How to Add a Video Block in PhotoBiz Website Builder

How To Add Video Blocks

This video tutorial will guide you through adding video blocks to your PhotoBiz website builder.

How to Use the Video Block in the PhotoBiz Website Builder

Overview

The Video Block in the PhotoBiz Website Builder allows you to add video content directly to your website. You can embed videos hosted by Livid, YouTube, Vimeo, or another video platform, or select videos already uploaded to your PhotoBiz Video Library.

Video Blocks include layouts for standard video players, full-screen backgrounds, banners, side-by-side content, and text overlays. You can also customize your video's appearance with titles, descriptions, buttons, colors, fonts, backgrounds, and animations.

This guide explains how to add a Video Block, choose your video source, customize its layout and appearance, and troubleshoot common video display and playback issues.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, you will need one of the following:

Embed code from Livid, YouTube, Vimeo, or another video hosting platform.
A video already uploaded to your PhotoBiz Video Library.

Your PhotoBiz Website Package supports file uploads up to 4MB each. The Original Files upgrade allows uploads up to 50MB each.

If you need to upload a video first, see How to Upload a Video to PhotoBiz.

STEP ONE

This opens the Website Builder, where you can manage your website pages and content.

STEP TWO

Click the page where you want to add your video.

In the block menu on the right side of the Website Builder, click VIDEO to add a Video Block to the bottom of the page.

You can also drag the VIDEO Block to a specific location on the page. When the placement indicator appears where you want the block, release your mouse.

STEP THREE

The SELECT VIDEO BLOCK panel opens on the right side of the Website Builder.

Select BLANK to start with a basic Video Block that you can customize yourself. You can also choose one of the predesigned options, VIDEO 1 through VIDEO 11, to start with an existing design.

Scroll through the available designs to preview your options. When you find the design you want to use, click SELECT to add it to your page.

Predesigned Video Blocks include sample content that you can replace with your own video, text, and settings.

STEP FOUR

After adding the Video Block, the EDIT VIDEO panel opens on the right side of the Website Builder.

The VIDEO TYPE setting defaults to EMBED CODE.

Click the VIDEO TYPE drop-down menu and select how you want to add your video.

Select EMBED CODE to use a video hosted by Livid, YouTube, Vimeo, or another video platform.

Select MY VIDEOS to use a video already stored in your PhotoBiz Video Library.

STEP FIVE

If you selected EMBED CODE, paste the code provided by your video hosting platform into the EMBED CODE field.

If you selected MY VIDEOS, click the CHOOSE A VIDEO drop-down menu and select the video you want to display.

Both video types include optional fields for adding a TITLE, DESCRIPTION, MOBILE COVER IMAGE, BUTTON TEXT, and LINK TO destination.

Use these fields to provide additional information about your video or direct visitors to another page. Leave BUTTON TEXT blank if you do not want a button to appear.

After entering your video information, click SAVE CHANGES.

Embedded Video

Video Library

STEP SIX

Click LAYOUT in the Video Block editing panel to customize how your video appears on the page.

The CURRENT LAYOUT section shows which layout is currently applied to your Video Block.

Scroll through the available layouts to preview different ways your video and accompanying content can appear.

When you find the layout you want to use, click SAVE beneath that layout to apply it.

For additional information, see How to Change the Video Block Layout.

FINAL STEP

After adding your video and selecting a layout, you can make additional adjustments using the STYLING, COLORS, BACKGROUND, FONTS, and ANIMATION sections of the Video Block editing panel.

Click SAVE CHANGES after updating settings that require saving.

Your saved changes automatically take effect on your website. You do not need to publish the page separately.

Click VIEW SITE at the top of the Website Builder to review your finished Video Block. Check that the video displays correctly, plays as expected, and looks good on both desktop and mobile devices.

Choosing Between Embed Code and My Videos

The Video Block supports two video sources. The best option depends on where your video is hosted and how you want it to behave on your website.

Embed Code

Use EMBED CODE when your video is hosted by Livid, YouTube, Vimeo, or another external video platform.

Copy the embed code provided by your hosting platform and paste it into the EMBED CODE field.

A regular video URL is not necessarily the same as embed code. Use the embedding or sharing tools provided by your video hosting service to obtain the correct code.

Embedded videos use the playback functionality provided by the external video service. Autoplay, looping, and other player behavior may depend on the hosting platform, browser, and visitor's device.

My Videos

Use MY VIDEOS when you want to display a video uploaded directly to your PhotoBiz account.

Click the CHOOSE A VIDEO drop-down menu and select a video from your PhotoBiz Video Library.

Videos must already be uploaded to your account before they appear in this menu.

PhotoBiz-hosted videos are particularly useful for creating video backgrounds, banners, or other layouts that support automatic playback and looping.

Video Block Layout Options

PhotoBiz includes 16 Video Block layouts. Each layout determines how your video, text, and other content are arranged on the page.

Available layouts include:

Full Screen: Displays your video across the full browser width and height. Some cropping may occur to fill the available space.
Banner: Displays your video as a fixed-height banner across the page.
Standard: Displays a traditional video player with a play button without cropping the video.
No Crop Banner: Creates a banner-style display while keeping the full video visible.
Video Left: Positions the video on the left with accompanying content on the right.
Video Right: Positions the video on the right with accompanying content on the left.
Video Large Left: Displays a larger video on the left with smaller accompanying content on the right.
Video Large Right: Displays a larger video on the right with smaller accompanying content on the left.
Text Overlay Center Left: Displays text over the video toward the left side.
Text Overlay Center Right: Displays text over the video toward the right side.
Video Overlay Left: Displays overlay content over the left side of the video.
Video Overlay Right: Displays overlay content over the right side of the video.
Overlay Split Left: Creates a split design with overlay content positioned toward the left.
Overlay Split Right: Creates a split design with overlay content positioned toward the right.
Overlay Box Left: Displays a boxed overlay on the left side of the video.
Overlay Box Right: Displays a boxed overlay on the right side of the video.

The best layout depends on how you want visitors to interact with your video.

For homepage introductions and visual backgrounds, consider Full Screen, Banner, or No Crop Banner.

For videos containing narration, interviews, music, or instructions, Standard is generally the better choice because visitors can choose when to start playback.

For sections combining video with information about your photography services, consider the side-by-side or overlay layouts.

Changing a layout does not require you to upload your video again.

For complete instructions, see How to Change the Video Block Layout.

Autoplay and Looping

Videos uploaded directly to PhotoBiz can automatically play and loop when you use a supported Video Block layout.

The following layouts support autoplay and looping for PhotoBiz-hosted videos:

Full Screen
Banner
No Crop Banner
Text Overlay Center Left
Text Overlay Center Right
Video Overlay Left
Video Overlay Right
Overlay Split Left
Overlay Split Right
Overlay Box Left
Overlay Box Right

These layouts are useful for video backgrounds, website headers, and short visual clips designed to play automatically.

The Standard layout does not autoplay or loop. Visitors must start playback themselves.

Autoplay and Video Audio

Web browsers may restrict videos with audio from automatically playing. As a result, videos that autoplay may begin muted, even when the original video contains sound.

This behavior helps prevent unexpected audio playback when someone visits your website.

If your video includes speaking, music, instructions, or other important audio, the Standard layout is generally the better choice. This allows visitors to choose when to begin playback.

For videos intended as visual backgrounds, banners, or looping website sections, use one of the supported autoplay layouts.

Helpful Note: Autoplay behavior may vary depending on the visitor's browser and device.

Autoplay With YouTube, Vimeo, and Other Video Platforms

If you use EMBED CODE, autoplay and looping settings are controlled by your video hosting provider rather than PhotoBiz.

Configure the playback settings through your video platform, then copy the updated embed code into your Video Block.

Web browsers and mobile devices may restrict autoplay, particularly when a video includes audio.

Because these restrictions are controlled outside PhotoBiz, embedded videos may not autoplay consistently on every browser or device.

For the most consistent autoplay and looping behavior within supported PhotoBiz layouts, use a video uploaded directly to your PhotoBiz Video Library.

Mobile Cover Image

Both EMBED CODE and MY VIDEOS include a MOBILE COVER IMAGE option.

A mobile cover image allows you to choose a still image that may appear when a video does not automatically play on a mobile device.

Without a mobile cover image, visitors may see a basic video preview or play button, depending on their device and the video source.

Choose an image that represents your video clearly and works well with your selected Video Block layout.

Helpful Note: A mobile cover image is different from the thumbnail associated with a video uploaded to your PhotoBiz Video Library. The video's thumbnail is based on its first frame, while the Mobile Cover Image provides a separate image for supported mobile display behavior.

How To Adjust Mobile Cover Image Focal Point For Video Block

Customizing Your Video Block

After adding a Video Block, you can customize its appearance using the editing panel on the right side of the Website Builder.

The available settings include:

VIDEO: Change your video source, title, description, mobile cover image, and button settings.
LAYOUT: Choose how your video and accompanying content appear on the page.
STYLING: Adjust spacing, alignment, overlays, and other layout-specific options.
COLORS: Customize text, buttons, backgrounds, and overlay colors.
BACKGROUND: Add a custom background image or choose from the PhotoBiz Background Library.
FONTS: Customize the typography used for your title, description, and button text.
ANIMATION: Choose a hover animation for your Video Block button.

The available customization options may vary depending on your selected Video Block layout.

Video Block Styling Options

Click STYLING in the Video Block editing panel to customize the appearance, alignment, and spacing of your Video Block.

Depending on your selected layout, you may see:

Overlay Opacity: Controls how transparent or solid the overlay appears over your video.
Has Scroll Arrow: Turns the scroll arrow on or off for supported layouts.
Title Alignment: Controls the alignment of your video title.
Description Alignment: Controls the alignment of your description.
Button Alignment: Controls the alignment of your button.
Space Below Blocks: Adjusts the spacing below the Video Block.
Space Inside Blocks: Adjusts the spacing inside the Video Block.

Spacing options may include None, Ultra Thin, Thin, Medium, and Thick.

When you change an individual styling option from its default value, a CUSTOMIZED label may appear beside that setting.

This indicates that the setting has been customized for the individual Video Block rather than using your website's global design setting.

Click the X beside CUSTOMIZED to return that option to its global setting.

After making your adjustments, click SAVE CHANGES.

Helpful Note: Changing your Video Block layout may also change which styling options are available.

Colors

Click COLORS in the Video Block editing panel to customize the colors used within the block.

Depending on your selected layout and content, available options may include:

Title Color: Controls the color of the video title.
Text Color: Controls the color of the description and supporting text.
Button Text Color: Controls the color of the button's text.
Button Border Color: Controls the button border color.
Button Contrast Color: Controls the button's contrast color.
Background Color: Controls the solid background color behind the block.
Overlay Color: Controls the color of an overlay displayed over the video.

You can select colors using the color picker or enter a hexadecimal (HEX) color value.

Video Block colors normally follow your website's global color scheme.

When you customize an individual color, the CUSTOMIZED label appears next to that option. You can return the color to its global setting by clicking the X beside CUSTOMIZED.

Click SAVE CHANGES after updating your colors.

Helpful Note: Available color options vary based on the Video Block layout and the content being displayed.

Video Block Background Options

Click BACKGROUND in the Video Block editing panel to add, change, or remove a background image.

Under BACKGROUND IMAGE, you can select one of the following options:

NO BACKGROUND: Removes the background image and uses the block's configured background color.
CUSTOM BACKGROUND: Allows you to upload your own JPG or PNG image. For best results, PhotoBiz recommends an image size of 3000 pixels wide by 1730 pixels high.
BACKGROUND LIBRARY: Allows you to choose a predesigned background from PhotoBiz's available collection.

You can also control how your background image displays using TILE, TOP LEFT, CENTERED, or COVER.

After selecting your background and display settings, click SAVE CHANGES.

For detailed instructions on uploading, selecting, and positioning backgrounds, see How to Change a Block Background in PhotoBiz.

Fonts

Click FONTS in the Video Block editing panel to customize the typography used within your block.

Depending on the content included in your Video Block, you can customize:

Title: Controls the font used for your video title.
Description: Controls the font used for supporting text.
Button Text: Controls the font used for your button label.

Each text area displays the font currently applied along with its Size, Letter Spacing, and Line Height settings.

Select the text element you want to customize, then choose your preferred font and adjust the available typography settings.

Font settings only affect text elements that are being used in the selected Video Block.

See How To Change Fonts in Video Blocks for complete instructions.

Animations

Click ANIMATION in the Video Block editing panel to customize the hover effect applied to your Video Block's button.

Under BUTTON HOVER ANIMATION, you can select from the following options:

None: No hover animation.
Fill: Applies a fill effect when visitors hover over the button.
Overlay: Applies an overlay effect to the button.
Scale: Changes the button's size when hovered over.
Arrows: Adds an arrow-style hover effect.

Select your preferred animation and click SAVE CHANGES.

Helpful Note: Button hover animations only apply to Video Blocks that include a button. Hover effects may display differently on touch-screen devices.

For additional details, see How to Add Animations to Buttons in PhotoBiz.

Managing Your Video Block

The Video Block includes a management menu that allows you to copy, move, rename, change the layout, adjust advanced settings, or delete the entire block.

To access these options, click the pencil icon in the upper-right corner of your Video Block.

Available Block Management Options

COPY: Creates a duplicate of the Video Block directly below the original. You can edit the copied block independently without changing the original. The copy does not retain the original block name or anchor link. If the original is part of a DuoBuild section, the copy appears below the pair as a separate, full-width block. For instructions, see How to Move or Copy Blocks Between Pages.
MOVE: Moves your existing Video Block to another website page or repositions it at the top or bottom of the current page. Moving a block preserves its existing video content and settings.
RENAME: Allows you to give your Video Block a custom name for easier identification in the Website Builder. You can also use block names to create anchor links that direct visitors to specific sections of a website page.
CHANGE LAYOUT: Opens the layout selection panel, where you can choose a different arrangement for your video and accompanying content without removing the video from the block.
ADVANCED: Opens the Video Block editing panel on the right side of the Website Builder. From here, you can access the settings icons for your video content, layout, styling, colors, background, fonts, and animations.
DELETE: Opens the confirmation panel for permanently deleting the entire Video Block.

Deleting an Entire Video Block

Deleting a Video Block removes the block and its content from your website page.

To remove the block, click the pencil icon in the upper-right corner of your Video Block and select DELETE.

The DELETE BLOCK confirmation panel opens with the message:

ARE YOU SURE YOU WANT TO DELETE THIS BLOCK?

You have two options:

YES, DELETE IT: Permanently removes the Video Block from your website page.
CANCEL: Closes the confirmation panel without deleting the block.

Important: Deleting a Video Block does not delete videos uploaded to your PhotoBiz Video Library. Those videos remain available in your account and can be used in other Video Blocks.

If your Video Block uses EMBED CODE from YouTube, Vimeo, or another third-party provider, deleting the block removes the embedded code from your website page. The original video remains hosted with the third-party provider.

Deleted Video Blocks cannot be recovered.

Video Block Supports Duo Build

The Video Block supports DuoBuild, a Website Builder feature that automatically places two supported blocks side by side.

To use DuoBuild, drag your Video Block horizontally over another supported block. When the placement indicator appears, release your mouse to place the blocks in a two-column layout.

The block you drag appears on the left, while the existing block moves to the right.

You can pair a Video Block with supported blocks such as Text Editor, Images, Form, or Button Blocks to create a custom layout for your website.

See How To Use DuoBuild for complete instructions.

What Your Clients See

When visitors open a page containing your Video Block, they will see the video and any accompanying title, description, or button based on the layout you selected.

The way visitors interact with the video depends on its source and layout.

For PhotoBiz-hosted videos using supported autoplay layouts, the video can play and loop automatically. Visitors viewing a video in the Standard layout can use the video player to start playback themselves.

Videos embedded from YouTube, Vimeo, or another hosting platform use the playback settings and functionality provided by that service.

On mobile devices, browsers may prevent videos from automatically playing or require videos to begin muted. If you added a MOBILE COVER IMAGE, that image may appear when automatic playback is unavailable.

If your Video Block includes a button, visitors can click it to open the destination you configured under LINK TO.

Video cropping, text placement, and spacing may adjust based on screen size. Preview your completed page on both desktop and mobile devices to make sure your content remains visible and easy to use.

Helpful Video Tips

Keep these recommendations in mind when adding videos to your PhotoBiz website:

Use web-optimized videos: Shorter, compressed videos are generally better suited for backgrounds, banners, and autoplay sections.
Choose the right layout: Use Standard when the video contains important audio or information visitors should intentionally watch.
Include a mobile cover image: A relevant cover image helps provide a visual preview when automatic playback is unavailable.
Check desktop and mobile: Review the appearance, cropping, and playback behavior on different screen sizes.
Keep essential information outside the video: Include important details in readable page text so visitors can access them without watching.
Add captions when available: Captions make videos containing dialogue or instructions more accessible to visitors who cannot hear the audio.
Review embedded video permissions: When using an external hosting platform, confirm that the video allows embedding and playback on other websites.

Troubleshooting and FAQs

Why can't I upload my video?

Check the size of your video file.

Your PhotoBiz Website Package supports uploads up to 4MB per file. The Original Files upgrade allows uploads up to 50MB per file.

If your video exceeds the upload limit, you can compress it, add the Original Files upgrade, or host it through an external video platform and use EMBED CODE.

See How to Upload a Video to PhotoBiz for additional instructions.

Why don't I see my video under My Videos?

Videos must be uploaded to your PhotoBiz Video Library before they appear in the CHOOSE A VIDEO drop-down menu.

If your video is not listed, upload it to your PhotoBiz account first.

Return to the Video Block after uploading and select MY VIDEOS.

Why isn't my embedded video displaying?

Make sure you entered the complete embed code provided by your video hosting platform rather than a regular video URL.

Check the video's privacy and sharing settings with your provider. The video must allow embedding and playback on other websites.

What controls the thumbnail for a video uploaded to PhotoBiz?

The thumbnail for a video uploaded directly to PhotoBiz is based on the first frame of the video.

If you want a different preview image for visitors on mobile devices, use the MOBILE COVER IMAGE option where applicable.

Why isn't my embedded video autoplaying?

Embedded video autoplay can be affected by your video hosting platform, web browser, and the visitor's device.

Many browsers restrict videos with audio from playing automatically.

For more consistent autoplay and looping behavior, upload the video directly to your PhotoBiz Video Library and use a supported autoplay layout.

Why is my autoplay video silent?

Web browsers may restrict videos with audio from automatically playing.

As a result, an autoplaying video may begin muted even when the original video contains audio.

If audio is important, consider using the Standard layout so visitors can choose when to start playback.

Why is my video cropped?

Certain layouts, including Full Screen and Banner, may crop portions of your video to fill the available display area.

If you want the entire video to remain visible, try No Crop Banner or Standard.

Why isn't my video looping?

Automatic looping is supported for PhotoBiz-hosted videos with specific layouts.

The Standard layout does not automatically loop.

If you are using an embedded video, looping may depend on the settings available through your external video hosting provider.

Why does my video show a play button on mobile?

Mobile browsers and devices may restrict automatic playback.

When autoplay is unavailable, visitors may see a video preview or play button instead.

Add a MOBILE COVER IMAGE to provide a more controlled visual preview when the video is not automatically playing.

Why don't I see the same styling options shown in this guide?

The available STYLING, COLORS, and other customization options depend on the selected Video Block layout.

Different layouts support different arrangements of text, buttons, backgrounds, and overlays.

If a particular setting is unavailable, check the current layout or try another layout that supports the appearance you want.

Related Guides

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If you would prefer professional help creating your website, PhotoBiz offers Custom Website Design.

Our design team can create a professional PhotoBiz website built around your photography, branding, content, and business goals.

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