Blogging is one of the most powerful tools a photographer can use to showcase their work, attract clients, and build an online presence. However, many photographers overlook SEO (search engine optimization) when writing their blog posts, leading to missed opportunities to rank higher on search engines like Google. If you’ve been struggling to get your photography blog noticed, it’s possible that you’re making some common SEO mistakes. In this post, we’ll go over the five most common SEO mistakes photographers make when blogging and, more importantly, how you can fix them.

1. Ignoring Keywords (Or Choosing the Wrong Ones)

One of the biggest SEO mistakes photographers make is either ignoring keywords entirely or picking keywords that are too broad. For example, targeting a generic keyword like “wedding photographer” is too competitive if you’re a wedding photographer based in Chicago. You might rank on the 20th page of Google, where no one is looking.

How to Fix It: Use Specific, Long-Tail Keywords

Instead of aiming for broad, highly competitive terms, focus on long-tail keywords that are more specific to your niche and location. For instance, “Chicago wedding photographer for outdoor ceremonies” or “intimate elopement photography in Chicago” are far more targeted. You can use free tools like Google Keyword Planner or paid services like Ahrefs to find these long-tail keywords. Think about what your ideal clients would be searching for, and incorporate those phrases naturally into your blog posts.

Pro Tip: Place these keywords in key areas, such as your blog title, subheadings, and meta descriptions, but avoid keyword stuffing.

Check out this blog post where I break down keywords for photographers if you need some more explanation on them!

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2. Not Optimizing Image SEO

As a photographer, images are the heart of your blog. However, many photographers overlook the fact that images can (and should) be optimized for SEO. Uploading images with file names like “IMG_1234.jpg” or “untitled.jpg” tells search engines nothing about your photos. This is a missed opportunity to help your blog rank higher.

How to Fix It: Optimize Your Image File Names and Alt Text

Before uploading any image to your blog, rename it using descriptive keywords. For example, if you’re posting a photo from a beach wedding in Miami, a file name like “miami-beach-wedding-sunset.jpg” is much more SEO-friendly. Additionally, always include alt text (alternative text) for each image. Alt text serves two purposes: it helps search engines understand your image content, and it improves accessibility for visually impaired users.

Alt text for the same image might be something like, “Bride and groom kiss at sunset during Miami beach wedding.” These descriptions not only help with rankings but also provide better user experience.

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3. Overlooking Meta Descriptions and Titles

Photographers often get so wrapped up in sharing their latest shoots and photos that they forget about one of the most important on-page SEO factors: the meta title and description. This is what people see on Google before they even click on your post, so it needs to be engaging and keyword-rich.

How to Fix It: Write Compelling Meta Titles and Descriptions

Your meta title should be between 50-60 characters, and your meta description should be no longer than 155 characters. Use this space to summarize what the blog post is about and include your main keyword.

For example, if your blog is about destination weddings in Italy, your meta title could be, “Romantic Destination Wedding Photography in Italy” and your meta description might be, “Looking for dreamy destination wedding photos? Explore our stunning portfolio of Italian wedding photography from Tuscany to the Amalfi Coast.”

Tip: Make it sound enticing, and use action words that encourage clicks.

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4. Forgetting About Internal and External Links

Internal and external linking is often forgotten, but it’s a crucial part of SEO. Internal links help guide readers through your website, keeping them engaged longer. External links show search engines that you’re connected to high-quality, relevant content in your industry.

How to Fix It: Incorporate Internal and External Links Thoughtfully

In each blog post, aim to include at least 2-3 internal links that direct readers to other parts of your website. For example, if you’re writing a blog about engagement shoots, you might link to a blog post about wedding day photography tips or portfolio galleries featuring engagement sessions.

Similarly, include 1-2 external links to authoritative websites. For instance, if you mention a specific wedding venue, link to their website. This not only provides value to your readers but also shows Google that your content is connected to other high-quality sources.

Important: Make sure your links open in new tabs (like this) so your readers don’t leave your site!

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5. Skipping Mobile Optimization

With so many people searching on their phones, having a blog that’s not optimized for mobile devices is a huge SEO mistake. If your site is slow to load or difficult to navigate on a phone, visitors will leave quickly, leading to higher bounce rates—something that hurts your SEO rankings.

How to Fix It: Ensure Your Blog Is Mobile-Friendly

Test your blog on multiple devices to ensure it’s responsive and loads quickly. You can use tools like Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test to see how your blog performs. Compress your images to reduce load time, use a clean and easy-to-read font, and ensure that buttons and links are tappable without zooming in.

Quick Fixes:

• Use a responsive website design template that adjusts automatically to different screen sizes.
  • I use Showit, which allows me to design mobile and desktop side by side!
• Enable lazy loading for images, which means they load only when a user scrolls to them.

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Incorporating these SEO strategies into your photography blog can make a world of difference. By focusing on keyword optimization, image SEO, meta descriptions, linking strategies, and mobile responsiveness, you’ll not only improve your blog’s search engine rankings but also create a better user experience for potential clients. Take the time to make these changes, and you’ll see your blog (and your business) grow!