Setting up a custom domain

Why use a custom domain?

By default your portfolio is available at a subdomain like yourname.fineartform.studio. A custom domain lets you use an address you own, such as sarahmooreartist.com or studio.yourname.com. Custom domains look more professional in email signatures, on business cards, and when you share links, because visitors see your name in the address bar rather than the platform's name.

What you need before starting

You need to own a domain name. If you do not have one, register one through a domain registrar such as Namecheap, Porkbun, or Google Domains. Prices vary but most .com domains cost around $10 to $15 per year.

Adding your domain

Go to Settings > Custom domain in the admin. Enter your domain name in the field and click Add domain. The platform will generate DNS records you need to add at your registrar.

Configuring DNS at your registrar

Log in to your domain registrar and find the DNS management section (sometimes called DNS records, Zone Editor, or Name Servers). You need to add two records:

For an apex domain (yourname.com): Add an A record pointing to the IP address shown in the platform settings. If your registrar supports ALIAS or ANAME records, use those instead of A records for better reliability.

For a subdomain (www.yourname.com or studio.yourname.com): Add a CNAME record pointing to the value shown in the platform settings.

DNS changes can take anywhere from a few minutes to 48 hours to propagate worldwide, though most registrars apply changes within an hour.

SSL certificate

Once your DNS is pointing to the platform, an SSL certificate is automatically issued for your domain. This usually takes a few minutes after DNS propagation completes. While the certificate is being issued, visitors may see a security warning in their browser. This is normal and resolves on its own.

Verifying your setup

Return to Settings > Custom domain and click Check DNS. The panel shows whether your DNS records are pointing correctly and whether the SSL certificate has been issued. When both show green checkmarks, your custom domain is active.

Troubleshooting

If DNS verification fails after 48 hours, double-check that the record values match exactly what the platform settings showed. Common mistakes include adding extra spaces, missing the trailing dot on CNAME targets, or adding the domain twice (e.g., entering www.yourname.com.yourname.com by accident).