Powerfolio

When we build client sites, a good portfolio layout often makes the difference between “looks fine” and “this actually sells our work.” The Powerfolio WordPress portfolio plugin aims to give us that polished, flexible portfolio without a lot of setup or code.

In this first look, we walk through Powerfolio from the website to the actual plugin inside WordPress. We test it with Gutenberg, shortcodes, and Elementor, and we share what feels strong and what still needs polish. If you run an agency, freelance, or manage your own site, this will give you a real sense of what it is like to use Powerfolio for the first time.

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Powerfolio—First Look Video

Discovering Powerfolio on the Web

Website basics and what Powerfolio is

Powerfolio lives at a simple and clear address, powerfoliowp.com. The product is a highly customizable portfolio widget for WordPress that focuses on visuals and layout control.

The plugin integrates closely with Elementor, and it already works with the WordPress block editor (Gutenberg) through shortcodes and a portfolio block. The site hints that other builders may also work, since the core output is shortcode-based.

Key features at a glance

From the feature list on the site, we can pull out the main pieces Powerfolio offers:

• Filterable portfolio grid so visitors can sort projects by category
• Masonry layout for more organic image grids
• Special grid layouts for more advanced visual patterns
• Easy customization, no coding with controls in Elementor and Gutenberg
• Portfolio carousel widget for slider-style portfolios
• Box layout as a clean, uniform grid option
• Lots of hover effects so items feel interactive
• Display custom post types or categories so we are not locked into only one structure

Exploring the Live Powerfolio Demos

Because Powerfolio is such a visual plugin, the live demos on the site are a big part of understanding what it can actually do.

Grid demo overview

The main demo lets us switch between a grid and a carousel view. The active tab is slightly darker, which is easy to miss. A brighter highlight for the active state would help new users.

Inside the Grid tab, we get several demo presets, usually labeled along the lines of Demo 1, Demo 2, and so on. Each demo uses a different configuration, and as we click through them, a set of switches and controls below the grid changes to match each preset.

From there, we can start to adjust the layout:

• Column count: we can move between two, three, four columns, and more.
• Grid styles: options like masonry, boxes, and special grids give different ways to display the same content.
• Hover effects: examples include “from bottom” and “card from left,” which slide in title and category details when we hover on a project.
• Category filters: we can show or hide the filter bar at the top that lets visitors choose categories.
• Zoom on hover: a simple visual effect that can be toggled.
• Margins between items: a control lets us remove or increase spacing between portfolio items.

Styling options also appear in the demo interface. We can:

• Change hover text alignment horizontally and vertically.
• Adjust text transform on hover; for example, switch titles to uppercase or back to lowercase.
• Modify the item border radius with a slider to move from sharp corners to rounded tiles.
• Set the overlay color that appears on hover, such as a semi-transparent blue.
• Change the filter bar background color and the active filter color.

Carousel demo teaser

The Carousel section on the Powerfolio site works much like the grid demo. We can scrub through portfolio items in a slider format, apply hover effects, and filter by category.

The same kind of styling options apply: hover behavior, overlay colors, filter styling, and so on. It gives a fast way to see what a finished portfolio slider could look like without setting up our own content first.

How to use the demos wisely

The demos are helpful to see the end result, but they are not meant to be production ready. Not pixel-perfect in the demo; configure it your own way on your site.

The important thing is to click the toggles, move sliders, and try different combinations. That gives us a feel for how Powerfolio responds and how fast we can get from “blank page” to “usable portfolio layout.”

Setting Up a Portfolio with Powerfolio in WordPress

Once we understand the demos, the next step is to use Powerfolio inside WordPress.

Creating portfolio items and categories

After installing the plugin, a Powerfolio section appears in the WordPress admin menu. From there, we can reach:

• A quick walkthrough
• A list of updates and feature notes
• Portfolio items and categories

To create basic test items, we:

1. Go to the Portfolio section and click Add New.
2. Give the item a title, for example, “Item 1.”
3. Set a featured image on the right side.
4. Create or select a portfolio category, such as “Cat 1.”
5. Click Publish.

We repeat this process for Item 2 and Item 3, assigning them to “Cat 2” and “Cat 3,” respectively, so that we now have three sample portfolio pieces, each with its own category.

Displaying the portfolio with shortcodes in Gutenberg

Powerfolio supports a shortcode that we can place on any page or post. On the Powerfolio settings screen in the admin, there is a section that explains how to display the portfolio using shortcodes and mentions that it works with Gutenberg.

The simplest setup uses the base shortcode, which outputs the default grid with all portfolio items and filters. The shortcode also accepts many attributes, such as:

• Posts per page
• Portfolio type or custom post type
• Specific categories or taxonomies
• Whether to show filters
• Layout style (boxes, masonry, special grid)
• Columns and margins
• Link behavior (to the post, to the featured image in a lightbox, or both)

To use this in the block editor:

• Create a new page, maybe named “Portfolio.”
• Add a Shortcode block by typing /shortcode or by using the Block Inserter.
• Paste in the Powerfolio shortcode.
• Publish and view the page.

On the front end, we now see our three items in a grid with category filters at the top. We can click each category to filter the view. If we set hover effects or link behavior within the shortcode, those will also apply.

When experimenting with more complex shortcode parameters, it is easy to miscopy part of the string, which can cause the output to fail. Sticking with the base example first is a good way to confirm that everything is working.

Building a portfolio with Elementor

For many users, Elementor will be the easiest way to get full control over Powerfolio.

Setting up the Elementor grid widget

Once Elementor is installed, we open our Portfolio page and click Edit with Elementor. In the Elementor sidebar, we search for “Powerfolio.”

Two main widgets appear:

• An image gallery widget
• The Element Portfolio Gallery widget

We drag Element Portfolio Gallery into the page. Right away, a default grid appears.

From there we can configure:

• Post Type: choose the Powerfolio portfolio post type.
• Category filter: show or hide the filter bar, and choose whether to include an “All” option.
• Grid settings: pick the number of columns on desktop, tablet, and mobile.
• Grid builder: for more advanced layouts, we can define specific widths and heights for items.
• Margins and spacing: control space between items with a slider.
• Box height: set a fixed height to keep grids aligned.
• Hover effects: choose how hover content appears (for example, from the bottom).
• Link type: have each portfolio item open the post, the image in a lightbox, or use Elementor’s default lightbox.
• Zoom on hover: toggle the zoom animation.

As we adjust these controls, Elementor shows live updates. It is easy to reach a clean three-column grid, a full-width masonry layout, or something more custom.

Styling with Elementor

The Style tab for the Powerfolio widget exposes more design controls:

• Typography: we can pick fonts, sizes, and text shadows for item titles and categories. When we switch to a huge font size, the change is instant, which confirms the controls are wired correctly.
• Visibility toggles: hide or show item titles and category labels.
• Borders and radius: set border size, radius, and color. Putting a radius of 50 clearly rounds the corners to show what is happening.
• Filter bar styling: change text color, background color, and active item background. For example, the default filter bar can be restyled with a green base and a blue highlight for the active filter.
• Text transform: turn filter labels into uppercase, lowercase, or capitalized text.
• Pagination styling: when pagination is active and there are enough items to need it, we can style the page numbers to match the rest of the site.

Think accessibility for colors. If we choose strong background colors, we need enough contrast for text in the filters and overlays.

Viewing the final result

On the front end, the Elementor-built portfolio feels clean:

• The filter bar works and updates correctly.
• Hover effects show our item title and category.
• Clicking an item opens the single portfolio post if that is the link type we chose.

On the single portfolio page, we see the featured image, content (if any), and author information. For sites with multiple authors or artists, that can help highlight who owns each project.

Using the Powerfolio block in the editor

If we prefer to avoid shortcodes, Powerfolio also registers a block for the block editor. When we create a new page and search for “Powerfolio” in the block picker, we can add a block that outputs the portfolio grid.

The block settings in the right sidebar include options that mirror many of the shortcode and Elementor settings, such as filters, columns, and layout style. This makes it possible to build a portfolio in Gutenberg without touching shortcodes.

Where Powerfolio shines

Powerfolio has a lot going for it already. Here are the main strengths we saw:

• Very easy to use: setup in both Elementor and Gutenberg is straightforward, especially for anyone used to widgets and blocks.
• Strong visual control: grids, masonry, and hover options give us a lot of room to match different site designs.
• Tight Elementor integration: the Elementor widgets feel natural and give live feedback as we adjust settings.
• Responsive layouts: separate controls for desktop, tablet, and mobile columns make it simple to get a grid that looks good on all devices.

For agencies, that means we can drop in a new portfolio on a client site and match their style without touching code. For DIY site owners, it means we can get a modern portfolio layout without hiring a developer.

Who Powerfolio is a good fit for

Powerfolio fits several types of WordPress users:

• Agencies and freelancers who build sites for clients and need flexible portfolio layouts that look professional but are quick to configure.
• Designers who care about hover behavior, grids, and fine visual control but want to stay in a visual builder.
• DIY site owners who want a better portfolio than a default gallery and are willing to spend a little time in Elementor or the block editor to get it.

If you already use Elementor on most projects, Powerfolio will feel natural. If you prefer Gutenberg, the shortcode and block support is good enough to build a strong portfolio today, and planned Gutenberg improvements should only help.

Final Thoughts

Powerfolio already delivers a lot of what we look for in a portfolio plugin: flexible visual control, clean filters, and solid Elementor integration, all without code. It is easy to see how an agency or freelancer could drop this into their workflow and ship better-looking portfolios in less time.