SEO for Photographers: 5 Quick Tips + Checklist

As a photographer, you already know the power of word-of-mouth. Happy clients recommend you to others, and that brings in more business. But what if referrals slow down, or your social media posts don’t get the traction they used to – how do you keep the leads coming?

That’s where SEO for photographers comes in. Think of it as another way to get found – this time, by people actively searching for photographers on Google.

Believe it or not, there are clients already looking for your photography business online. In fact, statistics show that 4 out of 5 people search for local services on Google before making a purchase decision…

And if your website already showcases a strong portfolio and great client experiences, your chances of getting booked go waaay up!

So now that you know SEO works, the next question is: how do you show up on top of Google searches?

Like any strategy, SEO has a few rules, but here’s the good news: you don’t need a tech background to start and you can do it at no cost.

This no-nonsense guide will walk you through the basics without getting too technical. And if you’re short on time (what business owner isn’t?), you can skip ahead to our quick tips or download our cheat sheet/checklist below.1) Use Long-tail Keywords

What is SEO for Photographers?

SEO for photographers is the process of optimizing your website so that search engines understand your site better and can match it with the right audience.

The better your SEO, the higher your chances of appearing on page one of Google.

Without it, your online portfolio remains buried on page 2 and beyond (yes, almost no one goes past the first page), among thousands of other websites that aren’t optimizing their sites. This makes it nearly impossible for new clients to find you!

So how does it work? Generally speaking, search engines rank websites based on:

• Credibility: does your website seem reliable and professional?

• Relevance: does your content match what people are searching for?

• Authority: do other trusted websites link back to you?

Later on, you’ll see there’s a lot more to SEO once we zoom in. But without these three, Google won’t consider your site a reliable source – and it won’t rank you where clients can see you.

That said, SEO isn’t just for photographers. Wedding planners, personal trainers, real estate agents, and other local businesses all use it to bring in steady leads.

It’s basically a 24/7 lead-generation machine that works even while you sleep (or when you're busy behind the camera).

Quick & Easy SEO Tips for Photographers

If you've built your website DIY on WordPress, Squarespace, or Wix, you’re already off to a good start. These platforms already take care of technical SEO aspects, like mobile-friendliness and security.

What you need to focus on now is on-page SEO, content, and building authority. Here’s how:

Get Backlinks From Authority Sites

A backlink is a link from another website to yours. It works like a referral – a vote of confidence. Just like when a client books you because someone highly recommended you, backlinks tell Google that your site is trustworthy and worth ranking higher.

Here are three proven ways to earn quality backlinks:

1. Guest Posting

Guest posting is basically writing an article for a relevant website in exchange for a link back to your own.

To find relevant websites (e.g. photography, wedding, elopement) that accept guest posts, simply plug into Google Search the formula: niche/industry + “write for us”

Other keyword variations can work too, for example:

• photography "guest post guidelines"

• site:example.com "submit a guest post"

• wedding blog "submit an article"

2. Public Relations (PR)

Public Relations (PR) involves getting mentioned in news articles, magazines, or industry websites – typically in exchange for your expert insights or experience. Popular ways this is done include:

• Signing up for Featured or Qwoted – platforms where journalists look for expert quotes.

• Reaching out to local or industry-specific publications with a unique angle or story about your work.

• Pitching your story to relevant media outlets – especially if you’ve won an award or worked on a high-profile project

3. Joining Photography Showcases

This involves submitting your work to online photography galleries, competitions, or awards that credit and link back to your website.

Keep in mind, though, that not all backlinks are equal. A link from a well-known wedding magazine would hold more weight than one coming from an unrelated website, like a roofing or cleaning service.

That said, getting quality backlinks does take time and effort. And it’s something that businesses often struggle with because they’re either too busy or pitching is simply out of their comfort zone – two things that inspired and drove us to build Repulinks in the first place.

Find the Right Keywords (and Use Them Correctly)

Think of keywords as the words potential clients type into Google when looking for your services. If you're a wedding photographer in Austin, people might search for:

• Austin wedding photographer

• Newborn photography Austin

• Photographer for birthdays

The goal is to use these keywords strategically on your website:

• Use them in your page titles and heading (H1) but don’t forget to inject some personality into it or state your USP. For example: Austin Wedding Photographer | Documentary-Style Storytelling

• Incorporate them into your content naturally. Again, naturally. Don’t try to stuff keywords that make your content awkward to read. Instead, aim to write helpful descriptions of your services.

• Optimize your service pages. If you offer multiple photography services (e.g. weddings, portraits, events), create separate pages with specific keywords for each.

But how do I find or come up with these keywords in the first place?

For starters, you can use the copycat method, which is as simple as looking at your competitors’ keywords and adapting them to fit your own. As you navigate through their sites, you’ll notice most keywords revolve around two things:

• The specific photography services they offer (e.g. elopement, wedding, newborn, maternity, etc.)

• The locations they serve (e.g. cities, towns, or specific areas)

You can take inspiration from these keywords and tailor them to fit your photography business. Then, use them naturally in your page titles and H1s, and throughout the content.

The problem with the copycat approach is that it doesn’t tell you which keywords are actually worth targeting. You won’t know who you’re up against and whether you can outrank them – or if people are even searching for those terms at all.

That’s where keyword research tools like Ahrefs, Semrush, and Moz come in. These tools provide insights like search volume, keyword difficulty, and competition levels to help you pick the best keywords.

While they do come at a cost, they’re a great investment especially if you’re mindful of where you invest your time and budget.

Make Sure Photos are Sized “Just Right”

Photography websites are naturally image-heavy. If those images aren’t optimized for size, they can take ages to load.

(and quick reality check: no one’s sticking around for a sluggish website – it totally ruins the whole experience.)

To keep your images high-quality without sacrificing speed, resize your images before uploading. A 3000px-wide photo is unnecessarily big for a website, so stick to 1200px - 2000px.

Additionally, compress your images. Tools like TinyPNG or ShortPixel can help you reduce the file sizes without losing quality.

Create Valuable and Relevant Content

When we talk about content, we don’t just mean the portraits and videos you took and uploaded. Of course, they’re a beautiful showcase of your skills – but Google needs textual content to understand your expertise.

For content to be valuable and relevant, it should:

• Address a specific problem or challenge.

• Match search intent. (Would your audience expect a detailed guide with examples and charts, or just a quick walkthrough?)

• Reflect your unique experience and expertise (because, imagine if a plumbing website started giving photography advice)

To get started, try creating educational content, like photography tips, guides on posing and camera settings. For example, if you’re a newborn photographer, a blog post like “What to Expect During a Newborn Photoshoot” can attract expecting parents looking for advice.

You could take it a step further by creating content based on your own original research. Not only does it offer unique insights to readers, but it also increases your chances of earning backlinks (remember how important backlinks are earlier?)

From time to time, you can mix in content that shares personal stories, such as behind-the-scenes moments, lessons learned, or even milestones and awards. These add a touch of human and personality to your website.

Set Up a Google Business Profile (GBP)

Before we get into it, take a look at the top of the search results for the keyword “wedding photographer boston” below:

See those top three results with a map? That’s called the Google Map Pack, which is pretty accessible and convenient for potential clients. And yes, you can rank there too – but you’ll need to set up a Google Business Profile (GBP).

GBP is a free tool that helps businesses appear not only in Google Search but also in Google Maps, making it way easier for local clients to find you. 

A GBP listing includes essential details like your business name, location, service area, contact information, operating hours, and photos of your work. Here, clients can also leave reviews that you can acknowledge and respond to (and we highly recommend doing that).

The more complete and active your GBP,  the better your chances of ranking.

But I don’t have a studio or a physical office…

Well, Google explicitly states that in this case, you can still create a GBP listing by setting your business as a "service-area business." This means you visit clients or work on-location rather than serving them at a storefront, which is the case for event photographers in general.

Wrapping Up on SEO for Photographers

There are advanced SEO strategies that can take your website’s rankings even higher, but the five steps we covered above are things you can do right now to help more people find your photography business – without spending on expensive ads.

Now, SEO isn’t some instant magic formula that pushes you to the top overnight. 

Like anything worthwhile, it takes time. But with consistent SEO effort, your website will start building momentum, bringing in organic traffic and real leads.

If building website authority is your next step, we at Repulinks can help your business get featured in top publications and earn the backlinks that boost your credibility.

Our clients have been linked by Forbes, USA Today, and other major websites, helping them climb search rankings faster – and we’re confident about bringing the same great results for your business as well.

We also offer different SEO packages, each made to fit different needs and budgets, so you can choose what works best for you. If you’re unsure or have any questions, feel free to book a call and chat with us!