SEO For Photographers: How to Get Found (Without the Overwhelm)
The Work Between – Episode 9
If hearing “search engine optimization” makes you want to bury your head under a throw blanket, you’re not alone. SEO feels confusing, techy, and—let’s be honest—easy to ignore when client work takes center stage.
But here's the truth: a strategic, SEO-friendly website can quietly book clients for you while you sleep. In Episode 9 of The Work Between, we're stripping away the jargon and giving you real, actionable SEO tips you can actually use—without needing a tech degree or a spare 12 hours.
What Is SEO (and Why Should You Care)?
SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization, which is just a fancy way of saying:
"Can people find your website when they search for a photographer like you?”
Think: “Chicago family photographer” or “natural light newborn photographer in Dallas.”
If your website isn’t showing up on Google for terms your ideal client is already searching, you’re leaving inquiries—and income—on the table.
SEO matters because:
Most people never click past page one of Google
Instagram and social media algorithms are unreliable
Your website is the only platform you fully own
And the good news? You don’t have to be an SEO expert to start improving your visibility.
What Google Actually Looks For
Google is smart—but it still needs help understanding your content. It can’t “see” your photos the way humans do. It reads your text.
Here are the top SEO elements Google scans:
H1 Headings: Every page should have one clear heading with your primary keyword
Meta Descriptions: The short preview that shows up in search results (under 160 characters)
Image File Names: Rename images before uploading (not IMG_2049.jpg)
Alt Text: Describe the image naturally (helps both SEO and accessibility)
Internal Links: Link between your own website pages (example: homepage → contact page)
Bonus tip: Don’t keyword-stuff. Google is smart enough to recognize helpful content vs. robot-speak.
How to Choose the Right Photography SEO Keywords
If you’re unsure where to start, try this simple exercise:
Search like your clients would.
What would you Google if you were looking for a photographer in your area?Use tools like Keywords Everywhere or Ubersuggest.
Plug in terms like “Houston newborn photographer” and see how many people are searching it each month.Be specific with location.
Instead of just “Texas photographer,” use “Austin maternity photographer” or “Frisco cake smash session.”Make a keyword list for your main pages:
Homepage: “Nashville Newborn Photographer”
About Page: “Nashville Photographer”
Portfolio: One keyword per gallery (e.g. “Brentwood Family Photography”)
Contact: “Nashville Photographer Contact”
Your Website SEO Checklist
Want to optimize your site today? Focus on these five easy wins:
✅ Rename image files before uploading (example: nashville-family-session-in-studio.jpg)
✅ Add natural, descriptive alt text to your images
✅ Make sure your homepage H1 includes your location + service
✅ Write a meta description for each page (under 160 characters)
✅ Add internal links across your site (connect relevant pages!)
And don’t forget: submit your site to Google Search Console—it’s free and helps Google index your pages faster.
Ask Us Anything:
“I use Showit/Squarespace/WordPress—does SEO still work?”
Yes. SEO works across all platforms. Some builders make it easier to access things like meta titles and alt text, but the principles are the same. We've seen photographers rank on all three.
🎧 Listen to Episode 9: SEO for Photographers: How to Get Found (Without the Overwhelm)
Available now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.
📎 Free Resource Mentioned: Grab our How to Write a Blog Post for SEO guide in the show notes.
💡 Ready for weekly clarity + support?
Try MOTIV free for 7 days and get the systems, community, and tools to grow your photography business without burnout.
Final Thought:
You don’t need to master SEO overnight. You just need to start—page by page, image by image, step by step.
Because when the right people can finally find you? Everything changes.
