If you’ve been putting off SEO for photographers because it feels technical or overwhelming, TMA mentor Melissa Arlena is here to change your mind. In this episode, Melissa guest hosts to walk through four simple, no tech overwhelm steps you can start using today to help your website get found on Google and bring in more of your dream clients.
With over 16 years of experience as both a photographer and an SEO coach, Melissa has used these exact strategies to build her own business, and then rebuild it more than once after moving to new locations. She knows firsthand what it takes to climb back to the top of Google search results, and she’s sharing that roadmap with the TMA community.
Four Steps to Simplify SEO for Photographers
Melissa breaks her approach down into four manageable pieces, starting with keywords. Since keywords are how Google finds your website in the first place, she recommends sitting down and listing out the locations you serve alongside the genres you shoot, then combining them (think “San Diego newborn photographer”). She’s also quick to point out that repeating your top keyword across every page only means you’re competing with yourself. Spreading a wider list of keywords across your site gives Google more ways to find and rank you.
From there, Melissa moves into image optimization. Photographer websites tend to be image heavy, and today’s camera files are often far larger than a website actually needs. Resizing images, renaming files with something more descriptive than a generic export name, and filling in alt text all help both your site speed and your visibility in search results. Her third step is a simple but often skipped habit: checking your website on mobile at least once a month, since most site traffic now comes from phones rather than desktops. Her final step is blogging consistently, with a focus on content that speaks to future clients rather than recapping past sessions.
Why Long Term SEO Beats the Social Media Hamster Wheel
One of the most encouraging parts of this episode is Melissa’s own story. As someone who has moved and had to rebuild her photography business from scratch more than once, she leaned on SEO each time to climb back to the top of local search results. She points out that a social media post has a shelf life of a few days to a week, while a well optimized blog post can keep driving traffic and bookings for years. That kind of long term payoff is exactly why she encourages photographers to treat SEO as a slow, steady investment rather than a quick fix.
Community Makes SEO Feel Less Overwhelming
SEO can feel like a lot to tackle alone, and that’s part of why mentors like Melissa are such a valuable part of the TMA community. Inside the membership, photographers get access to her expertise alongside guidance from other mentors covering everything from pricing to client experience, so no one has to figure out their marketing strategy in isolation. Having a place to ask questions, get eyes on your work, and learn from photographers further down the road can make the difference between starting your SEO and actually sticking with it long enough to see results.
Listen and Learn More
If you’re ready to stop guessing and start building an SEO strategy that actually pays off, this episode is worth a listen. Melissa walks through each step in more detail, with plenty of encouragement for photographers who feel behind or overwhelmed by the idea of getting started.
Find Melissa at pictureperfectrankings.com or on Instagram at @pictureperfectrankings.
Melissa offers SEO services and a group coaching program to help photographers rank higher on Google. Get 20% off with code MOTHERHOOD at pictureperfectrankings.com/TMA.
Ready to build a business that reflects your own creative voice? The Motherhood Anthology membership gives you access to expert mentors, live coaching, monthly marketing suites, and a private community of photographers who are invested in your success. Learn more and join at themotherhoodanthology.com.
The Motherhood Anthology is a community and educational resource for photographers who want a profitable and sustainable business they love. With 15+ expert mentors and 7+ years of proven content, TMA helps portrait photographers build confident, thriving businesses through monthly education, mentorship, and a supportive community of 700+ members.
