Relocating Your Photography Business Without Losing Your Google Rankings

Relocating your photography business to a new location can feel like you’re about to throw away years of hard-earned Google rankings. I get it – I’ve been there. The panic of watching your page 1 position disappear while starting over in a completely new market is real.

But here’s what I learned after moving my photography business twice in two years: you don’t have to start from scratch. In fact, with the right SEO strategy, you can actually rank faster in your new location than you did the first time around.

Look, I’m not going to sugarcoat this – relocating your photography business requires strategic planning. But when my co-host Allison and I shared our experiences on Keep It Moving podcast (we’ve navigated nine business relocations between us), I realized how many photographers are making this way harder than it needs to be.

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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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The Reality of Moving Your Photography Business

Here’s what most photographers don’t realize: you can start your SEO transition months before you physically move. When my husband got accepted for his position in Charlottesville, Virginia, I didn’t wait until we packed the moving truck – I started my SEO strategy in February, four months before our June move.

Why Starting Early Matters

The biggest mistake I see photographers make is thinking they need to wait until they’re physically in their new location to start their SEO work. This costs them months of potential visibility and bookings.

My Charlottesville Move: From Page 1 to Page 1 in Record Time

I was ranking #1 for “South Florida newborn photography” – a position I’d worked years to achieve. Changing my keywords felt like ripping off a Band-Aid, but here’s what happened:

The Timeline That Actually Worked

• February 2023: Started keyword research for Charlottesville/Richmond market
• Within 2 weeks: Hit page 2 for new target keywords
• January 2024: Achieved #1 ranking for my main Charlottesville keyword

The secret? I had built domain authority over years of consistent SEO work. Google trusted my website, so when I signaled the location change, it responded quickly.

What I Actually Changed (And What I Didn’t):

✅ DID: Complete keyword research for new target markets
✅ DID: Updated homepage and service pages with new location keywords
✅ DID: Changed image alt text to reflect new locations
✅ DID: Started location-specific blogging for Virginia content

❌ DIDN’T: Panic and change everything at once
❌ DIDN’T: Wait until after moving to start
❌ DIDN’T: Lose sleep over temporarily dropping rankings

Allison’s Hawaii Move: Competing in a Saturated Market

Allison’s move to Oahu presented different challenges. Hawaii has an incredibly competitive photography market with tons of search volume – both opportunities and obstacles.

Her Smart Pre-Move Strategy

Even without knowing exactly when they’d get orders, Allison started preparing:

• Researched competitor landscape and pricing structures
• Studied permitting requirements at every level (county, city, state, federal)
• Planned content around location-specific keywords
• Executed mini sessions during a scouting trip to create Hawaii-specific content

The Results After 8 Months

• Top 20 rankings for all target keywords (impressive in such a competitive market)
• 4x more organic search traffic than social media traffic
• Consistent monthly bookings from Google traffic
• Still ranking #11 in Virginia Beach despite dropping those keywords months ago

The Surprising Thing About Old Location Rankings

Here’s something that might shock you: both Allison and I are still ranking in our old locations months after changing our focus.

I’m still getting weekly inquiries for South Florida work, and Allison is ranked #11 in Virginia Beach. This shows the power of building genuine domain authority over time.

Why This Happens:

• Quality content continues to rank even after keyword changes
• Domain authority takes time to shift completely
• Well-optimized blog posts maintain their rankings for years

Struggling with photography SEO in your current location? Whether you’re planning a move or just want to rank better where you are, The Blogging Club gives you monthly blog strategies that work for photographers anywhere.

Lessons Learned: What We’d Do Differently

Start Even Earlier

Both of us realized we could have started our SEO transitions 6+ months before moving and likely achieved faster results.

Focus on Evergreen Content

Allison made a great point about shifting from location-specific content to evergreen photography topics like:

• Wall art and album guides
• What to wear for sessions
• How to prepare for your photoshoot
• Print and product education

These also work as amazing client education tools you can send with every inquiry response.

Your Step-by-Step Action Plan for Relocating Your Photography Business

6+ Months Before Moving:

• Research your new market’s keyword landscape
• Start creating evergreen photography content
• Begin building authority around broader photography topics

3-4 Months Before Moving:

• Complete keyword research for new location
• Update homepage and main service pages
• Start location-specific blogging for new area

1-2 Months Before Moving:

• Plan content creation trip if possible
• Update Google Business Profile information
• Create moving announcement content for current clients

After Moving:

• Continue consistent, location-specific blogging
• Build local photography relationships
• Monitor rankings and adjust strategy as needed

The Bottom Line to Relocating Your Photography Business

Here’s what I want you to remember: your SEO work isn’t location-dependent – it’s strategy-dependent. Every hour you’ve spent building your domain authority is an investment that pays off whether you stay put or move across the country.

Relocating your photography business doesn’t mean losing your SEO progress – if you plan strategically. Both Allison and I maintained strong Google visibility throughout our relocations by starting early and staying consistent.

Key Takeaway: Your domain authority travels with you. The SEO work you’ve done builds a foundation that makes future location changes much easier.

SEO Tip: Every market is different. What works in South Florida might need adjustment for Virginia or Hawaii. The key is understanding your new market’s competitive landscape and search behavior.

Ready to master SEO for your photography business, whether you’re moving or staying put? Join The Blogging Club where I share monthly blog strategies that work for photographers in any location. Or if you want us to handle your SEO completely, check out my Done-for-You SEO services designed specifically for photographers who want results without the overwhelm.

If you love this post, you’ll want to read these next:

Stop Ghosting Your Own Leads: The Follow Up System Every Photographer Needs

Inquiry Response Videos: The Secret Weapon for Booking More Photography Clients