If you’ve ever asked yourself, “How do I get more clients to find my photography website?” you’re not alone. Many photographers excel behind the camera but feel overwhelmed by figuring out search engine optimization (SEO). You know you need to show up online, but you might not know where to start.
The good news? SEO isn’t as intimidating as it seems, and you don’t need to be a tech expert to start seeing results. Once you understand a few fundamentals, SEO becomes a powerful and sustainable way to bring your ideal clients to your site.
Before we get more into it—hi! I’m Christine Dammann, a photographer and mentor passionate about helping other creatives grow thriving businesses without the burnout. I’ve been where you are, and I’m here to help you cut through the noise and focus on what actually works.
Looking for more support? I’ve got a whole library of resources made just for photographers like you—packed with practical tips, tools, and guidance. And if you’re craving more personalized help, my 1:1 mentoring is here to help you grow with confidence and clarity.
Alright, let’s simplify SEO for photographers together!
What Even Is SEO (And Why Should You Care)?
In plain terms, SEO is how you help Google and other search engines understand your website so they can show it to people searching for photography services like yours.
Think of SEO as visibility. You wouldn’t take a photo and leave it in your camera forever, you’d want people to see it. SEO makes your website visible to potential clients searching online, whether they’re searching for “San Diego family photographer” or “outdoor maternity session.”
You’ve invested time and energy into building a strong portfolio and crafting a great experience for your clients, so SEO is what ensures people can actually find it.
How SEO Helps Clients Actually FIND You
Imagine someone is searching for a photographer who captures candid family moments or golden-hour engagement portraits. They might scroll through social media, but they’re also probably opening Google to search for things like:
- “Denver family photographer”
- “Best wedding photographer near me”
- “San Diego beach maternity photos”
If your site isn’t optimized for these kinds of searches, Google has no way to know that your work matches what they’re looking for.
That’s where SEO comes in. It puts your website in front of the right people at the right time.
Unlike ads that stop working when your budget does, SEO keeps working long after you update your site or post a blog. In fact, SEO often works better after more time. It’s like a marketing assistant that works 24/7, helping new clients find you on their own.
The Biggest SEO Mistakes Photographers Make
Even for a lot of photographers who know SEO is important, they’re not always thinking about it correctly. But the most common SEO issues I see are surprisingly easy to fix. Here are a few that might be holding your site back:
1. Not using a Google Business Profile
Sure, a lot of us photographers travel for our work, but photography is inherently a very local service. Even if you do travel, I bet the majority of your clients are in the area you live. That means that local SEO is the name of the game when it comes to SEO for photographers.
Think of when you search for services like electricians or plumbers. Google will serve you the typical list of websites, but it’ll also show you businesses near you on the map. You can then browse through their services and reviews and click on their website from there. They show up there because they have a Google Business profile updated with information about their location, services, hours, and more.
To make sure you’re showing up in local searches as well, you need an updated Google Business profile.
2. Leaving your homepage vague
If your homepage says “Welcome!” without explaining what you do or where you work, search engines can’t figure out how to categorize your site. Clarity helps both Google and your clients, so make sure your tagline represents what type of photography you provide, and your homepage gives enough information about your services and offerings.
3. Avoiding blog posts
Your landing pages can definitely do a lot for SEO, but blogging is what can take you above and beyond. With blogs, you can add more content to your website, answer specific questions about your services, and have more information overall that Google can serve to potential clients.
While your landing pages can help you rank for specific locations and types of sessions, like “Fall Mini Sessions in San Diego,” your blog can rank for more educational terms, FAQs, and other information. For example, people might find you when they’re searching for things like “the best times to schedule a family photo session.” Your blog can help you show up when people search for the help that ultimately brings them to your services.
4. Uploading massive image files
Large image files can slow your site down. And when your site loads slowly, visitors (and search engines) tend to bounce. That means they see that your site is loading slowly, and they say, “No, thank you!” They might as well head back to the search results and find a different, faster website.
Compressing your images is a simple way to improve your load time without sacrificing quality.
Easy Tweaks That Make a BIG Impact
You don’t need to overhaul your entire website to focus on SEO for photographers. Start with these small changes to build momentum:
1. Clarify your location and niche on your homepage
Spell out what you do and where you do it. “Austin lifestyle family photographer” gives both clients and search engines a clear understanding of your services.
2. Rename your image files
Change your file names from “IMG_5432.jpg” to something like “tampa-family-session-golden-hour.jpg.” Search engines read these filenames, so be descriptive and specific.
3. Use headers to organize content
Break up text with clear headers (H1s, H2s, and H3s). This improves readability and gives Google more context about your content.
4. Write blog posts that your clients are already searching for
Think like your clients to develop content for SEO. What questions do they ask? What locations are they excited about? Titles like “Top Locations for Senior Photos in San Diego” or “What to Wear for a Family Session in Denver” help your blog show up in search results.
Want a Step-by-Step Guide to SEO for Photographers? I Made One Just for You
Still feeling a little overwhelmed? You’re not alone—and you’re definitely not out of luck. I put together a free, no-fluff guide that breaks down SEO specifically for photographers. No tech jargon, no overwhelming checklists—just simple, actionable steps you can actually follow (and feel good about).
You’ll learn how to get your website in front of the right people, start climbing those search rankings, and finally make Google work for YOU.
Let’s Get You Showing Up (and Booked!)
You don’t need to do everything at once. Start with a few small updates. You just need to make it easy for Google—and your ideal clients—to understand what you offer. As your site becomes more optimized, you’ll start to see better visibility and better leads.
Overall, SEO helps you stop relying solely on word of mouth and start building a steady stream of inquiries from people already looking for someone like you.
Start small. Stay consistent. And let your website do some of the marketing heavy lifting for you. You’ve got this!
Want some extra support? Check out my free resources for photographers, explore 1:1 mentoring if you’re ready to level up with personalized guidance, or get in touch if you’ve got questions—I’m here to help!
