Today we’re going to be going over the 5 of the most common photography website mistakes that we continuously see photographers make. The question is.. are you making one of them? Or potentially more.. god I hope not, cause that wouldn’t be good, I mean it REALLY wouldn’t be good!!! Look, it’s not worth losing potential leads because you had your head buried in the sand, so read on as we’re about to unpack each mistake and how you can easily avoid them.  

 

 

Mistake 01: Mixed Messaging

The first mistake that we often see is that the sole objective of the photography website isn’t made clear. When you’re in the process of creating a website, it’s crucial to define its primary purpose. What exactly do you want your visitors to do when they land on your site? Should they fill out a contact form, give you a call, schedule a consultation, or perhaps make a purchase? The main goal of your website needs to be unmistakable and consistently emphasized through the use of “calls to action.”

Too frequently, we stumble upon photography websites that feature on-page links or buttons that aimlessly guide visitors around the site without providing clear calls to action or directions as to what they should do next. Contrary to what you might assume, your visitors aren’t mind readers. Unless you explicitly inform them about the next steps you would like them to take, they’re unlikely to take any action.

When it comes to implementing your calls to action, don’t just limit these to your homepage. These buttons should be strategically positioned throughout the pages of your site in a natural and persuasive manner. They should stand out from the rest of your content and grab your visitors’ attention. The goal is to either encourage your visitors to take the next step or have these ‘calls to action’ front and center when they decide of their own accord, that they’re ready to proceed.

So to avoid this common mistake and give your website the best chance of converting visitors to leads, it’s crucial they know exactly what they need to do next. Your visitors will appreciate the guidance, and you’ll likely see a higher conversion rate as a result.

Mistake 02: No Location:

The second mistake that we frequently see made is rather obvious but one that can so easily be overlooked and that’s forgetting to include your location or placing this information in an inappropriate place on your website. As photographers, we operate a service-based business which means the information about our location or the areas we service is extremely important and isn’t something that should be buried in a paragraph of copy, located in your footer or found on your About page. Any visitor who lands on your website should easily be able to find this information within seconds. For this reason, your location should be located either above or just below the fold on your home page and in text that’s easy to see and read. Without this information being easily accessible it’s likely your visitors will just head elsewhere. 

Mistake 03: Incorrect Copy

One frequent error we often come across involves the art of crafting website copy. Many photographers inadvertently fall into the trap of using an ‘I’-centric approach, where the narrative consistently revolves around themselves. For instance, they might write statements such as “I have been taking photos for over 10 years,” “I like to photograph in a natural and candid manner,” or “I believe a wedding day is about more than just the first kiss or first dance.”

Here’s the secret: your website visitors typically don’t want to read extensively about you. If you aim to create a strong connection between your audience and your business, your copy needs a ‘you’-centric tone. In other words, your website visitors should take centre stage as the heroes of the story.

This approach involves discussing how your expertise and experience can genuinely benefit them. For instance, rather than using the previous ‘I’ centric examples, you could rewrite these to be ‘you centric’ for example “You can find peace of mind and comfort in knowing that I bring over a decade of photography expertise to your special day”, “I like to photograph in a natural and candid manner” or “The story of your wedding day is so much more than just your first kiss or first dance” etc Do you see the difference?

Ultimately, the heart of the matter is shifting the spotlight from yourself to how your services and expertise can enhance their experience. It’s a subtle yet powerful shift that can make a significant difference in how visitors engage with your website and perceive your business.

Mistake 04: Image Selection

The next mistake that we frequently see is that sometimes not enough care is taken when curating the imagery that’s to be used on a photographer’s website or in their portfolio. It’s a mistake to assume, especially when starting out, that showcasing every image is essential to attracting clients. The reality is quite the opposite. Your visitors would be much more attracted to your business if you were to take a more selective approach. Ideally, you want to showcase enough imagery where your visitors can get an understanding for your approach, the photography style you offer and who you typically service but not too many where they may be overwhelmed or find reasons to head elsewhere. Just remember when curating the images on your site, your website or portfolio is only as strong as your weakest image.

Now if you find that you do want to include more images to give the visitor a more in-depth look as to what the final product could look like if they chose you as their photographer, then there are pages on your website where you can do this such as your blog or portfolio. Just don’t do it on your home page. But remember, even in these cases, it’s still equally important to exercise diligence in curating the imagery that will be included. 

And finally, make sure to only showcase the type of work that you want to attract or pursue. For instance, if you want to shoot inner-city weddings, don’t show pictures from country weddings. It really is that simple. 

Mistake 05: Limited Information

The fifth and final issue we often observe in photographers’ websites is that visitors are frequently left with more questions than answers after viewing a site. Your objective should be to resolve their queries rather than complicate matters further.

To address this, if you’re just starting out, consider the common questions you may typically receive or if you’re an established photographer you can refer to past email exchanges to identify recurring questions. Once you’ve compiled a list of these questions, you can either create an FAQ section at the bottom of each page on your website where the relevant questions may arise or you could establish a dedicated FAQ page for every question.

Some examples of common questions we often see: How much do you charge? Do you travel and if so, what are the fees? How many images will we receive? What is the booking process? Do we need to provide a shot list and the list goes on. Don’t just save the answers to your visitor’s questions for your pricing document or scheduled phone call, include them on your site! 

This approach allows you to swiftly answer the questions of your visitors and ensure your visitors have all the information they need to proceed with the next steps..

Conclusion

So there you have it, that’s the five common mistakes that we often see photographers make with their photography websites. If you are making some of these, do a little review of your website, fix things up and get it back on track so that you can start converting those leads.