SEO Is Baking… Now What? 10 Creative Ways to Get Photography Clients Fast

You switched your website to a new location, you have updated your SEO, you’re blogging consistently, and now? Now you’re waiting. If you’ve ever gone through an SEO rebuild or relocation, you know the uncomfortable truth: it can take months, sometimes up to a year, for search rankings to fully stabilize.

Meanwhile? You need income. This is the phase where photographers feel like sitting ducks. So if you’re looking for ways to get photography clients fast, especially while your long-term SEO strategy is still maturing, these are proven, relationship-based tactics that work. Let’s get into it.

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But before we dive in—Hi! I’m Melissa—an SEO expert helping portrait photographers get found by dream clients on Google, without the tech overwhelm. Whether you want done-for-you services, coaching, or blogging strategies, I’ve got you covered. Ready to stop being the best-kept secret in your market?

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Want the full conversation? Listen to the podcast episode with Alison & me. Prefer to skim? This post breaks it all down step-by-step so you can start implementing right away.

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10 Ways To Get Photography Clients

A quick disclaimer before we dive into the different ways to get photography clients: as you decide which options are right for you, keep a few key things front and center: your ideal client, your pricing, their pain points, where they’re physically located, and your overall brand. Not every idea will align with your brand or attract the right clientele, so it’s important to filter your creativity through that lens.

The goal is to meet your audience where they are and attract the right clients… not just any clients.

1. Join Networking Groups

When I move to a new place, this is one of the first things I do. I usually just Google networking groups but you could also look on LinkedIn. I tend to look for women’s networking groups because the vibe feels different, and then branch out from there.

When I lived in South Florida, I found FemCity, and it was amazing. We met once a month for lunch, and it was such a great way to connect with other business owners. That’s actually how I found my bookkeeper.

Now I’m part of Fluvanna Women in Business. I found them at our county fair (which tells you how rural I live!). But they recently hosted a full-day business expo with speakers, networking, and even speed networking. I was really impressed. They also have a Facebook group and host regular meetups like breakfasts and happy hours.

I think it’s important to remember, especially if you’re new to an area, you might just be looking to make friends, too. Don’t walk in thinking, “I need to find a client.” Go in thinking, “I want to meet good people.”

2. Guest Podcast

We might be a little biased on this one, but whether it’s a local or national show, it’s a great opportunity. When you’re a guest, the host will usually promote the episode, often through a blog post. You can also write your own blog about being featured, link to each other’s websites, and cross-promote on social media. It helps with visibility, credibility, and SEO, and it gets your name out there.

If you’re just getting started, I’d recommend pitching local podcasts first.

In fact, at that Women in Business retreat last week, I found out one of the presenters has a podcast. It’s centered around the idea that work-life balance is a myth. She also happens to be the marketing director for the local cable station.

I immediately thought that would be such a great opportunity to get on her podcast, connect with her audience, and potentially attract more local clients.

3. Start a Local Podcast

Depending on where you live, there may not be an existing local podcast—and the search volume for something hyper-local might be small.

When my co-host Allison moved to Hawaii, she actually started her own podcast as a way to connect with local business owners. The bigger purpose was to get to know her area, establish herself as a local expert, and generate backlinks. It was a service to her guests, and then she also asked them to blog about their episode and link back to her.

Which brings me to another one of my favorite ways to get photography clients…

4. Blog an Interview With a Complementary Local Vendor

By complementary, I mean someone who serves the same audience but isn’t a competitor.

When I lived in Fredericksburg, I connected with a woman who owned a maternity shop. I met her randomly during a date night when I saw her brand-new store. I walked in, introduced myself, and asked to interview her because she had exactly the clients I wanted—pregnant women in my area.

The interview went great, and I repeated that process in other nearby cities I served. I’d find maternity shops, connect with the owners, and do interviews with them.

Then when I moved to South Florida, I planned to do the same thing, but COVID hit, and unfortunately many of those small shops had closed.

So I pivoted. I knew I wanted to work with higher-end clients (people with larger budgets). I researched interior designers on Instagram, vetted their work to make sure we aligned, and then reached out to request interviews. The goal was to build relationships and, ideally, get on their referral lists.

5. Host a Giveaway With Local Vendors

While you’re connecting with vendors, why not host a giveaway?

When my co-host Allison lived in Virginia Beach, she partnered with a boutique called Polished. They had just opened and carried beautiful clothing for women, seniors—a really a wide range. During her slow season, she hosted a giveaway for a newborn or family session, and the winner also received a shopping credit to the boutique.

It worked beautifully. The winner got to shop for something she loved and wear it for her session. It created a cohesive look, supported the boutique, and elevated the experience for everyone. Plus, boutiques are always seasonally styled, which helps when planning sessions.

The best part? When you host a giveaway with local vendors, you share the marketing effort. You both promote it, grow your email lists, and reach new audiences (without doubling your workload).

6. Host an In-Store Event

One time, at a maternity shop, I hosted Mother’s Day mini sessions inside the store. It gave me face time with potential clients, brought in some income, and again, we shared the promotion. It wasn’t all on me to fill the calendar. Families come in for the photos, and while they’re there, they shop. It’s a win-win.

7. Create a Facebook Group to Support Your Ideal Client

Now, for some of you, that might sound overwhelming. If starting your own group feels like too much, the alternative is to become highly active in an existing one. Think local mom groups: Mom Tribe, Low Country Moms, whatever is active in your area.

Show up consistently, provide real value, and answer questions. Work your way toward becoming a top contributor. Then, when there’s an approved business-post day, share what you do. You can also crowdsource ideas: ask questions, gather recommendations, and use that information to create helpful content of your own.

When I moved to Charlottesville, I didn’t know all the family-friendly restaurants, but I wanted to write a blog post about them. So I asked in a local mom group, and people gave me tons of suggestions. I would never have found all of that on my own.

8. Teach Something Locally

You could start a free photography class at a library. You could also speak at a MOPS group (Mother of Preschoolers) or another local organization. Get in front of people in your community. Think through logistics though. If your audience has preschoolers, they’re probably already visiting the library, so that’s a natural place to meet them. You might also want to think about:

• Can it happen during the day?
• Is childcare available?
• Should it be a short 30-minute session over several weeks or one longer session?

Personally, I remember presenting at a MOPS group at my church to a big group of moms. They had an all-day event with different speakers, and I taught a session on photography.

These kinds of things can help position you as an expert, build trust, and connect you with families in a meaningful way.

9. Join Your Local Chamber of Commerce or Connect With the SBA

Join your Chamber of Commerce or connect with your local Small Business Administration (SBA). Every chamber has a different personality, so it may or may not feel like your crowd, but what I appreciate about these groups is that everyone is there for business.

There’s no awkwardness about promoting yourself. Everyone understands the purpose: we’re here to support each other and ultimately make money. That shared understanding removes the weirdness.

Allison joined hers and they host a large member meeting every other month where members can promote themselves. They send out member emails featuring events and offers, and they’re constantly asking, “How can we promote you?”

At meetings, she’d put full-color flyers on every table. People could take them, snap a photo, or bring them home. Then she would collect leftovers and reuse them next time.

On alternate months, they host networking happy hours. In Hawaii, where Allison is based, they call them “Pau Hana”—which basically means “done with work.” You pay a small fee, visit different local businesses (sometimes ones not normally open to the public), meet people, pass out cards, and just connect.

Your chamber might feel more formal or more relaxed, but it’s worth exploring.

The SBA here, for example, is more class-based. It’s not something you formally join, but they host workshops and trainings. It’s a great way to network and learn what resources they offer to support your business.

These environments are a bit different from casual networking groups. Chambers and SBA events tend to be more focused. You’re not talking about the best date-night spot: you’re talking about your numbers, your marketing plan, your growth strategy. It’s more direct.

10. Volunteer In Your Community

Finally, volunteer.

This can look like so many things. It can be photography-related, business-related, or completely unrelated. You could volunteer in your child’s classroom, offer your services for a nonprofit fundraiser, or help with a preschool event.

Just be present. Be a real human in your community.

And don’t be afraid to say what you do. When someone asks, don’t default to “I’m just a mom” or “We just moved here.” You can say, “I’m a photographer.” That’s part of your identity.

You can always add the rest after—yes, you’re a mom, you just moved, you have a dog—but don’t minimize your work. Practice saying it confidently if you need to. In the mirror, with your spouse, with a friend.

I remember donating a session to a Christian school silent auction when I was brand new in town. Someone bought it, and I was so excited. I can still remember that session.

More recently, at my kids’ school, I’d mentioned that I’m a photographer. The kindergarten teacher asked if I could come in and photograph one of those cute “busting out of paper” projects the kids were doing. I popped in for about half an hour, took the photos, and sent them over to her.

I didn’t get paid, and I didn’t ask for credit. That wasn’t the point. I just wanted to volunteer and help. And chances are, the next time someone says they’re looking for a photographer, she’ll remember, “Oh, there’s a mom in my class who does that.”

Want To Boost Your SEO While You Try These Other Strategies?

Blogging is a great way to do that! Grab your free copy of 35+ Blog Post Ideas for Maternity, Newborn & Family Photographers and never stare at a blank screen again. I’ll help you start creating strategic content that actually helps you rank and book more clients.

If you liked this post, we think you’ll love these:

Photography Blog Content Ideas That Actually Book Clients

How Long Does SEO Take to Work? The Truth About Photography Business Rankings

Blogging for Photographers: Why It Beats Social Media

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