Relocating Your Photography Business? Here’s What Works (and What Doesn’t)

Here’s what drives me crazy: I see photographers get so caught up in the chaos of packing boxes and finding new clients that they completely miss the biggest opportunity of their entire business career.

Look, relocating your photography business isn’t just about changing your Google My Business location and hoping for the best. It’s actually the perfect time to fix everything that’s been quietly sabotaging your success – all those workflows, pricing decisions, and service offerings you’ve been putting off because they seemed “too disruptive.”

As someone who’s successfully moved my photography business twice while maintaining page 1 Google rankings, I can tell you that the photographers who thrive in new markets aren’t just the ones who pack efficiently. They’re the ones who use the move as a strategic business reset.

After 17+ years in photography and helping hundreds of photographers with their relocations, I’ve learned this: you’re literally starting fresh in a new location, which means this is your golden opportunity to rebrand, pivot niches, overhaul workflows, or make any major changes you’ve been avoiding.

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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 Alison & I 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.

Why Moving Is the Perfect Time for Business Changes

Here’s the thing – when you’re relocating, you’re already disrupting everything. Your schedule, your location, your client base – it’s all changing anyway.

This transition period is actually a strategic advantage. Think about it: whatever changes you’ve been putting off because they seem too disruptive? Now’s the time. Whether that’s switching from all-inclusive to IPS pricing, cutting services that aren’t working, or completely overhauling your client experience.

From the podcast discussion, Alison and I talked about how a move gives you the perfect excuse to evaluate what’s working and what isn’t in your business operations.

SEO Tip: This business audit is exactly what I do with my Done-for-You SEO clients before we start their optimization. You can’t improve what you don’t measure.

The Love vs. Hate List: Your Business Audit Foundation

Before you start packing or planning your marketing strategy for your new location, you need to figure out what needs to change in your business – both personally and professionally.

Start by creating a simple two-column list:

• What do I love about my current business?
• What do I hate or want to change?

Examples of things you might love:

• Only shooting during weekdays
• Your editing style
• Working with newborn clients
• Your current pricing structure

Examples of things you might want to ditch:

• Weekend sessions that interfere with family time
• Your outdated website
• Shooting weddings when you prefer families
• Complicated workflows that waste time

This exercise helps you identify what’s worth keeping versus what you should leave behind in your old location.

Pro Tip: I always tell my clients that moving gives you permission to make changes that would otherwise feel too drastic. Use this transition as your business reset button.

Personal Considerations: Lifestyle Changes That Affect Your Business

Schedule Flexibility Based on Location

Your new location might completely change when and how you want to work. As mentioned in our podcast conversation, Alison discovered that Hawaii’s unique time zone and tourist jet lag actually made sunrise sessions incredibly appealing – something she’d previously avoided.

Consider these personal factors:

• Childcare availability and costs
• Your spouse’s new work schedule
• Local school schedules
• Family lifestyle preferences in the new area

Cost of Living Analysis

This is crucial when relocating your photography business: you need to understand how your cost of doing business will change. Maybe you only needed five sessions per month in your old location, but now you need ten. Or perhaps the opposite is true – lower living costs might mean you can work less while maintaining the same lifestyle.

Property taxes, income taxes, and general living expenses can dramatically impact how much you need to earn.

Website Evaluation: Your Biggest Marketing Asset

Your website should be your biggest asset for marketing. It should show up on Google, convert visitors into clients, and speak directly to your ideal clients’ needs. If it’s not doing these things, a move is the perfect time to fix it.

Key Website Questions to Ask:

• Is your design working for your brand?
• Do your portfolio images reflect the experience you provide?
• Does your website personality match what you’re trying to convey?
• Are you ranking in search results?
• What’s your inquiry-to-booking conversion rate?

Real Success Story: Her monthly clicks went from 200-500 to consistently over 1,200 per month – just from having a solid website foundation.

SEO Tip: When I moved my photography business to Charlottesville, I started my website optimization four months before the physical move. This gave me time to research new market keywords and begin ranking before I even arrived.

Workflow Overhaul Opportunities

Relocating your photography business gives you the perfect excuse to examine and update every aspect of your workflow:

Editing and Delivery Systems

• Are you happy with your current editor, or is this a good time to try AI editing?
• Does your gallery system need updating?
• Are your email templates still accurate for your new location?

Client Communication

• How quickly do you respond to inquiries?
• What’s your booking conversion rate?
• Do you have systems in place for consistent follow-up?

Pro Tip: Go into your CRM settings and update the master templates, not just individual emails. This saves massive time and ensures consistency in your new market.

Pricing Strategy Evaluation

Cost of Doing Business Analysis

Calculate your new cost of doing business for your new location. This includes:

• Housing costs
• Childcare expenses
• Business insurance
• Travel costs for sessions
• Lab and vendor expenses

Avoiding the Pricing Trap

Here’s a critical warning from our podcast discussion: when things get slow in your new location, resist the urge to lower your prices. This is a common mistake that creates a downward spiral.

Instead of lowering prices, focus on:

• Improving your marketing visibility
• Optimizing your website for local SEO
• Building relationships in your new community
• Creating strategic promotional offers (not permanent price cuts)

SEO Insight: This is exactly why I focus so heavily on helping photographers with their Google rankings. When you’re visible in search results, you attract clients who are specifically looking for professional photography services – not bargain hunters.

Portfolio Updates for Your New Market

Geographic Considerations

Your portfolio needs to reflect your new environment. If you’re moving from fields to beaches, or from beaches to mountains, you’ll need to strategically update your imagery.

Smart Strategy: As mentioned in our conversation, look through your existing portfolio for images that could work in your new location. For example, if you’re moving to a coastal area, pull forward any water-related images you have, even if they’re from rivers or lakes.

Genre and Style Changes

If you’re planning to:

• Switch photography genres
• Change your editing style
• Emphasize different services

When to Cut Services That Aren’t Working

Moving is the perfect time to eliminate services or offers that aren’t serving your business goals.

Example: Half-sessions or promotional pricing that worked initially but now attract the wrong clients can be completely eliminated during your move. Use this transition as a natural ending point for offers that no longer align with your business goals.

Creating Your Action Plan

Before you move, dedicate serious time to this business audit. Whether that means taking an evening away or planning a personal work retreat, this evaluation will outline your entire plan for moving forward.

Your action steps:

1. Create your love/hate list
2. Analyze cost of living changes
3. Audit your website performance
4. Review all workflows and templates
5. Calculate new pricing based on location costs
6. Update portfolio for new geographic area
7. Eliminate services that don’t serve your goals

Pro Tip: After moving my photography business twice, I’ve learned that the photographers who struggle in new markets are the ones who try to recreate their old business exactly. The ones who thrive use the move as a strategic business upgrade.

Ready to Optimize Your Photography Business for Your Move?

Here’s what I want you to remember: relocating your photography business doesn’t have to mean starting from scratch. With strategic planning and honest evaluation of what’s working versus what isn’t, you can actually use this transition to build a stronger, more profitable business in your new location.

The biggest mistake I see photographers make is treating their move like a logistical problem instead of a strategic opportunity. Don’t just pack your business and hope it works in the new location – optimize it for success.

Ready to master the SEO side of your relocation? My Done-for-You SEO services handle all the technical optimization while you focus on the business audit and move logistics.

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