The Ultimate Guide to Keywords for Photographers Who Want to Dominate Google

Here’s what breaks my heart: watching incredibly talented photographers create stunning work in their new markets while staying completely invisible on Google because they’re targeting keywords that nobody actually searches for.

Look, I see it all the time – photographers move to a new city, update their website to say “Tiny Town Family Photographer,” then wonder why they’re not getting any inquiries. Meanwhile, everyone in their area is actually searching for “Bigger City Family Photography” or “[Region] Family Photos.”

Keywords for photographers aren’t just random terms you sprinkle on your website and hope for the best. They’re your direct line to being discovered by clients who are actively looking for your services – and getting them wrong is the difference between thriving and barely surviving in a new market.

As someone who’s successfully moved my photography business twice and achieved page 1 rankings within 6 months each time, I can tell you that understanding keywords for photographers isn’t optional. When I moved from South Florida to Charlottesville, I didn’t just change “Miami” to “Charlottesville” and hope for the best. I spent weeks researching what families in Virginia actually searched for – and discovered they used completely different terminology than Florida families.

After 17+ years in photography and helping hundreds of photographers master their SEO, here’s what I’ve learned: photographers who nail their keyword strategy in the first 3 months of moving are booking clients 3x faster than those who wing it.

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But before we dive in—Hi! I’m Melissa, and I’m an SEO expert here to help portrait photographers finally get found by their dream clients on Google—without the technical overwhelm. Whether you need done-for-you SEO services, step-by-step coaching through my proven system, or monthly blogging strategies (like my Blogging Club membership!), I’ve got the tools to transform your invisible website into a client-attracting machine. Ready to stop being the best-kept secret in your market?

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If you haven’t already, I’d encourage you to listen to the full podcast episode where we break down all these strategies in detail. But if you’re ready to get straight to the actionable stuff, this blog post lays it all out for you step-by-step. Either way, you’re going to walk away with concrete strategies you can implement right away.

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What Are Keywords for Photographers?

Let’s start with the basics, because I get this question all the time. A keyword is simply something that you type into Google. Every time you’re searching for something online, you’re using keywords.

For photographers, your primary keywords typically follow this format:

• [Location] + [Genre] + Photographer

For example, when I was based in Miami, my main keyword was “Miami Newborn Photographer.” It was specific about:

• The city I served (Miami)
• My specialty genre (newborn)
• What I do (photographer)

SEO Tip: Keywords are specifically what people type into search engines, and they’re your direct line to being discovered by clients who are actively looking for your services – not just casually browsing social media.

How to Choose the Right Keywords for Your Photography Business

Start with Your Favorite Genre

I always tell my clients: pick keywords for photographers based on what you want to shoot most. For me, it’s newborns, so my homepage targets newborn-related keywords. For family photographers, you’d focus on family photography terms.

Here’s the thing – don’t try to be everything to everyone with your main keywords. Pick your favorite genre and dominate that space first.

Research Search Volume

Here’s where many photographers make a costly mistake: they choose keywords that sound good but nobody actually searches for.

I live in Palmyra, Virginia, but targeting “Palmyra Newborn Photographer” would be pointless because we’re out in the sticks and nobody searches for that term. Instead, I target “Charlottesville Photographer” because that’s what people in my area actually type into Google.

Essential Tools for Keyword Research:

• Keywords Everywhere – Shows search volume estimates
• Google Search Console – Reveals what you’re already ranking for
• Ubersuggest – Alternative keyword research tool
• Google’s autocomplete – Free way to see what people actually search

Feeling overwhelmed by keyword research? This is exactly what I handle for my clients in my Done-for-You SEO services – complete keyword research and implementation so you can focus on photography.

The One Keyword Per Page Rule

This is crucial, and honestly, most photographers get this wrong: Never use the same keyword on multiple pages. Each keyword should have its own dedicated page or blog post. Think of it like this—you want to rank for as many different terms as possible, but they each need their own real estate on your website.

Here’s how I organize keywords:

• Homepage: Main keyword (Charlottesville Photographer)
• Portfolio pages: Genre-specific keywords (Charlottesville Newborn Photography)
• Blog posts: Location + topic combinations

SEO Tip: This keyword organization method is exactly what I use with my Done-for-You SEO clients. Getting your site architecture right from the start saves months of optimization work later.

Understanding Keyword Concepts vs. Individual Keywords

Here’s what I’ve learned after 17+ years: modern SEO has evolved beyond targeting single keywords. Google now understands keyword concepts—groups of related terms that have the same search intent.

For example, if you’re targeting “Virginia Beach Family Photographer,” Google also recognizes these related terms:

• Virginia Beach family photography
• Virginia Beach family photos
• Family portraits Virginia Beach
• Virginia Beach family sessions

This means you can use natural variations in your content instead of repeating the exact same phrase and sounding like an SEO robot.

Pro Tip: This is why I focus on creating comprehensive content that naturally includes keyword variations. It’s more effective than old-school keyword stuffing tactics.

Where and How to Use Your Keywords

1. Blog Post Title

Include your target keyword naturally in your title. One example that works well: “5 Best Restaurants in Virginia Beach with Kids”—perfect for attracting family photography clients who might be visiting the area.

2. Meta Description

This is your “book jacket”—describe your post and entice people to click. Keep it under 160 characters and include your keyword naturally.

3. Throughout Your Content

• Aim for at least 600 words in your blog posts
• Include your keyword and related terms naturally throughout
• Use variations to avoid keyword stuffing
• Focus on serving search intent, not just including keywords

4. Image Alt Text

Describe your images using your target keywords when appropriate. This helps both SEO and accessibility.

5. Headers and Subheaders

Include keywords in your H2 and H3 tags where it makes sense for the content flow.

SEO Insight: The photographers who see fastest results are the ones who understand that keywords for photographers need to be woven naturally throughout their content, not just stuffed into titles.

Creating Location-Based Content Before You Move

When relocating your photography business, you need to establish authority in your new location before you arrive. The best way to do this is by creating location-specific content.

Smart Approach: Write blog posts about your new area that serve your ideal clients:

• Best family-friendly locations for photos
• What to wear for sessions in [your new city]
• Seasonal photography opportunities in [new location]
• Local venue guides for engagement sessions

What NOT to do: A post titled “The Smith Family Session – Chicago Family Photographer” doesn’t establish location authority—it just wastes a valuable keyword opportunity.

Pro Tip: I started creating Charlottesville-specific content four months before my move. By the time I physically relocated, I was already ranking for local keywords.

What About Old Content with Previous Locations?

Here’s a question I get all the time: what do you do with blog posts that have your old city in the title?

If you have blog posts with your old city in the title that aren’t driving traffic, absolutely remove those location keywords. There’s no point in targeting terms for a market you no longer serve.

If you have good content that is driving traffic you can leave it up or change the location. I’ve updated some of my Miami posts to be Virginia based keywords when it made sense.

Focus your SEO energy on establishing authority in your new location instead of maintaining rankings where you can’t serve clients.

SEO Tip: This cleanup process is part of what I handle in my relocating photographer packages. It’s about strategic focus, not trying to rank everywhere.

The Power of One Strong Post

Here’s something that might surprise you: one well-optimized blog post can rank for dozens of related keywords.

My client’s restaurant post ranks for terms like:

• “Where to eat with kids Virginia Beach”
• “Family restaurants Virginia Beach”
• “Kid-friendly dining Virginia Beach”
• “Best restaurants for families”

She only targeted one main keyword but picked up rankings for multiple related searches because the content thoroughly covered the topic.

Taking Action on Keywords for Photographers

Look, keywords for photographers might feel overwhelming at first, but they’re the foundation of every successful photography SEO strategy. The sooner you get your keyword strategy right, the faster you’ll start ranking and attracting those dream clients in your new market.

Here’s your action plan:

1. Set up Google Search Console if you haven’t already
2. Research your main keyword using Keywords Everywhere or Ubersuggest
3. Create a keyword map for your homepage, portfolio pages, and planned blog posts
4. Start writing location-specific content for your new market
5. Remove outdated location keywords from old content

Here’s what I want you to remember: SEO is a long-term game, but keywords are where everything starts. The photographers who succeed in new markets aren’t the ones with the prettiest websites – they’re the ones who understand what their ideal clients are actually searching for.

Ready to dive deeper into SEO for your photography business? Join my 4-month Group SEO Coaching program where I walk you through everything from keyword research to implementation. Or if you prefer the done-for-you approach, check out my SEO services designed specifically for photographers who want to skip the learning curve and get straight to results.

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