In this episode of The Sundae Best, we are diving into a topic that often feels overwhelming but is absolutely crucial for growing your wedding photography business: search engine optimization (SEO). I’m honored to welcome our special guest Taylor Svetlichny from Aligned SEO as we break down SEO for wedding photographers into 5 simple, actionable steps that will help you attract more of your dream clients without having to post on Instagram.
THE EXPERT: TAYLOR SVETLICHNY, WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER & SEO SPECIALIST
Taylor is a photographer turned SEO expert and founder of Aligned SEO. Aligned SEO specializes in SEO services for wedding photographers and service providers. Her journey began as a wedding photographer in college, where she primarily relied on word-of-mouth and Instagram for leads. After transitioning to newborn and family photography, Taylor realized she needed a more sustainable lead generation strategy beyond the exhausting demands of constant social media posting.
After working with an SEO coach for just four weeks, Taylor saw transformative results for her own photography business. Her website began ranking on page one for multiple search terms, she started receiving high-quality leads directly from Google, and she finally gained freedom from what she calls the “social media grind.” This experience was so powerful that Taylor describes it as “real freedom” that “changed everything” for her business.
This transformation inspired Taylor to help other photographers achieve the same results. What started as teaching SEO in her photography coaching programs evolved into Aligned SEO, where she now offers done-for-you SEO services specifically tailored to wedding photographers who want to skip the learning curve and see faster results.
WHAT IS SEO AND WHY IT MATTERS FOR WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Taylor explains SEO in refreshingly simple terms: “Search engine optimization is essentially making changes to your website to help search engines understand what your website is all about so that you can show up higher in search results that are relevant for your business and that your dream clients are looking for online.”
When potential clients search for a wedding photographer, the websites that appear at the top of search results get significantly more clicks and traffic. In fact, Taylor notes that the first result on Google receives over 25% of all clicks – making that coveted top position incredibly valuable for bringing in leads.
What makes SEO particularly powerful for wedding photographers is that it connects you with people who are already actively searching for your services. Unlike social media where you might catch someone’s attention while they’re scrolling, search traffic consists of people who have already decided they want a wedding photographer and are now looking for the right one. As Taylor explains, these leads tend to be higher quality because “they’ve already kind of made that decision of ‘okay, I’m ready to look for a photographer.'”
SEO is especially valuable in the wedding photography industry since millions of couples search for wedding photographers every year. By optimizing your wedding photography website to appear in these searches, you create a passive lead generation system that works for you 24/7 without the constant demands of social media marketing. For wedding photographers looking to book more ideal clients, effective SEO strategy can be a game-changer.
CHOOSING THE RIGHT WEBSITE PLATFORM FOR SEO
When selecting a website platform, Taylor recommends considering both usability and SEO capabilities. First and foremost, choose a platform you feel comfortable navigating and editing. There’s no point in having a platform with powerful SEO features if you find it too overwhelming to use.
From an SEO perspective, look for platforms that give you control over key elements like metadata (page titles, meta descriptions, featured images), header tags (H1, H2, etc.), URL structure, image optimization (file names and alt text), and responsive design for all devices.
Taylor’s platform recommendations reflect this balance of usability and SEO power. WordPress offers the most SEO control but can be complex to learn. Showit provides a great middle ground with its drag-and-drop design freedom and WordPress-powered blogging capabilities. You can receive a FREE month of Showit with my affiliate link! Squarespace sites tend to be heavier and slower but can still rank well with proper optimization. Taylor advises against Pixieset for serious SEO efforts because of its limited SEO settings.
When working with web designers, Taylor cautions photographers not to assume that a beautiful redesign will automatically improve their search rankings. “I think it is kind of this myth that if you redesign your website and make it really pretty, it’s automatically going to find you more people,” she explains. Design and SEO are separate elements that both need attention. After getting a beautiful design, you’ll still need to optimize your SEO settings for the site to be found online.
THE WEBSITE MARKETING TRIFECTA
Taylor describes three essential elements that work together in effective website marketing:
- SEO gets people to your site by helping them find you in search results. It’s the top of your marketing funnel, bringing potential clients to your door.
- Web design creates the visual appeal that keeps visitors engaged once they arrive. Good design helps communicate your style and professionalism visually.
- Copy converts visitors into leads and clients through compelling text that speaks to their needs and desires.
As Taylor explains, “even if you get tons of traffic to your website, SEO alone isn’t going to convert them. SEO is going to help them find you. And then your copy and your web design are what’s going to help them make their decision on whether to reach out or not.”
All three elements need to work together for your website to effectively generate and convert leads. No matter how strong your SEO is, without compelling design and copy, visitors won’t become clients.
5 QUICK SEO WINS FOR WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHERS
1. Do Keyword Research
Taylor’s first and most important tip for wedding photographers is to conduct thorough keyword research. “I find that many, many people skip this step and they know how to optimize their websites but they’re using the wrong keywords,” she explains.
Start by brainstorming all the search terms your ideal wedding clients might use to find you. For example, if you’re a wedding photographer in San Diego, your list might include “San Diego wedding photographer,” “wedding photographers in San Diego,” “San Diego wedding photography,” and variations like “luxury wedding photographer San Diego” or “destination wedding photographer San Diego.” For deeper insights, Taylor suggests asking past wedding clients what they would have searched for to find someone like you.
Use tools like SEMrush, Google Keyword Planner, or SEO Mater to research your keyword ideas. Look for terms with good search volume but lower competition levels, which will give you the best chance of ranking quickly. The goal is to find that sweet spot between keywords people are actually searching for and keywords you can realistically rank for.
2. Map Your Keywords Strategically
Once you have your list of potential wedding photography keywords, the next step is to map them across your website. Taylor recommends targeting one primary keyword per page, plus several related secondary keywords.
A common mistake wedding photographers make is trying to target too many different services on a single page – for example, wedding photography, engagement sessions, and elopements all on the homepage. This strategy can backfire because “it kind of can confuse search engines and dilute your rankings because instead of ranking strongly for just one of those keywords, you’re now kind of ranking for all the keywords, but not super highly.”
Instead, dedicate separate pages to different wedding services. Your homepage might focus on your primary wedding photography keyword, your about page on your wedding photography style or approach, and additional pages for specific wedding services like destination weddings or elopements. This targeted approach helps each page rank more strongly for its specific wedding photography keyword.
3. Optimize Your H1 Headers
For each page, incorporate your primary keyword into the H1 header (the main heading of the page). “Make sure you have just one H1 on each page and if at all possible, as long as it sounds natural, add that primary keyword into the H1 of each page,” Taylor advises.
The H1 tag signals to search engines what the page is about, so including your target keyword here is crucial for ranking. Just make sure it reads naturally and doesn’t feel forced or keyword-stuffed, as this can hurt both user experience and SEO.
4. Optimize Your Metadata
Metadata includes your page title (what appears in browser tabs and search results) and meta description (the snippet shown under your title in search results). Add your primary keyword to both elements for each page, making sure they’re unique and compelling enough to encourage clicks.
Taylor explains that metadata optimization is a relatively easy way to improve your rankings for target search terms. When search engines see your keyword in these prominent places, they’re more likely to consider your page relevant for related searches.
5. Optimize Your Images
As a wedding photographer, your website likely contains numerous images – making image optimization particularly important for your SEO. Add descriptive, keyword-rich file names to every image before uploading them. Then write natural alt text that describes what’s in the image while incorporating your keywords where appropriate.
“Especially for photographers, we have so many different images on our page, and so making sure to optimize each image is going to be super important,” Taylor emphasizes. Each optimized image has the potential to appear in image searches, creating another pathway for potential clients to find you.
As a bonus tip, Taylor suggests aiming for 500-1000 words of content on each page. Pages in this word count range typically rank higher in search results. Add FAQ sections, testimonials, and helpful information throughout your site to reach this target naturally while providing value to visitors.
HOW LONG DOES SEO TAKE TO WORK?
One of the most common questions about SEO is how long it takes to see results. Taylor debunks the myth that wedding photographers need to blog for years before seeing any SEO benefit.
“On average, I would say for my photography SEO clients, they will usually see improved rankings within a week or two of me optimizing their websites,” she shares. These initial improvements might look like moving from page 100+ to page 6 in search results. With continued effort and patience, photographers can often reach page 1 or 2 within about six months.
Several factors affect how quickly you’ll see results. If your domain has been around for a while and has built up authority with Google, you’ll likely rank faster than a brand new website. Backlinks from reputable websites (like features in wedding blogs or partnerships with planners) also speed up the process. The competitiveness of your target keywords and whether you’re targeting local or global terms also impact your timeline.
Taylor has even had clients receive their first Google inquiry within just a few weeks of implementing SEO changes. “I think there is a really big myth that SEO results takes like years,” she says, “and it definitely doesn’t have to be.”
TRACKING YOUR SEO PROGRESS
To monitor your SEO progress, Taylor recommends using Google Search Console, a free tool that provides valuable insights directly from Google. You don’t need fancy paid software to track your results effectively. You can also use SEOmator for free to analyze your website’s SEO.
In Google Search Console, pay attention to clicks (how many people are visiting your site from search results) and impressions (how many times your site appears in searches). The tool also shows you exactly which search terms are bringing visitors to your site, allowing you to identify your best-performing keywords and adjust your strategy accordingly.
This data helps you understand what’s working and what needs improvement. If you notice a particular keyword is bringing in lots of clicks, you might want to create more content around that topic. Conversely, if a target keyword isn’t performing well, you can revisit your optimization strategy for that term.
LONG-TERM SEO STRATEGY TIPS FOR WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHERS
To build upon these initial SEO wins, Taylor suggests wedding photographers think of their website as a funnel that helps engaged couples make decisions. Consider what questions couples planning their weddings are asking, and create content that answers those questions clearly and helpfully.
Add wedding testimonials and reviews throughout your site to build trust with engaged visitors. Create wedding-focused content that demonstrates your expertise as a wedding photographer while providing genuine value to couples planning their big day. Google increasingly prioritizes helpful, authoritative content from trusted experts (what Google calls E-E-A-T: Experience, Expertise, Authority, and Trustworthiness).
“Google really likes helpful content right now that’s authoritative and from an expert and trustworthy,” Taylor explains. With so much AI-generated content flooding the internet, search engines are placing higher value on authentic expertise. Focus on creating genuinely helpful content that showcases your unique perspective and experience as a wedding photographer.
Taylor’s final piece of advice is simple but powerful: “Just start.” She observes that many photographers get stuck in analysis paralysis, waiting until they have everything perfectly figured out before implementing SEO. But the best approach is to start with these five quick wins, track your results, and adjust as you go.
“SEO, even though you can get those quick wins, it is a great long-term strategy that pays off as time goes on,” she says. “And so I would recommend just go into it, just start right away, and then it can create that freedom that most of us are looking for.”
CONNECT WITH TAYLOR OF ALIGNED SEO
- Website: AlignedSEO.com
- Instagram: @alignedSEOco
- Podcast: Coffee and SEO
CONNECT WITH LOGAN OF MRS. FERREE PHOTOGRAPHY
For more photography business insights and resources:
- Learn about 1:1 mentorships with me, Logan Ferree, Colorado wedding photographer and mentor!
- Follow me on Instagram for more tips and interviews: @the.sundae.best
- Visit our show website for more episodes: thesundaebest.com
- Check out my 50 page SEO Guide for wedding photographers to help you optimize your profile on Google, Pinterest, and Instagram as well as your website and blogs! Use code “TAKE10” for 10% off as a thank you for tuning in to this episode of The Sundae Best!
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