Clean and valid code according to all standards.
• You don’t have to be lost in code now! Just paste a ‘google analytics’ code with one click.
• Now all discussions are carried out quick and easy.

KING SIZE

• Comments can be enabled on the Portfolio Items
• Ability to disable / enable lightbox via “write-panel” options
• The ability to use a Custom Read More Link in Portfolios
• The ability to use a Custom Read More Text in Portfolios
• You can insert Custom CSS overrides via Theme Settings
• Can embed, Flash, HTML5 , QuickTime, YouTube and Vimeo in Portfolios
• Lightbox effects in Native WordPress Galleries
• Ability to enable / disable right-clicks on website
• Also available as an HTML Template
• Offering you five very different gallery styles (including 4 additional layout styles for ColorBox, FancyBox and prettyPhoto), with ability to blog about your photos (attach featured images) and etc
• You just upload your images via Media Gallery (all explained in the documentation) and automatically those images are converted to the Gallery Type you have selected for that specific page. There are no extra steps, just upload your images and click publish

• Fullscreen image background controlled from admin area
• Advanced theme options panel (see screenshots)
• 5 galleries to showcase your art
  • prettyPhoto
  • FancyBox
  • ColorBox
  • slideViewer
  • Galleria
• Threaded comments supported (up to 5th level)
• Custom contact page template & widget
• Hide / Show menu option
• Elegant typography with custom font (PT Sans)
• Cross-browser, valid code
• In-depth documentation

PHOTOLUX

• Unlimited Sidebars – dynamic sidebar generation functionality
• SEO section included, allowing you to add key words, change title structure, exclude pages from indexation, etc.
• Easy page layout changing – for each page you can choose between left sidebar, right sidebar and full width layout
• Nivo slider included
• Option to disable right click
• Full width background image option – you can set one globally to the whole theme, or you can set different ones to the different pages
• Easy theme translation – all the custom words used within the theme can be very easily changed from the admin panel. We have also included a .po file if additional languages will be used.
• Easy logo replacement
• Separate portfolio section
• WordPress 3.0 Custom Menu Support
• jQuery Tabs
• AJAX contact form
• Sociable Icons section in footer
• Comments with reply functionality (multiple levels depth)
• Multi level drop-down menu
• Lost of styled elements included
• PSD Files included
• A bonus widget included – Portfolio Posts Loader displaying the latest items in the sidebar with lightbox preview
• Works and looks similar in all major browsers: Internet Exlorer, Firefox, Opera, Safari, Google Chrome

PORTFOLIUM

• Your custom laconic Homepage for your works. No unnecessary details.
• Portfolio Section makes a perfect showcase for your works.
• Apart from showcasing your works you can also write posts on any subject you wish in the template.
• Built-in social bookmarking buttons allow users to share links to your site in a single click.
• Search Engine Optimized
• Clean and valid code according to all standards
• Setting a Menu is now a real delight – no skills in HTML or PHP required.

SIDEWAYS

• Full screen background slideshow NEW
• Unique Horizontal scrolling layouts
• Horizontal galleries support portrait and landscape images.
• Horizontally scroll via mouse wheel.
• Valid & cross browser compatible HTML5
• Fullscreen background images. Set a different background for each page
• Support for screen resolutions from 1024px X 600px (on CSS3 compatible browsers)
• PrettyPhoto Lightbox
• Working AJAX / PHP contact form with basic spam protection
• Flexible page templates
  • 2 portfolio index templates
  • 3 Portfolio Item templates
  • Horizontal scrolling blog, archive and search results templates
  • Vertical (traditional) blog, archive and search results page layouts
  • Contact Form
• 20+ shortcodes including YouTube and Vimeo video thumbnail links
• Visual Editor shortcode buttons
• Support for WP3 .0 custom nav menus
• Custom widgets
  • Twitter Feed
  • Recent Posts
  • Popular Posts (by page views)
  • Social Network Buttons
• Detailed Documentation
• Includes .po and .mo files for translation
• Unlimited sidebars
• Improved tabbed Theme Options Page with colour picker
• Built in theme and template options
• Portfolio custom post type

SIDEWINDER

• Gallery Slideshows -Beautiful side-scrolling gallery slideshows are the hallmark of this theme. Insert galleries on Posts, Pages or even create your galleries using the new “Gallery” post type that Sidewinder adds to WordPress. Sort Galleries using “Collections”.
• Shortcodes – This theme integrates with the GPP Shortcodes plugin, which allows you to easily add column layouts, boxes and buttons to your posts and pages without modifying CSS, HTML or PHP.
• Theme Options – Upload a logo, change between light and dark design, add tracking code, and a variety of different customization options all without touching a single line of code. Change between a dynamic Post, Gallery or Static homepage slideshow.
• Font API – Use your favorite font from the Google Font Directory without touching a single line of code. The demo site uses Arvo.

SOLO

• jQuery Image Sliders
• Custom Post Type for Easy Portfolio Management
• Widget Ready Footer
• Portfolio Template
• Smooth jQuery Effects
• WordPress 3.0 Custom Background Support
• Set Your Own Color Scheme
• Upload a Custom Logo
• Twitter Integration
• Flickr Integration
• Button Shortcodes
• Column Layout Shortcodes

SWISS DESIGN

• Valid XHTML + CSS
• WordPress 3.1+ Compatible
• Search Engine Optimized
• Safari Compatible
• Firefox Compatible
• IE7+IE8 Compatible
• Support and Updates
• Theme Video Overview

THIS WAY

• Audio support
• Ajax Content Loading
• 4 columns design options
• Pretty photo lightbox
• Optimized features for IPhone, Ipad and Android devices
• Contact form validation
• Deeplink Support
• Twitter feeds
• Portfolio filter
• Valid HTML
• 466+ Google fonts
• Google map
• Button and special elements support
• Psd files
• Video help documents

You can ON / OFF :

• Twitter Widget
• Thumbnail Sidebar
• Audio Controller
• Background Controller
• Background Pattern
• Share Icons

You can set:

• Content, Header and H1 to H6 Font Size
• Background Image Effect (fade or Ken Burns)
• Front Page (can be set or can be empty)
• Background Change (automatic or manuel)
• Audio (auto play or manuel play)
• Audio (loop or next)
• Background Image Duration

You can change:

• Menu Opener and Closer Text
• Footer Text
• Logo and Favicon
• Header and Content fonts can be chosen through 447+ dfferent Google Web Fonts

Yin & Yang

• Carefully handcrafted
• Semantic, clean and valid HTML5
• Coded with progessive enhancement and SEO in mind
• Strong focus on user-experience, usability, and beautiful typography
• WordPress 3.0+ ready (featured images, custom post types, custom menus)
• Extensive, unbranded theme options
• Excellent customer support
• Extensive documentation
• Localisation support
• 4 custom widgets: Twitter, Flickr, Popular Posts, Text Widget (customized For embedding videos, images, and other content.)
• 6 Widget areas
• Custom patterns
• Filterable and ajaxified portfolio
• Column, google map, and contact form shortcodes
• jQuery ajax contact form
• Awesome jQuery slider
• Readable and well-documented code
• Threaded comments
• Drop-down menus
• Custom default gravatar support
• layered PSDs for customisation
• Custom 404 page
• 960gs framework
• Print-ready stylesheet
• Updated TimThumb script for image resizing

W-PORTFOLIO

• Vimeo/Youtube Ready
• Image Slideshows
• Like and +1 Buttons
• Thumbnails as Background

Tags: best, blog, design, fullscreen, grid, image, photography, pop-out, portfolio, slideshow, theme, top, top 20, video, wordpress