Pointing a Custom Domain to Zenfolio using an A-Record & CNAME Record

Most Zenfolio plans include the ability to use a custom domain with the Zenfolio site.

Example custom domains include www.evanchungphoto.com, www.tracephotographs.com, and www.willnicholls.co.uk.


 

This guide covers how to point the entire custom domain to Zenfolio. 

If you have not already registered the custom domain with a domain registrar, please do so before following these steps as these changes are made with the domain host. See this guide for more info.


If you already have your own domain name that you wish to use there are two important steps in the process of setting it up as your Zenfolio site.  

• The first step is to edit your domain registrar's DNS settings, including the A-Records, AAAA-Records, and CNAME.  
• The second step is done in your Zenfolio account where you link your account to your custom domain. 

Step 1:

These are the general steps required for pointing a custom domain to Zenfolio. These changes are made to your custom domain's DNS records with your domain host. Please check with your domain host for more specific steps for how to add A records, AAAA records, and a Cname record.
 

1. Login to your account at your domain registrar and open the DNS settings. If you have more than one domain, select the domain you want pointed to your Zenfolio website. Note: only one domain can be pointed to your Zenfolio website.
2. Creating the required A records:
   • Create a new DNS record
   • In the Host/Name field, input just the @ symbol.
   • In the Type or Record field, input or select A.
   • In the IP, Target, Value, Points To or Destination field, enter Zenfolio's IP address: 199.181.197.11
   • Repeat these steps to create another A record, and enter Zenfolio's IP address: 199.181.197.12
3. Creating the required AAAA records:
   • Create a new DNS record
   • In the Host/Name field, input just the @ symbol.
   • In the Type or Record field, input or select AAAA.
   • In the IP, Target, Value, Points To or Destination field, enter Zenfolio's IP address: 2620:78:200f::cf:11
   • Repeat these steps to create another AAAA record, and enter Zenfolio's IP address: 2620:78:200f::cf:12
4. Creating the required CNAME record:
   • Create another record but this time, select Cname or Subdomain for the record type.
   • For the new Subdomain/Cname record, enter www for the Host/Name. 
   • Enter custom.zenfoliosite.com for the Target, Value, Points To or Destination field.

Note: custom.zenfoliosite.com must be typed exactly. Do not replace the word 'custom'.
The DNS settings should look something like this:

 

Once you have finished these settings, feel free to proceed to Step 3 below but please note that it may take up to 48 hours for the DNS changes to apply.

Note: The custom domain will need to use the default Nameservers provided by your domain host. Because Zenfolio is not the actual host of your domain, there are no Zenfolio Nameservers to provide. 
 

Some Important Things To Note:

• Some domain registrars may not allow you to add all of the 5 records that are required above. Please see further information here if this is the case.

• ​​​​​​All domain registrars have their own interface and some don't allow you to make these changes yourself. If this is the case, or if your registrar interface is unclear, you may need to contact your registrar directly to have these changes made for you.

Step 2:

Following the instructions in Step 1 directs your custom domain web traffic to Zenfolio. The next step is to set the domain to your Zenfolio account. 

1. Return to your Zenfolio account then hover your mouse over your username.

2. Select Account from the dropdown menu

3. Go to Website.

4. Go to Custom Domain.

5. Select Point a custom domain name to your Zenfolio pages.

6. Enter your domain name. Be sure the domain you enter begins with www.

7. Click Test DNS Setup.

  If the Test comes back with the message The domain name is configured correctly, click Save and you are done.

​ If it comes back with This domain is not configured correctly, then you will need to wait longer or check your settings at your domain registrar.

Some common issues to look for:

• A records or AAAA records pointing to Zenfolio was not created.

• There are A records, or AAAA records, other than the ones required by Zenfolio.

• Cname Record is not pointing to custom.zenfoliosite.com. The custom part should NOT be edited or changed.

• Domain is using nameservers from another service. The domain should use the domain host's default nameservers.

If you've verified that your account has the correct DNS Settings and after 48 hours your custom domain is still not working, please send an email to Customer Support for assistance. Please include a screenshot of your DNS settings from inside your Domain Registrar account. See the illustrated guides for examples.
 

 

Current Domain Host Does Not Support All Five DNS Settings.

Zenfolio's DNS settings have been creating in accordance with current industry standards; however, some domain hosts may not beet these standards, preventing you from adding all five of the required DNS settings. It will not be possible to connect your domain with your Zenfolio website until all five settings are present. 

In this situation there are two options:

• (Recommended) Transfer your custom domain to another domain host that supports all five required DNS settings. Most domain hosts offer transfer services that allow you to transfer an existing domain from one host to another. Hosts like GoDaddy, Iwantmyname.com, Google Domains, among many others; all support the required DNS settings. If wanting to transfer, please ask the new hosting service for assistance with the transfer, if needed.
• Use Cloudflare as a workaround hosting service, in addition to your current host. Please note that it will be very important to remember that you've used this workaround in case you ever need to change or move your domain hosting. See the instructions below for this workaround.

Using Cloudflare as a workaround for setting up your custom domain's DNS settings:

1. Go to www.cloudflare.com and Sign Up for an account.
2. Once you get signed up, choose the Cloudflare for Infrastructure option.
3. Enter in the custom domain that you own through another host, and click Add Site.

 

4. You will be presented with Cloudflare plan options, scroll down to the last option which is Free $0. Select this option.
5. Click Continue. 

Cloudflare will automatically pull in your domain's current DNS settings and you can edit them.

6. Use the +Add Record button to add any of the new DNS records that were not already present.
   • @    A    199.181.197.11
   • @    A    199.181.197.12
   • @    AAAA    2620:78:200f::cf:11
   • @    AAAA    2620:78:200f::cf:12
   • www    CNAME    custom.zenfoliosite.com
7. Make sure that you have all 5 of the new DNS records, and adjust their Proxy Status to DNS Only.
8. Click Continue once all 5 of the DNS records are present as DNS Only. 

You will now be presented with instructions for changing your domain's Nameservers. This will make sure that your domain's DNS settings are being pulled from Cloudflare and not your original host. 

9. Follow the steps presented to you and change the Nameservers through your domain host to exactly what is provided to you from Cloudflare. If you need help changing your Nameservers, contact your domain host for further assistance.
10. Once you have completed changing your Nameservers through your domain host, click on Done, check nameservers. If the nameservers are not recognized right away, it can take 24 hours for this update to be done.

Once everything it propagated with your nameservers and you've set up all 5 of the DNS records correctly, you should then be able to test your domain through your Zenfolio account again. If all was done correctly, the domain should resolve successfully.