Squarespace SEO for Photographers: Rank on Google & Book More Clients (2025)
Why Photographers Need SEO (Yes, Even on Squarespace)
Let’s start with the obvious: if your dream clients can’t find your website, you’re not booking them.
Squarespace makes it beautifully simple to launch a photography portfolio—but SEO (search engine optimization) is what helps people actually discover it. That’s where strategy comes in. Whether you shoot weddings, portraits, or commercial gigs, optimizing your Squarespace site helps you rank higher in Google, get more traffic, and—most importantly—book more of the right clients.
If SEO feels intimidating, don’t worry. This guide is tailored for photographers and walks you through it step by step, with a focus on what you can control inside your Squarespace website.
What We’ll Cover in This Guide
What SEO even means for photographers
Squarespace’s built-in SEO strengths (and limitations)
How to do smart keyword research without guesswork
Where and how to place keywords on your site
Optimizing images for both SEO and accessibility
Boosting visibility with blog content and local SEO
Common mistakes photographers make (and how to avoid them)
By the end, you’ll have a solid, action-ready SEO game plan—whether you DIY or decide to work with a Squarespace website designer for photographers.
Understanding Squarespace SEO: What’s Built In (and What’s Not)
Let’s clear this up: Squarespace is good for SEO—but only if you use it right.
✅ What Squarespace Does For You Automatically
SSL security (important for rankings and trust)
Fast, reliable hosting
Built-in sitemap submission
Structured content blocks that make clean HTML output
These are all things Google likes. So you’re starting on solid ground.
❌ What You Still Have to Do Yourself
Keyword research
Customizing title tags and meta descriptions
Writing strategic page copy
Naming and tagging your images properly
Blogging (yes, it's worth it!)
Building backlinks and directory listings
If you skip those, you’ll have a pretty site... that no one sees.
Step 1: Start with Keyword Research
You don’t need to be an SEO wizard. You just need to think like a client.
Think Beyond “Photographer”
The term “photographer” is way too broad. Someone Googling “photographer” could want anything—event, fashion, newborn, you name it.
Instead, use specific, location-based keyword phrases like:
Wedding photographer in Austin
Family portraits in Portland
Lifestyle product photographer Los Angeles
These are called long-tail keywords, and they’re gold for local service-based businesses like yours.
🔍 Example: The keyword “wedding photographer” has high competition. But “elopement photographer in Asheville” is more niche—and more likely to connect you with ready-to-book couples.
Tools to Use (Free + Paid)
SEMrush – my favorite SEO tool, packed with professional-level insights and accurate keyword data. It’s what I personally use to plan SEO for client sites.
Google Search autocomplete – type your service + location and see what pops up.
Ubersuggest – great for beginner-friendly keyword suggestions.
Google Keyword Planner – especially helpful if you run ads, but also useful for organic strategy.
Step 2: Map Your Keywords to Pages
Once you’ve got a list of strong keywords, don’t just stuff them everywhere. That’s outdated—and can actually hurt your rankings.
Instead, assign one primary keyword to each page:
Homepage → Wedding Photographer in [Your City]
Portfolio → [Your Niche] Photography Portfolio
About → About [Your Name], [Your City] Photographer
Services → Photography Packages in [City]
Blog Posts → Answer questions clients are Googling
And yes, your blog should be optimized. More on that soon.
Step 3: Where to Use Keywords (Without Sounding Awkward)
Let’s break down where to place your keywords—naturally.
H1 and H2 Headings
Use your main keyword in the H1 heading of your homepage, and in at least one H2 subheading. Every page should have one clear H1.
✅ Instead of: “Hi, I’m Sarah”
Try: “Sarah – Wedding Photographer in Seattle”
Page Titles and Meta Descriptions
These show up in Google search results—so make them count.
Page Title Example:
“Seattle Wedding Photographer | Natural, Candid Photography by Sarah R.”
Meta Description Example:
“Looking for a Seattle wedding photographer who captures real moments? See Sarah’s timeless, natural-light wedding photography portfolio.”
URL Slugs
Simple and keyword-focused. Avoid random characters or dates.
✅ www.yoursite.com/family-photography
❌ www.yoursite.com/page-3-28-2022
Image File Names and Alt Text
Before uploading, name images like wedding-couple-mt-hood.jpg, not IMG_23984.jpg.
Then, add descriptive alt text like:
“Bride and groom kissing at sunset at Mt. Hood wedding”
This helps with SEO and accessibility.
Step 4: Optimize Your Images (This Part’s Crucial)
As a photographer, your site is image-heavy—which can slow things down and hurt your SEO if not handled properly.
Compress Before Uploading
Use tools like:
ImageOptim
Keep image sizes under 500KB where possible.
Choose the Right File Type
JPG for photos
PNG for logos or images with transparency
WebP if you’re comfortable using Squarespace customizations
Don’t Skip Image SEO
Images aren’t just for aesthetics. They help Google understand your content—and drive traffic via Google Image Search.
Want to see well-optimized photography examples? Check out these Squarespace website examples for photographers.
Step 5: Create Pages Google Loves
It’s not just what you say—it’s how you structure it.
Use Clear Headings and Subheadings (H1, H2, H3)
Break up text with logical sections. Google reads these like a table of contents.
Add Internal Links
Link to other pages of your site wherever it makes sense.
For example, from your “About” page, link to your “Portfolio” with anchor text like:
See my latest wedding shoots in the portfolio.
This keeps visitors engaged and signals to Google that your site is cohesive.
Take Your SEO Further with Blogging, Local Strategy & Authority Building
So you’ve researched your keywords, optimized your images, and cleaned up your headings. That’s a solid foundation—but if you want to compete in Google search (and actually book more clients), there’s more to do.
This section is about going beyond the basics—using blogging, local SEO, and authority signals to help your Squarespace site climb the rankings and get found by the right people.
Step 6: Start Blogging (Yes, Even as a Photographer)
Let’s address the common objection: “But I’m a photographer, not a writer.”
True. But your blog isn’t about becoming a novelist—it’s about showing up in search results, answering real questions your dream clients are typing into Google, and building trust.
Why Blogging Works for SEO
Google loves fresh content and keyword-rich pages. Every blog post is another opportunity to:
Target a specific long-tail keyword
Answer questions people are already searching
Link back to your service pages
Show off your recent work
It’s not about writing for fun. It’s about writing strategically.
What to Blog About: Easy Content Ideas for Photographers
You don’t need to reinvent the wheel. Start with content that’s useful, keyword-friendly, and actually helpful for your clients.
Here are a few post ideas (that also happen to be SEO gold):
Top 10 Small Wedding Venues in [City]
What to Wear for Your Family Photo Session
Best Time of Day for Outdoor Engagement Photos
Client Story: [First Name + Type of Shoot] at [Location]
How to Prepare for Your Newborn Session
🔗 Pro Tip: In every post, include 1–2 internal links back to your Services or Portfolio pages. This keeps visitors on your site longer and strengthens your overall SEO.
Need inspiration? See this guide on how to build a photography website on Squarespace—it includes layout tips and how blogging fits in.
Best Blogging Topics for SEO (Tailored for Photographers)
You know blogging helps SEO. But what exactly should you write about to get found by potential clients?
Great SEO blog content does two things:
Answers questions your ideal client is already Googling.
Targets long-tail keywords tied to your services and location.
Here’s a curated list of high-impact blog post ideas for photographers that not only help you rank—but position you as the go-to expert in your niche.
Client-Focused Blog Topics
These help prospective clients plan, prepare, and feel confident booking you:
What to Wear for a Family Photo Session in [City]
Top 10 Engagement Photo Spots in [City]
How to Prep for Your Newborn Photography Session
What to Expect During a Branding Shoot
Best Time of Year for Outdoor Photos in [City]
Use these to naturally incorporate keywords like “family photographer in Portland” or “outdoor engagement shoot Austin.”
Location-Based Content
Use local SEO to your advantage by writing about venues, neighborhoods, or seasonal sessions in your area:
Best Small Wedding Venues in [City]
Top 5 Maternity Shoot Locations in [City Suburb]
Cherry Blossom Photoshoots in [City]: What You Need to Know
[City] Mini Session Event – What’s Included & How to Book
Pro tip: These posts can show up for people searching the venues—before they even look for a photographer.
Behind-the-Scenes & Client Features
Tell visual stories that double as SEO-rich posts:
[Client Name]’s Intimate Backyard Wedding in [City]
Sneak Peek: Fall Family Mini Sessions at [Park Name]
Studio Tour: Where the Magic Happens in My [City] Portrait Studio
Before & After: Branding Photoshoot Transformation for [Client’s Business]
This type of content helps you rank for “[location] wedding photographer,” while also showcasing your work.
SEO-Friendly “Evergreen” Topics
These blog posts work year-round and can drive traffic for months (or years):
How to Choose the Right Photographer for Your Wedding Day
Why Professional Headshots Are Worth It in 2025
5 Signs It’s Time to Refresh Your Branding Photos
How Much Does Photography Cost in [City]?
Use these to establish authority, while subtly linking back to your service pages.
Step 7: Master Local SEO (So Clients in Your City Can Find You)
If you’re a service-based photographer, local SEO is your best friend.
When someone searches “family photographer near me” or “headshots in Chicago,” Google’s showing them local listings first—so you want to be one of them.
Here’s how to show up in local search:
Claim and Optimize Your Google Business Profile
This is one of the most powerful (and free!) tools photographers can use.
Make sure to:
Add your business name, address, phone number, and website
Use your main keywords in the business description
Upload recent photos from shoots
Add categories like “Wedding Photographer,” “Portrait Studio,” etc.
Ask happy clients to leave reviews
💡 Bonus Tip: Make your Google profile match your website keywords—for example, “Wedding Photographer in Denver” should appear in both places.
Use Consistent NAP Details (Name, Address, Phone)
Wherever your business appears online—your website, Instagram, directories, Google—you want the contact details to be exactly the same.
This consistency builds trust with search engines and helps your local rankings.
Step 8: Submit Your Site to Online Directories
Let’s talk about backlinks—aka when another website links to yours.
This tells Google: “Hey, this site is legit.” And that’s a big deal.
Start With Niche Directories for Photographers
Make sure your profile is:
Up to date
Uses your main location-based keyword (e.g., “Elopement Photographer in Sedona”)
Links back to your site
Want more? I’ve curated a list of the best Squarespace templates for photographers—great for building directory-worthy sites fast.
Step 9: Create Helpful Guides That Attract Links
Want to earn even better backlinks? Create content that’s so useful, others want to link to it.
Ideas that work:
Vendor roundups (e.g., “10 Best Makeup Artists in [City]”)
Location guides (e.g., “Where to Shoot Engagement Photos in [City]”)
Planning tips (e.g., “The Ultimate Elopement Checklist”)
When people find your guides helpful, they’re more likely to share, link, and bookmark—giving your site an SEO boost in the process.
Step 10: Don’t Forget Schema & SEO Settings in Squarespace
Squarespace gives you easy access to SEO settings for every page.
You’ll find them under:
Pages → Gear Icon → SEO tab
There, you can:
Write a custom page title
Add a meta description
Preview how your page will appear on Google
Use SEO Titles Like:
Wedding Photographer in Asheville | Wild Ridge Studio
Lifestyle Product Photographer | Portland Brand Photography
Enable Schema for Local SEO
Schema is behind-the-scenes code that helps Google understand your business. Squarespace includes basic schema by default, but you can enhance it using plugins or Squarespace SEO tools for photographers that add features like:
Business type
Location
Services offered
Customer reviews
This makes your site richer in the eyes of search engines—and may earn you extra visual space in search results (like star ratings).
Step 11: Monitor Your Progress Without Obsessing
SEO takes time. You likely won’t rank #1 overnight—but you will start seeing traction if you stay consistent.
Here’s how to track your progress:
Google Search Console – Shows which keywords bring traffic and any technical issues
Google Analytics – Tracks how people find and use your site
SEMrush – Monitor keyword rankings and new backlinks
Squarespace Analytics – Great for simple site traffic insights
Look for slow and steady improvement—not instant spikes.
Common SEO Mistakes Photographers Make
Let’s avoid a few traps:
❌ Stuffing Too Many Keywords
Makes your copy sound robotic. Google’s smarter than that. Write like a human—with keywords sprinkled in.
❌ Ignoring Image Alt Text
You're a photographer. Your images are your content. Alt text is key for both SEO and accessibility.
❌ Skipping Blog Posts
We get it—writing isn’t your zone of genius. But even one blog post a month helps.
❌ Using Generic Page Titles
Your homepage shouldn’t be titled “Home.” Customize it with keywords that describe who you are and what you do.
Your SEO Action Plan—Simple Steps to Start Ranking & Booking
You’ve got the tools. You’ve got the strategy. Now it’s time to pull it all together and put your Squarespace SEO into action—without overwhelm.
This final section will help you:
Focus on the right SEO priorities (even if you’re short on time)
Know what to tackle first—and what can wait
Use templates or hire help if DIY isn’t your thing
Let’s make your photography website not just beautiful, but booked out.
Step 12: Create a Simple SEO Workflow
You don’t need to do everything at once. A focused, repeatable SEO routine will give you far better results.
Here’s what a simplified monthly workflow might look like:
WeekFocus AreaWeek 1Keyword research and planning a blog post or content updateWeek 2Publish or update a blog post and link it internallyWeek 3Review Google Analytics and Search Console (what’s working?)Week 4Add/update one directory listing or request a client review
Even 1–2 hours a week can move the needle.
Step 13: Use This SEO Checklist on Every Page
Before you hit “publish” on any Squarespace page, run through this mini checklist:
✅ Clear H1 heading with main keyword
✅ Keyword in the first paragraph of text
✅ SEO page title and meta description added
✅ Descriptive image names and alt text
✅ Clean, short URL slug (e.g. /wedding-photographer-denver)
✅ At least one internal link to another page
✅ Mobile-friendly layout and fast load speed
Repeat this for all your main pages: Home, About, Services, Portfolio, Contact—and any blog posts you write.
Step 14: Repurpose Your Best Work for More SEO Value
Great SEO content doesn’t always mean creating something new. Some of the best-performing posts come from repurposing what you already have.
Ideas:
Turn Instagram captions from a wedding shoot into a blog post
Expand a short FAQ answer into a full page (e.g., “What to Wear to a Family Session”)
Use repeat client questions as topics for evergreen content
And remember—your blog doesn’t have to be long. Even 300–600 words, if helpful and keyword-rich, can help you rank.
Step 15: Know When to Use Templates or Hire Help
Sometimes SEO isn’t a lack of effort—it’s a lack of time or design clarity.
If you’ve tried DIY-ing your website but it’s not showing up in search results (or doesn’t reflect your brand), you don’t need to start over from scratch.
You’ve got two great options:
👉 Done-for-You Templates
Check out the full collection of Squarespace templates for photographers.
Ideal for:
Photographers just starting out
Those on a budget or tight deadline
Anyone who wants to launch fast with a solid foundation
👉 Custom SEO-Friendly Website Design
Get a fully built, keyword-optimized Squarespace site with a strategy tailored to your brand.
See what’s included in my Squarespace website design for photographers service.
Perfect for:
Full-time photographers ready to elevate their brand
Creatives who want more than just a pretty site
Business owners who value done-for-you implementation
Final Thoughts: SEO Isn’t Magic. It’s Momentum.
You don’t need to hack Google’s algorithm. You just need to:
Write clearly for humans
Use keywords with intention
Keep your site clean, fast, and helpful
Show up consistently (especially with blogging and local SEO)
Most photographers give up on SEO too soon. But if you follow the tips in this guide—and stick with it—you’ll start to see your site rise in the rankings and more of the right people landing on your pages.
That’s when things start to click.
SEO Game Plan for Photographers on Squarespace
Start with the basics:
Choose long-tail, location-based keywords
Optimize your H1 tags, titles, and image alt text
Use short, keyword-friendly URLs
Write helpful blog posts and link between your pages
Expand with authority-building:
Claim your Google Business Profile
Submit your site to directories
Earn backlinks through useful, shareable content
Maintain with momentum:
Blog monthly or update old content
Track results in Search Console
Focus on helping, not keyword stuffing
Build Topical Authority As a Photographer (and Show Up on Google and ChatGPT)
Topical authority means that Google (and increasingly, AI tools like ChatGPT) see your website as a go-to expert on a specific subject—like weddings, branding shoots, or family photography in your area. The more content you have covering that topic from multiple angles, the more credible and helpful your site appears.
The best part? You don’t need to be a full-time blogger to build this kind of authority. You just need to be intentional with the content you create.
How to Build Topical Authority as a Photographer
Instead of writing random blog posts with no clear direction, focus on clusters of related content around a single topic. This builds a content “hub” that Google understands—and trusts.
Step 1: Choose a Niche or Theme to Focus On
Pick one of your main services and go deep. For example:
Weddings in Nashville
Brand photography for female entrepreneurs
Family portraits in Portland
Elopements in the PNW
This core service becomes your content pillar—the central theme everything else connects to.
Step 2: Create Multiple Blog Posts That Support That Topic
If your pillar is elopements in Colorado, your blog content might include:
Elopement Photographer in Colorado: What to Expect
Best Elopement Locations in Colorado (With Real Client Photos)
Elopement Packing List for Couples Getting Married Outdoors
Small Wedding vs. Elopement: What’s Right for You?
Real Elopement: [Client Name] at [Mountain Pass]
Each of these blog posts targets a unique keyword but links back to your main Elopement Photography Services page. This is called a content cluster, and it shows Google (and your visitors) that you know what you’re talking about.
Step 3: Internally Link Everything (This Is Crucial)
As you publish supporting content, be sure to:
Link each blog post to your main service page
Link between blog posts where relevant
This internal linking builds a web of relevance that search engines love—and keeps visitors on your site longer.
✏️ Example:
In your blog post on Best Elopement Locations in Colorado, include a line like:
“Want a photographer who knows all the hidden gems? Learn more about my elopement photography services here.”
Step 4: Organize with a Topical Menu or Resource Page
You can even structure your site to reflect your content clusters by:
Creating navigation links by niche: Weddings, Families, Branding, etc.
Adding “hub” pages like:
Weddings in [City] → shows all blog posts, tips, and galleries
Brand Photography Resources → includes client guides, FAQs, blog posts
This helps both SEO and user experience—making it easier for visitors (and search engines) to find what they’re looking for.
Why This Strategy Works (on Google and ChatGPT)
Here’s something most photographers overlook: Topical authority doesn’t just help your Google rankings—it also influences AI tools like ChatGPT.
That’s right—tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity pull answers from Google-indexed content. So when someone asks:
“Who’s the best wedding photographer in Austin?”
“Where’s the best place to elope in Colorado?”
“What should I wear for family photos in Seattle?”
AI looks for websites that Google already considers trustworthy and content-rich.
If your site has well-organized, topic-focused blog content, you’re not only more likely to rank in search—but also more likely to be referenced inside ChatGPT responses.
Let that sink in.
Topical authority = visibility everywhere your clients are searching—even inside AI conversations.
As search continues to evolve, this kind of content strategy will be one of the most powerful marketing assets photographers can build.
Ready to Show Up, Rank Higher & Book More Clients?
Whether you’re launching your first portfolio or rebranding an established business, SEO should never be an afterthought—it’s what connects your beautiful site with the people searching for you.
If you want to fast-track your visibility, explore:
✨ Squarespace Templates for Photographers — drag, drop, launch, rank
✨ Custom Squarespace Website Design for Photographers — done-for-you design and SEO
Questions? Feel stuck?
Contact me and let’s talk about how to get your site found by the right people.
