The Big Photography SEO Mistakes That Are Holding You Back

Let’s get one thing straight: you can be the world’s most talented photographer, wielding light like a cinematic wizard and posing clients with the elegance of an editorial magician, but if nobody can find your work online? You might as well be photographing your hard drive for likes. That’s why we’re here to talk about a very under-glamorous but absolutely vital part of your job: photography SEO. I know, I know, it sounds like something a tech bro yells at his interns while waving a matcha latte in the air, but trust me, this stuff matters. And not in the “maybe someday” kind of way. It matters now.

Why Photography SEO Matters More Than You Think

Let’s play a game. Open your website. Now pretend you’re your dream client. Someone who’s ready to spend good money and appreciates quality work. Would they actually be able to find you in a search? Or are you hidden behind a thousand generic photographers with names like “Captured Moments by Emma” and “Reflections of Love Photography,” all using the same moody presets and SEO-optional Squarespace themes?

Photography SEO isn’t just a line item on a to-do list. It’s the difference between being found and being forgotten. Being booked solid, or just… scrolling Instagram with a mild existential crisis. It’s the digital street sign that points Google to your work. Without it? You’re invisible. A beautiful ghost with a $4,000 camera and no audience.

Mistake #1: Those File Names Are a Cry for Help

Here’s the deal: uploading images with filenames like “DSC_4938-final-final-FINAL2.jpg” is like giving Google a middle finger wrapped in tinfoil. Google’s bots read file names to figure out what the image is about. So when you skip naming them properly, you’re telling the internet, “Don’t bother promoting this. I enjoy digital obscurity.”

The fix? Be intentional. Use descriptive, keyword-rich filenames. If you’re a commercial photographer uploading a shot of a restaurant interior, try something like “rex-jones-commercial-restaurant-interior-brand-photography-st-george-utah.” Yes, it’s long. Yes, it’s boring. But you know what else it is? Effective.

Mistake #2: Alt Text Isn’t Optional (And No, “Photo” Doesn’t Count)

Alt text is like your image’s little wingman. It’s there to describe the photo for screen readers (accessibility win!) and also to give search engines more context. Too many photographers either skip this or worse, write stuff like “image1” or “wedding.” No shade, but that’s like listing your job title as “human.”

If you’re trying to show up for searches like “Utah commercial photographer” or “branding photography for small businesses,” then your alt text better reflect that. Write something that would make sense to someone not looking at the image, while still including keywords naturally.

Mistake #3: Your Site Loads Slower Than a Drunk Sloth

Listen. I love high-res files as much as the next pixel perfectionist, but if your site takes longer than five seconds to load, people are already rage-tapping that back button. SEO doesn’t just care about what’s on your site, it cares about how fast people can get to it. And loading a 12MB image full-screen because you “didn’t want to compromise quality” is not a flex. It’s a red flag.

Compress your images. Use WebP if you can. Keep full-res versions in your client delivery galleries and portfolio backups, but optimize your site images. If you’re not sure how? Use a tool like TinyPNG or ShortPixel and compress the heck out of them before uploading.

Mistake #4: Zero Focus on Local SEO

You’re not just a photographer. You’re a photographer in [insert your actual location]. That matters. Because clients aren’t Googling “business photographer”, they’re searching “business photographer near me” or “branding photographer in St. George.” And if you’ve left your location out of your image titles, alt text, and page copy, congratulations, you’ve effectively ghosted all the clients who were ready to pay you.

Add location keywords strategically. Talk about the areas you serve. Mention nearby cities, local landmarks, or recognizable neighborhoods. It helps with search, yes, but it also helps you sound real and relatable instead of just another camera-for-hire.

Mistake #5: You’re Writing for Other Photographers, Not Clients

Photographers love talking shop: gear, settings, lens choices, Lightroom tweaks. Cool. I’m into it too. But that doesn’t belong on your homepage. Why? Because your clients don’t care. They want to know how your photos will solve their problem. Will their Airbnb book faster? Will their products finally look high-end? Will they stop cringing at their team headshots?

When you write content, stop trying to impress your peers. Write for the clients who need you. Use language they use. Solve the problems they’re actually searching about. And guess what? That makes SEO better, too. Because when you’re writing content people actually want to read, they stay on your site longer, and Google takes that as a green light.

Mistake #6: Ignoring Blog Power (Yes, Even If You Hate Writing)

Blogging isn’t dead. It’s just poorly done. And if you’re not updating your site with new content, search engines think your site is gathering digital cobwebs. A blog lets you show authority, target more keywords, and create content that earns backlinks (translation: SEO juice).

Now, I hear you. “But I’m a visual artist! I don’t want to write!” Cool. Then talk out loud into a voice memo, transcribe it, and clean it up into a blog post. Or do what smart photographers do and hire a branding expert or content strategist to help (hi, yes, this is me politely waving).

Start with topics your clients are already asking you about: What should I wear for a brand shoot? How long does a commercial session take? What kind of shots do I need for a product launch? These are blog gold.

Mistake #7: Not Leveraging Your Own Name and Niche

You’d be shocked how many commercial photographers never mention their own name, style, or niche in their SEO. You’re not just a “photographer.” You’re a business photographer, a branding expert, a marketing photographer in Utah who helps small businesses stand out. Use that language. Own it. Embed it into your homepage, your about page, your image metadata, your blog.

Even better? Make your own name a keyword. You want people Googling you directly. And when they do, you want to show up everywhere, website, social, Google Business, portfolio platforms. Consistency is the secret sauce.

Final Thoughts: SEO Isn’t Magic. It’s Just Effort.

Photography SEO isn’t some arcane sorcery you need to master in a cave. It’s a series of small, intentional steps that compound over time. Rename your images. Write your alt text. Compress your files. Focus on local. Write for your clients. Post blogs. Repeat.

It’s not glamorous. You won’t get immediate dopamine hits like you do from social likes. But unlike social media, SEO actually builds equity. It keeps working long after you post it. And in an industry that often feels like screaming into the void, that kind of longevity? That’s gold.

So whether you’re a commercial photographer looking to land bigger clients, a business photographer trying to get found locally, or just someone tired of hearing “I didn’t even know you were in town”, take a hard look at your SEO. Chances are, a few small fixes could mean a whole lot more visibility, better bookings, and fewer sad refreshes of your contact form.

And if this all feels like too much? Well, you know where to find a branding expert who can help you clean it up. Hint: you’re already reading their work.