4 Tips to Improve Your Photography Website

(Why your photography website is losing you money!)

If you’re like most photographers, you’re probably investing a lot of time and money into your business. Cameras, lighting, CRMs, and even marketing. But there’s one area of business photographers notoriously ignore – your website!

As a photographer business coach and web designer, I’ve seen how tweaking your site can lead to more leads and bookings. So, today I’m going to give you 4 tips to improve your website and get more leads.

Map Out A Great Website Flow

One of the best ways to improve your photography website is to consider how potential customers move through your site. Your “website flow” is every movement someone makes on your site from the first time they click on it, to filling out your contact form or exiting.

The problem is if you’re like most photographers, you created your own website with no experience or used a pretty template from a popular template shop. Those are both great, affordable options when you’re first getting started and you just need a website up ASAP.

But it leaves you to struggle with putting together a “website flow” that actually holds a potential client’s hand and walks them through your process. Also, most templates for photographers are pretty but don’t have all the pages and sections you need as you become more established. (Plus, if we’re being honest…that’s why most photographers’ sites look the same.)

Your photographer’s website should take me to your exact packages from the homepage, show me what the experience is like working with you and let me see myself in your work. Does it?

If not, it may be time to upgrade your design to support your growing business. When you’re done reading all 4 tips, check out my article here to see if you’ve outgrown your website.

How to upgrade your photography website flow

If your website isn’t pulling in the leads you want and you’re ready to invest in an upgrade, I can help! I design photographers’ websites that take ALL YOUR ideal client’s buying triggers into account. 

We’ll update your design and make sure to answer the most important questions your clients want to know, like:

• Do you have what they’re looking for?
• What do they want to do with their photos?
• What do your photography packages include?
• What’s the experience like working with you?

I take all of these pieces and put them together in a beautiful, custom website that speaks directly to your client. 

Image Selection

Your photos are what sells your photography services. However, having too many photos or the wrong photos on your website can deter people from hiring you. Similar to your website flow, you should be walking visitors through your business ecosystem using your photos.

For example, if prints and wall art are where you make the majority of your money then you should feather images of you hanging your photos on people’s walls throughout your site. This shows off your photography skills and lets potential clients know they can expect to get prints and canvas’ from you. 

If I was a potential client who was looking to add photos of my family to my wall, this would catch my eye!

And as for how many photos to display on your photography website…brace yourself! Often we want to show as many photos as possible. But a lesson I’ve learned from having my own photography business and doing photography website design for the past few years is…regular people don’t want to see that many photos. (It hurts me just to type that!) 

Most people want to see themselves in your photos. And it only takes a moderate amount of carefully curated images on each page, plus session highlights, to do that. Too much and they get lost in a sea of scrolling, where everything tends to blend together and nothing stands out.

How to improve your website image selection

The simplest way to see if you have a good image selection on your photography website is to re-look at your pages and ask yourself if the images shown are highlighting your skills and products. If not, swap images. Image selection is something I do for my web design clients and it can really help how many people choose to inquire with you.

Better Copywriting

Bad website copywriting can kill your chances of getting hired. The two most common problems I see with photographer websites are how many words they write and how they use those words. 

To start, most photography website pages have less than 300 words per page. And from what I’ve seen, photographers tend to fill their websites with fluffy copy that focuses more on cliches than conversions. *Yikes!* 

Can you imagine doing a sales call with a new customer and saying less than 300 words? No! Even with beautiful images, your customers will still have questions your copy needs to answer. Questions like what type of photography you do, what’s the process of working with you is like, what’s included in your packages, pricing, where you travel to, etc. 

It’s important you answer these key questions in your copy to show website visitors you’re the right photographer for them. 

How to improve your website image selection

I get it, writing copy isn’t fun for everyone. If writing isn’t your thing, I can help you. Reach out and let’s work together to turn your current copy into copy that converts.

Invest in SEO

Photographers are notorious for having beautiful websites but not prioritizing SEO (also known as Search Engine Optimization). This is sad because even if you have an amazing photography website and skills, you’re still unlikely to exist to search engines, like Google, without SEO. 

That leaves you reliant on unreliable social media algorithms to get in front of your ideal clients.

SEO allows you to show up to your local, national, and even international ideal clients. It doesn’t take away from how pretty your website design is or how authentic your copywriting is. There is literally no downside to having it.

How to improve your photography website’s SEO?

If you want to instantly improve your website, you need to invest in SEO. Although I’m not an SEO specialist, I team up with Sara Does SEO who handles all my clients’ needs. (Including my own website!) She’s amazing and when paired with my professional website design services, her SEO Fix can transform your SEO in 7 days. See the full details here.

Knowing When It’s Time For A Website Upgrade

As a new photographer, it’s best just to get a website up and start collecting leads from social media, friends of friends, etc. However, if you’re ready to become a full-time photographer, or if you already are but haven’t stopped the social media hustle to work on how your website can bring in leads…it’s time. 

Getting a custom-built website can improve your client experience and the chances of getting booked. If you’re ready for that leap, let me know, and let’s upgrade your website.