Category: Websites

Can you look at my website and give me feedback?

by Stanley LearyWebsites

Ring Weekend for the seniors at The Citadel [Nikon D3S, Sigma 120-300mm ƒ/2.8, ISO 12800, ƒ/5.6, 1/60]

It is pretty standard for me to get an email saying, “I have been working on a website. I want your feedback.”

I go to their websites and find over and over that there is no rhyme or reason to their website. The only people who will go to your website will be those you sent a link to and those who happen to find you because of a search they did with Google.

So, for example, what type of search engine words would a person put into Google that might be looking for a photographer who took the first picture on this page?

  • The Citadel
  • Charleston
  • Ring Day
  • Photographer
  • South Carolina

Most people will likely not find you based on your website address. They will find you based on the search terms they put into the window.

[Nikon D100, 120-300mm ƒ/2.8, 2X, ISO 400, ƒ/8, 1/160]

If you need a photographer to take pictures of your basketball team playing then you might use these search terms:

  • Sports Photographer
  • Atlanta
  • Georgia
  • Basketball
  • College Sports
  • Photojournalist
[Nikon Coolpix P7000, ISO 100, ƒ/7.1, 1/1000]

If you were looking for a photographer to make this photo of the car then you might use these search terms:

  • Automobile
  • Car
  • Photographer
  • Still Life
  • Advertising
  • Corporate
  • Studio
  • Racecar
  • Atlanta
  • Georgia

I think you are seeing that you are creating a website where each photo has some words embedded into the image that the search engines can see and will take people to your photo. It is a little more complex than what I am saying here, but you must have these elements, or they cannot find you.

Kalyn Wood [Nikon D4, 85mm ƒ/1.4, ISO 800, ƒ/1.4, 1/160]

For this photo, you may have the person’s name in the caption information but then have the keywords: Portrait, Headshot, Fashion, Model, Actress.

In PhotoShop, you can go to the FileInfo and fill in these fields, which will be embedded within the photo on your website.

It would help if you also used these keywords on the webpage in the metadata there for the page. So if you do headshots, then in the keywords on the page showing all your headshots, you might have these keywords: Portraits, Headshots, Senior Photos, Bridal Portraits, Actor Headshots, Actress Headshots, Model Portfolios, Model Headshots, Model Portraits, Women Headshots, Men headshots.

You need to set up your website to solve a problem for a person staring at the Google Search field. What keywords would they put into those fields for which I have work that demonstrates I am what they are looking to hire to give them what they want?

Maybe you are an event photographer who covers meetings for clients. Whatever you do to solve clients’ problems, using photos is what you need in categories on your website.

You need a few images in a category to show off the variety of creativity you bring to the table.

Georgia Bulldog’s Freshman Running Back #35 Brian Herrien Scored his first collegiate touchdown. At the same time, UNC’s Safety #15 Donnie Miles could not stop him during tonight’s Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game, September 3, 2016, at the Georgia Dome.

Once people have found your photos on your website and like what they see, they may click on those other galleries they wouldn’t have been searching for. You may have a Personal Favorites gallery or Personal Project that you want to showcase. They might see those if there was something that they searched for to get them to your website.

Two more tips!

  1. Write your bio so that it explains what you do for your clients.
  2. Have your Contact Information viewable on every page that they can click on it to find your Phone number and a way to email you.

How to create an online presence for your photo business

by Stanley LearyNikon D750 / Websites

Nikon D750, AF-S NIKKOR 14-24mm f/2.8G ED, ISO 5000, ƒ/2.8, 1/250

I stopped by my online internet presence provider today while in New York City. My website is hosted through them. I also provide my images to my clients online through them. My clients can not only download pictures. They can order prints and more as I add those features to an online gallery.

I also am selling stock images of my own online and helping my mentor, who passed away, sell his pictures through my website. This is my way of helping out his spouse, who still is active.

Join Me On PhotoShelter


Now, if you click on this link, you will get a $15 discount, and I will get a small amount that helps support this blog.

Nikon D750, AF-S NIKKOR 14-24mm f/2.8G ED, ISO 1250, ƒ/2.8, 1/250

Here I am with Kevin Davis, Director of Business Development, for PhotoShelter. I have referred many clients to use PhotoShelter’s Libris products to organize their in-house photo collections.

Nikon D750, AF-S NIKKOR 14-24mm f/2.8G ED, ISO 12800, ƒ/8, 1/160

Many on their staff are also shooters, so they understand us photographers. This morning I was helping with a client’s Libris account and called and talked to Jon. He is in the hat closest to the wall.

Jon solved my problem in just a couple of minutes. I had not set up some files correctly, and he told me how to correct it and even offered to do this. WOW!!! I am a raving fan of PhotoShelter.

Here is an earlier post I did back in 2012 on using PhotoShelter for business.

I wrote another blog talking about how their website hosting works. Here is the link to the blog post Is your photography website scalable from Desktop to Mobile?

PhotoShelter has less than 50 employees. It has a minimal company feel, which means I feel like they know me.

Nikon D750, AF-S NIKKOR 14-24mm f/2.8G ED, ISO 12800, ƒ/8, 1/80

Joining PhotoShelter gives you other perks, like discounts to these companies:

I swear by and use ThinkTank products, PhotoMechanic and Cradoc fotoSoftware.

For anyone starting out in photography, I recommend you use PhotoShelter for all your online photography needs. That includes your website, online galleries, and stock sales. I also would recommend buying Cradoc’s fotoBiz software for similar reasons.

Both PhotoShelter and fotoBiz help you run your business. They have made this super simple for the novice.

I also recommend you get your clients with photo collections to sign up for PhotoShelter’s Libris to help them manage and share those assets through a secure online system.

If you started using PhotoShelter and fotoBiz, you would have jumped about ten years past all my mistakes. Do you want to get an advantage over other pros? Then join PhotoShelter.