Embrace Simplicity

Simplicity is the foundation of a strong photography website.

By stripping away clutter and focusing only on what matters, you create a clean, intuitive experience that lets your work breathe.

Visitors should be able to navigate easily, find what they need quickly, and focus on your photography without distractions.

Simplicity is not about limiting creativity. It is about presenting your work clearly so it connects and resonates.

Optimize Navigation

Seamless navigation keeps people on your site.

Limit menu items so visitors are not overwhelmed and can move through your site intuitively.

Keep navigation consistent and easy to access, whether it sits at the top or along the side.

Simple touches like a clickable logo to return home make exploration effortless.

Good navigation also includes clear calls to action, intuitive image controls, and access to key sections within just a few clicks.

Create an Effective Contact Page

Your contact page is the bridge between interest and opportunity.

Make your contact information easy to find and include it in the footer on every page.

Remove friction by using a simple contact form or a clearly visible, clickable email address.

When reaching out feels effortless, you invite more inquiries, collaborations, and meaningful conversations.

Utilize the Power of Blogging

A photography blog is a powerful storytelling tool.

Use it to share your best work, behind-the-scenes moments, and the thinking behind what you make.

Consistent blogging builds connection, trust, and reasons for people to return.

It also improves visibility, as fresh content helps search engines surface your work to a wider audience.

Leverage Analytics

I love analytics and I track them everywhere I post.

Data tells you how your website is actually performing and how people are behaving on it.

Free tools like Google Analytics show traffic patterns, popular content, and audience insights.

Use that data to improve navigation, reduce bounce rates, and create work that resonates.

When you learn from analytics consistently, you sharpen your strategy and increase the impact of your website and portfolio.

Craft a Captivating About Page

Your About page introduces the person behind the work.

Share your journey, your perspective, and why you do what you do.

Be authentic and transparent. That is what builds trust.

A strong self-portrait and a short video deepen the connection and let people experience you before they ever reach out.

Video turns your About page into one-sided FaceTime with every potential client.

Mine includes a 90-second video, clear contact info, a clickable email, a call to action, and testimonials.

Unique Design

Your website design reflects your brand.

A custom or thoughtfully personalized design separates you from generic templates and raises your perceived professionalism.

Use color, typography, and layout to express your personality and artistic vision.

Even when using a theme, customization matters.

Neutral backgrounds like white, black, or grey often showcase work best, but rules can be broken successfully when done intentionally.

Prioritize Speed and Reliability

Speed matters more than most photographers realize.

A slow website loses attention and credibility fast.

Invest in solid hosting, optimize performance regularly, and fix broken links.

A fast, reliable site shows respect for your audience’s time.

Use free tools like Ahrefs to check for errors and performance issues.

Master SEO Strategies

SEO increases how often your work gets discovered.

Optimize your site with clear keywords, strong meta descriptions, and descriptive image captions.

Help search engines understand what your site is about and who it is for.

Build quality backlinks from reputable websites to strengthen your authority.

Good SEO brings consistent, organic traffic and expands your reach without paid ads.

Search “Editorial Portraits Toronto” and see me on the first page.

Quality Over Quantity

Less work shown often has more impact.

Curate your portfolio tightly and lead with only your strongest images.

Too many galleries dilute attention and weaken the impression.

Every image represents your vision and your brand, so choose carefully.

This is something I constantly refine, balancing how much to show and when to stop.

I also rely on trusted, experienced eyes to challenge my choices and keep the bar high.

Maintain Freshness and Consistency

Consistency builds trust and loyalty.

Update your site regularly with new work, blog posts, or meaningful content.

Fresh updates give people a reason to return.

Keep your style and tone consistent across your website to reinforce your brand.

A cohesive experience makes your work feel intentional and professional.

Embrace Mobile-Friendly Design

Mobile viewing is no longer optional.

Most people will see your work on a phone before they ever see it on a desktop.

It may not be ideal for photographers, but it is reality.

Use responsive design so your site adapts cleanly to all screen sizes.

Mobile friendliness also affects search rankings.

Check your mobile site as often as you check your desktop version.

I’m on my 3rd year posting to Substack every Saturday.

I’m glad you’re here with me. If you’re new, welcome.

If you haven’t already, check my YouTube channel, I’m almost at 50K Subscribers.

Help me get to 100K and engage in the best photography business channel on YouTube.

📸💫 Thanks for reading. See you next Saturday.

PS. See more of my work at SteveCarty.com and get help with your photography business at TheCartyMethod.com