5 Things You Can Do for Your SEO as a Photographer or Creative
SEO For Photographers
SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) is essential for photographers and creatives looking to be found by clients online. Here are five simple but effective steps that you can implement now to help boost your visibility and rank higher in search results:
1. Optimise Your Image Titles and Alt Text
As a photographer or creative, your website is likely brimming with beautiful visuals—after all, that’s how you showcase your work. But here’s the thing: search engines, like Google, can’t actually "see" those images. They rely on the text behind the scenes—image titles and alt text—to understand what each image is about. Optimising these details can have a big impact on your SEO and help your work appear in search results when potential clients are browsing.
Start by giving your image files descriptive names that make sense to both humans and search engines. Instead of leaving the file as something generic like “IMG_1234.jpg,” rename it to something more specific like “Yorkshire-wedding-photography.jpg.” This tells search engines what’s in the image and helps it get indexed correctly.
Next, don’t forget to add alt text (short for “alternative text”) for each image. Alt text serves two purposes: it describes the image for people using screen readers and provides search engines with more context. For example, if you’ve uploaded a portrait of a bride in Yorkshire, your alt text could be something like, “Bride at a rustic wedding in Yorkshire captured by [Your Business Name].” The alt text should include relevant keywords that reflect the image and your niche, but make sure it sounds natural—avoid keyword stuffing at all costs.
By taking these extra steps to optimise your image titles and alt text, you not only improve the accessibility of your site, but you also increase your chances of showing up in Google Image search results. This small but important SEO tweak makes your work more discoverable, helping potential clients find your site even when they’re just looking for inspiration or specific photography services.
2. Create Relevant, Keyword-Rich Blog Content
Blogging is one of the most effective (and often underused) ways to boost your website’s SEO. When done right, a blog can do more than just showcase your work or thoughts—it can help you appear higher in search engine results, drive traffic to your site, and establish you as an expert in your field. The key is to create blog posts that answer the kinds of questions your potential clients are already asking.
For example, think about what your target audience might be typing into Google. Maybe it’s “best locations for a photoshoot in London” or “how to prepare for a family portrait session.” These are common questions that, if you address them in blog posts, can help bring in visitors who are specifically searching for those answers. Writing detailed, helpful posts around these topics positions you as a go-to source for information, which builds trust and credibility with your audience.
When writing your blog posts, make sure to incorporate relevant keywords naturally throughout your content. Keywords are phrases or terms that people are searching for, and when used properly, they help search engines understand what your content is about. For example, if you’re writing about photoshoot locations in London, make sure to include variations like “best photoshoot spots in London,” “outdoor photography in London,” or “London portrait photography.”
The key is to be strategic but natural. You don’t want to “stuff” your blog with too many keywords—it should still read fluidly and authentically. Search engines have become much smarter at identifying when content is keyword-stuffed, and that can hurt your ranking. Instead, focus on creating valuable, informative content that incorporates keywords in a way that feels organic.
By consistently adding relevant blog posts that align with what your audience is searching for, you’ll improve your search visibility and have more opportunities to connect with potential clients. Over time, this content becomes a resource, driving organic traffic to your website and helping you rank higher in search results without having to rely solely on paid ads or social media.
3. Ensure Your Website is Mobile-Friendly
In today’s world, most of your potential clients will first visit your website on their phones. Whether they’re scrolling through wedding inspiration on Instagram, researching photographers during their commute, or browsing for venues while grabbing a coffee, it’s likely their initial contact with your site will be through a mobile device. That’s why having a mobile-friendly design is not just a nice-to-have—it’s essential for both user experience and SEO.
Search engines, especially Google, prioritise websites that provide a seamless experience across all devices. This means that if your website doesn’t load properly on a mobile phone or tablet—whether it’s too slow, images aren’t displaying correctly, or navigation is clunky—search engines are less likely to rank your site highly. Google even uses a mobile-first indexing system, which means it predominantly uses the mobile version of a site’s content to determine rankings. So if your mobile design is lacking, your search engine ranking will likely suffer as well.
To ensure your website is optimised for mobile, focus on three key elements:
Speed: Clients won’t stick around if your website takes forever to load. Make sure images are optimised to load quickly without sacrificing quality, and keep unnecessary plugins or large file sizes to a minimum. Tools like Google’s PageSpeed Insights can help you assess your site’s speed and offer suggestions for improvement.
Design: A well-designed mobile site should look just as beautiful as your desktop version, but with a more intuitive, streamlined layout. Think about how your clients will navigate your site with their thumbs. Important buttons, like the contact form or portfolio, should be easy to find and click, and text should be readable without needing to zoom in.
Usability: Ensure that your mobile site is simple and easy to use. Potential clients should be able to navigate between your portfolio, pricing information, and contact details without any hassle. Avoid overly complicated menus, and make sure all links and buttons are functional. Test your site on various mobile devices to make sure everything works smoothly.
A mobile-friendly site not only improves the user experience but also makes it more likely that visitors will stay longer and explore more of your content. This reduces your bounce rate (how quickly people leave your site), which search engines notice and reward. In short, having a mobile-optimised website boosts your SEO by ensuring both search engines and potential clients find your site easy to use on any device.
Make sure to remember, the first impression of your brand often happens on a phone screen—so make sure it’s a good one.
4. Use Internal and External Links
Linking between pages on your website (known as internal links) and pointing to other authoritative websites (external links) are both powerful strategies for improving your SEO and enhancing the user experience.
Internal links help search engines, like Google, understand the structure and hierarchy of your site. By creating a web of connections between your pages, you’re signalling to search engines which content is most important. For example, if you write a blog post on “The Best Wedding Photography Locations in London” and link back to your portfolio page of London-based weddings, you’re telling Google that your portfolio is relevant and valuable to users interested in that topic. This strengthens your site’s overall SEO, as it helps search engines crawl and index your pages more effectively.
From a user perspective, internal linking encourages visitors to explore more of your content. Let’s say someone lands on your blog—they’re probably interested in your work, but if there are no easy-to-follow links leading them to your portfolio, services, or testimonials, they might leave before they get a full sense of what you offer. By strategically linking to related content throughout your site, you keep users engaged for longer, reducing your bounce rate (the percentage of visitors who leave after viewing only one page). And the longer people stay on your site, the better it is for SEO, as search engines take that as a signal that your content is valuable and worth ranking higher.
External links are just as important. These are links from your site to other reputable, high-quality sources. While it might seem counterintuitive to send visitors away from your site, external links can actually enhance your site’s authority and trustworthiness in the eyes of search engines. When you link out to credible sources—like industry-leading blogs, wedding planning websites, or relevant articles—you’re associating your content with reliable, authoritative information. This tells search engines that your content is well-researched and credible, which can improve your SEO ranking.
Additionally, external links can provide more value to your audience. For example, if you’re writing a blog post about how to prepare for an engagement shoot, you might link to an article from a trusted bridal blog that offers advice on styling for photo sessions. This not only adds depth to your content but also positions you as a resourceful expert who is connected to other reputable figures in the industry.
Incorporating both internal and external links into your content strategy creates a richer, more interconnected user experience while signalling to search engines that your site is well-organised and credible. Over time, these small actions can make a significant difference in your SEO performance and help potential clients find your work more easily.
5. Focus on Local SEO
If you're a photographer or creative working within a specific area, local SEO should be a cornerstone of your strategy. It’s all about making sure that when people in your region search for your services, you’re the one they find. Local SEO helps you show up in geographically relevant search results, making it easier for potential clients nearby to discover and book you.
Start by using location-based keywords throughout your content. For example, instead of just identifying yourself as a "portrait photographer," you could use "Yorkshire portrait photographer" or "family photographer in Leeds" in your website copy, blog posts, and even image alt text. These specific keywords help search engines connect your business to clients searching for services in your area. The more precise and locally focused your keywords are, the better your chances of ranking higher in those valuable local search results.
Another essential step is ensuring your business is listed on Google My Business. This free tool is a powerful way to increase your visibility in local search results, especially on Google Maps. Make sure all your business details—name, address, phone number, website, and hours—are accurate and up-to-date. Clients looking for services in your area will often rely on these listings to find someone nearby, and being listed can increase your chances of landing in the coveted "Local 3-Pack," the top three business listings that show up in location-based searches.
Don’t forget to ask your satisfied clients to leave reviews on your Google My Business page. Positive reviews play a huge role in your local SEO and can help boost your ranking. More importantly, they offer social proof, giving potential clients the confidence to trust you before they even click through to your website.
While these might seem like small steps, they can have a big impact on your visibility, ensuring you’re connecting with the right clients who are actively looking for the services you provide in your area. The combination of location-based keywords, an optimised Google My Business profile, and strong reviews can significantly boost your local search presence and help you build a solid client base right where you’re based.
