![Photographer: use SEO so everyone can find you on internet [SEO checklist]](http://onlineyougrow.com/cdn/shop/articles/cov-seo-checklist-4_465b0e54-2968-4ac4-8320-cc046f20ce67.png?v=1715867475&width=1100)
SEO isn't just for tech giants and online stores—it's a powerful tool that the best photographers in the world use strategically to attract clients.
We know you're busy capturing moments and the thought of optimizing your website might feel like another burden.
But here's the deal: you don't need to be an SEO expert or spend a fortune to make it work. Just a few simple steps can significantly improve your online visibility and bring more clients to your portfolio.
To help you out, we have built a free SEO checklist - also, for a full action plan, please check our pack of marketing tactics and strategies for photographers.
Get the SEO checklist made for photographers
The best photographers rank first on Google. Here is a free tool to to get you started.
What is SEO for photographers exactly?
Simply put, SEO is all about making your photography website more attractive to search engines like Google.
When someone searches for "best wedding photographer in [Your Town]" or "professional portrait photography," SEO helps your photography business show up in the results. The goal is to get your website higher up on the search results page so more people can find and book your services.
Why is SEO Important for Photographers?
SEO is incredibly important for photographers, and here’s why:
- Increased Online Visibility:
The higher your website ranks on search engines, the more people will see it. This means more potential clients discovering your photography services online, especially when they're looking for a photographer.
- Higher Rankings on Search Engines:
Most people don’t look past the first page of search results. By optimizing your site, you can climb those rankings and beat out the competition. Imagine someone searching for "best portrait photographer near me" and finding your business right at the top!
- Attracting More Local Clients:
SEO isn't just about getting anyone to your site—it's about getting the right people. Local SEO helps ensure that when someone nearby searches for a photographer, your business pops up. This means more local clients and more bookings.
Key Components of SEO
Now, let’s break down the main parts of SEO specifically for your photography business:
On-Page SEO
This involves making sure the content on your website is optimized. It includes things like:
- Keywords:
Using the words and phrases people are searching for in your titles, descriptions, and content. For example, if you specialize in wedding photography, make sure you use phrases like "best wedding photographer" or "wedding photography services" on your site.
- Content Quality:
Providing useful, engaging, and fresh content about your photography services. Share your portfolio, client testimonials, upcoming projects, and stories about your work and team.
- Meta Tags:
Using meta titles and descriptions that are relevant and appealing to searchers. For instance, a meta description for your homepage could be "Capture your special moments with [Your Photography Business Name], the top-rated photographer in [Your Town]."
Off-Page SEO
This focuses on actions taken outside your website to impact your rankings:
- Backlinks:
Getting other reputable websites to link to your site, which signals to search engines that your site is trustworthy and relevant. This could be from photography blogs, local news sites, or community event pages.
- Social Media:
Being active on social media with your photography business’s page can drive traffic to your site and improve your online presence. Share your latest shoots, client reviews, and special promotions to engage with your audience.
Technical SEO
This ensures your website meets the technical requirements of search engines:
- Site Speed:
Making sure your website loads quickly. No one likes to wait, especially potential clients looking to view your portfolio!
- Mobile-Friendliness:
Ensuring your site looks and works well on mobile devices. Many people search for photographers on their phones while on the go.
- Secure Website (HTTPS):
Having a secure website that users (and search engines) can trust. This is especially important if you have an online booking or contact form.
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Which keywords should you target for your photography service?
Photographers, like you, must target specific keywords in SEO because it helps your website appear in search results when potential clients look for the type of photography services you offer. This increases the chances that people will find and book your services.
For example, if you specialize in wedding photography, targeting keywords like "best wedding photographer" or "wedding photography near me" helps attract clients searching for those terms. This makes it easier for people interested in wedding photography to find your services online.
Here are some keyword ideas for you. If you want a more developed strategy with actionable steps, go check out our strategy pack for photographers.
| Keyword | Competitiveness Level | Tips and Initiatives |
|---|---|---|
| Best [Photography Type] in [Your City] | High | Optimize your website with high-quality images from your portfolio, gather client testimonials, list on local directories, and use local SEO strategies. |
| Where to find a [Photography Type] photographer | Medium | Create blog posts or pages on your website showcasing your best work, use keywords naturally in content, and engage with local photography communities. |
| Photographer with good reviews near me | Medium | Use beautiful imagery from your portfolio, gather positive client reviews, and ensure your Google My Business profile is complete. |
| Best place for [Photography Type] in [Your City] | Medium | Feature specific photography types prominently on your website (e.g., portraits, events), use local SEO tactics, and promote your work on social media. |
| [Your Photography Type] photographer in [Your City] | High | Highlight unique aspects of your photography style, create SEO-friendly content about your services, and engage with the local community online. |
| Top-rated [Photography Type] near me | High | Encourage satisfied clients to leave positive reviews, optimize your website for mobile, and ensure accurate information on local listings. |
| Affordable [Photography Type] in [Your City] | Low | Highlight affordable packages and specials on your website, use keywords related to value, and promote deals on social media. |
| Where to find [Photography Type] near me | Medium | Use local SEO strategies, create content around popular photography services, and ensure your website is optimized for mobile users searching nearby. |
| Popular [Photography Type] in [Your City] | Medium | Use social media to share popular photoshoots, engage with local influencers, and gather client testimonials to build credibility. |
| Best [Photography Type] for families in [Your City] | Low | Create family-friendly content, highlight amenities for families on your website, and host family-themed photoshoots to generate buzz. |
What really matters when you do SEO for a photographer
Actually, we think that SEO often follows the 80/20 rule, meaning that 80% of your results come from 20% of your efforts. For photographers, like you, this means it's crucial to focus on the right strategies to maximise impact without feeling overwhelmed.
| Action / Initiative | Why It Matters / How It Helps Bring New Clients |
|---|---|
| Optimize Google My Business profile | Ensures your photography services appear in local search results, provides essential information (hours, location, services), and collects reviews to build trust. |
| Gather and respond to online reviews | Positive reviews build credibility and trust. Responding to reviews shows you value client feedback, encouraging more people to book your services. |
| Create high-quality content with targeted keywords | Helps your website rank higher in search results for relevant queries, attracting clients looking for specific types of photography services. |
| Optimize for local SEO | Ensures your photography business shows up in local searches (e.g., "photographers near me"), driving inquiries from nearby potential clients. |
| Ensure website is mobile-friendly | Most users search for services on their phones. A mobile-friendly site provides a better user experience, leading to higher engagement and bookings. |
| Use high-quality images of your work | Attractive photos showcase your skills and style, enticing potential clients to choose you for their photography needs. |
| Include a portfolio with keywords | Allows search engines to index your work, helping you appear in searches for specific photography styles or services, and makes it easy for clients to see your expertise. |
| List your business on local directories | Increases your online presence and backlinks, improving your search engine ranking and making it easier for clients to find you. |
| Engage with local bloggers and influencers | Generates buzz and word-of-mouth, reaching a wider audience and attracting clients who trust these local voices. |
| Promote special packages and offers | Creates a sense of urgency and excitement, encouraging potential clients to book your services for unique experiences. |
| Utilize social media to share updates and engage with clients | Builds a community around your photography business, keeps clients informed about new offerings, and drives traffic to your website. |
| Ensure accurate and consistent NAP (Name, Address, Phone) information across all platforms | Prevents confusion, helps search engines trust your business information, and improves your local SEO ranking. |
| Offer online booking and consultations | Makes it convenient for clients to plan their sessions or consultations, leading to increased bookings and client satisfaction. |
| Create blog posts about your photography techniques and experiences | Attracts visitors to your site through informative and engaging content, improving SEO and showcasing what makes your photography unique. |
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What is always useless when you do SEO for a photographer
We have studied a lot of photographers when we built our strategy pack and we saw a lot of SEO-related initiatives that don't help attract new clients. We explain here why they might be a waste of time or even counterproductive.
| Action / Initiative | Why It Doesn't Matter / How It Doesn't Help Bring New Clients |
|---|---|
| Using meta keyword tags | Search engines no longer use meta keyword tags to rank pages, so focusing on them doesn't improve SEO for your photography business. |
| Keyword stuffing in photo descriptions | Overusing keywords in photo descriptions makes them hard to read and can be penalized by search engines, turning away potential clients. |
| Paying for backlinks from unrelated websites | Backlinks from non-photography related or low-quality websites don't improve your SEO and can even hurt your ranking if considered spammy by search engines. |
| Using exact match domains like bestweddingphotographer.com | Having an exact match domain has minimal impact on SEO and can appear spammy, especially if it doesn't reflect your brand well. |
| Creating multiple pages for the same photo galleries | Duplicate content confuses search engines and can dilute your SEO efforts. Focus on one high-quality page for each unique gallery or topic. |
| Using Flash for photo galleries | Flash is outdated, not supported by many devices, and negatively impacts SEO. Modern alternatives like HTML5 should be used instead. |
| Focusing only on desktop optimization | Many clients search for photographers on mobile devices. Ignoring mobile optimization leads to poor user experience and lower search rankings. |
| Using automated link-building tools | These tools often create low-quality or spammy links that can be penalized by search engines, hurting your photography business's SEO efforts. |
| Ignoring structured data for photos | Structured data helps search engines understand your photos better. Ignoring it means missing out on potential SEO benefits like rich snippets. |
| Not updating your portfolio regularly | Outdated portfolio information can frustrate clients and harm your SEO. Regular updates keep content relevant and maintain search rankings. |
| Using irrelevant stock photos on your site | Low-quality or irrelevant images can negatively impact user experience and SEO. Use high-quality photos of your actual work and projects. |
| Over-optimizing anchor text in links | Using exact match keywords for every link appears unnatural and can be penalized by search engines. Use varied, natural anchor text instead. |
| Ignoring page load speed for your website | Slow-loading pages frustrate users and can lead to higher bounce rates, negatively impacting your photography business's SEO. Ensure your site loads quickly. |
| Using too many ads above the fold on your homepage | Too many ads at the top of the page can be off-putting for users and may be penalized by search engines, impacting your SEO negatively. |
Should you pay someone for the SEO of your photography service?
Well, let's be transparent. Here’s the thing: SEO can get pretty complex, and having some support can really make a difference. Imagine trying to juggle capturing stunning photos, editing them to perfection, managing client relationships, and then on top of that, diving into the world of search engine optimization. It’s a lot, right?
Having someone handle your SEO means you can focus on what you do best—creating beautiful images. SEO experts know the ins and outs of getting your website to rank higher on search engines. They stay updated on the latest trends and algorithms, which means your site will be optimized correctly and consistently. This can lead to more people finding your photography services online, and ultimately, more clients booking sessions with you.
- But here’s the kicker: there are a lot of low-hanging fruits in SEO that you can tackle on your own, even if you don’t know much about it.
You will find a lot of low-hanging fruits that cost nothing, are quick to implement, and will make your photography website much more visible in strategy pack for photographers.
Simple actions like optimizing your Google My Business profile, ensuring your website is mobile-friendly, and using relevant keywords can significantly improve your online presence. These tasks don't require deep technical knowledge but can make a big impact.
So, should you increase the marketing budget of your photography business and pay someone to manage your SEO? If you can do it, it’s a worthwhile investment. But don't underestimate what you can achieve on your own. Start with the basics, see the results, and then decide if you need more specialized help.
Make your photography service more profitable
We have studied the strategies of the best photographers in the world. All their tactics are explained in our pack!
Useful tools photographers can use for their SEO
Here are some essential tools that our team has collected and listed, to help you improve your photography business's online presence and SEO.
| Tool | How It's Useful |
|---|---|
| Google My Business | Ensures your photography business appears in local search results and Google Maps, provides essential information (hours, location, services), and collects customer reviews. |
| SEMrush | Helps identify the best keywords for your photography services, analyze competitors, and track your search rankings. Provides insights to improve your content and visibility. |
| Yext | Manages your photography business's listings across multiple directories, ensuring consistent NAP (Name, Address, Phone) information to boost local SEO. |
| Google Search Console | Monitors your photography website's performance, identifies issues, and provides data on search traffic and keywords to optimize your SEO strategy. |
| Yelp | Collects customer reviews and ratings, which improve your photography business's online reputation and visibility in local search results. |
| BrightLocal | Offers tools for local SEO audits, citation building, and review management, helping your photography business improve its local search presence. |
| Moz | Provides keyword research, link building, and site audit tools to enhance your photography business's SEO efforts and improve search engine rankings. |
| Ahrefs | Analyzes your photography business's backlink profile, identifies top-performing content, and tracks keyword rankings to boost your SEO strategy. |
| Screaming Frog SEO Spider | Crawls your photography website to identify technical SEO issues, such as broken links and duplicate content, helping improve site health and rankings. |
| AnswerThePublic | Generates content ideas by showing what people are searching for related to photography, helping you create relevant and engaging blog posts and pages. |
| Canva | Helps create visually appealing social media posts and graphics for your website, which can improve user engagement and indirectly boost SEO. |
| Hotjar | Provides insights into user behavior on your photography website through heatmaps and session recordings, helping you optimize user experience and reduce bounce rates. |
Copy the SEO tactics of the best photographers
We understand why many photographers might shy away from SEO and marketing.
Managing a photography business is already a full-time job, and the concept of SEO can seem vague and foreign. The terminology can be confusing, and it often feels like marketing is a luxury only big corporations can afford.
Plus, there's the constant worry about costs and whether any marketing efforts will actually pay off. We get that you prefer to focus on immediate, tangible improvements to your photography skills and client experience rather than dive into something that seems complicated and uncertain. No need to deteriorate your photography business’s budget here.
That's why we've created a "marketing pack" specifically for photographers like you.
Our pack is designed to address all these concerns head-on. It includes easy-to-follow guides that break down SEO and marketing into simple steps, so you don't need to be a tech expert to understand. We offer cost-effective strategies that fit within tight budgets, and our step-by-step plans ensure that you can implement a good marketing strategy for your photography business without feeling overwhelmed.
Plus, we've included real-life examples and tips that have worked for other small photography businesses, so you can see the tangible benefits before you even start.
Our goal is to make marketing accessible and practical, helping your photography business thrive without adding extra stress to your already busy life.
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