4 Signs Your Photography Website Needs a Redesign
If you’re struggling to attract the right clients to your photography business, or cringe at the thought of a prospective client going to your website, it may be time to consider a website redesign for your photography business.
Let’s break down four key areas to review on your photography business website to determine if it’s in need of a complete overhaul or if some small adjustments and tweaks can help get things back on track.
Table of Contents
Your work has elevated, but your photography website reflects the earlier years
This is one of the most common signs that your business has outgrown your photography business – the quality of the work. Most likely you started a business, built a website and then maybe (occasionally) updated it. Sounds about right?
More than likely, you’ve honed in on your craft, the quality of work has increased, and furthermore you’ve dialed in on your signature photography style. You know what you're capable of, and most likely you’re sharing this work on social channels such as Instagram, but your website has been neglected – or updated a few times a year at best.
This is where I always recommend taking a step back at your photography website portfolio and sifting through it. What feels like it can stay, what needs to be sunset, and lastly, what needs to be added to feel on-brand and up to standards of your work to date. This may feel daunting or a bit sentimental taking down some of your work – but I promise this will help build a stronger overall feel for your photography website.
And as a reminder, we’re not just looking at your photography portfolio, sift through every single page that’s part of your site, such as the homepage, about, inquire, etc – these should also be reflective of your expertise and style. If you haven’t yet, check out this photography website checklist.
You’ve niched down
If you’ve been in business a few years, or even longer, you’ve most likely had a few iterations of what type of offerings, services, and industry your photography business served. These have morphed and evolved over time–which could lead to an unclear and not up-to-date photography website experience.
If your website experience isn’t clearly stating what you do, who you serve and how to book your services, how do you expect your clients to follow through and inquire?
Taking a good look at things such as your homepage, sales/packages pages and SEO will be helpful to understand if a full website redesign for your photography website is in the near future.
For example, let’s say you’re a photographer in Los Angeles. When you first started out you were shooting weddings, elopements, maternity, families and seniors. This is a great way to get a feel for the type of work you want to do – but more often than not, I see photographers begin to niche down a few seasons into their craft.
Overtime you lean into and niche down to luxury weddings and elopements for Los Angeles and select destinations. If your portfolio still has glimpses of families, maternity or other non-specific photography work, it’s time to trim those out. If you’ve niched down, it’s important that your website reflects this – making it easy for future couples to book your work and feel ‘seen.’
You’re not getting aligned inquiries with your photography website
Your photography website may be in need of a redesign or major tune up if the inquiries you are receiving no longer align with your services, value or investment.
If you’re getting misaligned inquiries – whether by project type or investment it’s worth looking further into your photography business website’s copy and messaging. If that messaging isn’t clear, it’s most likely sending mixed signals resulting in misaligned inquiries.
Working with a copywriter can help alleviate a lot of this misalignment and allow for a clearer process, strategy and communication to align with your target audience. As a photography website designer, I have a select roster of referrals for copywriters who specialize in website copy for photographers.
Your website doesn't feel in alignment with your brand
Sometimes it simply comes down to how you feel about your website. If your website doesn’t feel like you – or your cringe when someone asks for your URL – then it may be time to consider a photography website redesign.
This feeling is valid and worth paying attention to. By creating a website that reflects your values, work and clearly communicates with your clients, it will be easier to book dreamy clients, share your website with peers and help educate your audience for a better end experience.
With this I’ll leave you with a few questions to reflect on:
Does my website reflect the work I’m producing today?
Does my photography website communicate my offerings, experience and values?
Frequently Asked Questions
-
This is a good question and one that really depends on your business. Industry standard is an overhaul typically happens every 4-8 years, but truly depends on your brand and established website.
-
Answer these few simple questions:
Does my website reflect the work I’m producing today?
Does my photography website communicate my offerings, experience and values?
Do I dread updating my photography website due to the platform it’s on?
These may help determine if a photography website redesign is in your near future.
-
Possibly! Depending on how your website aligns with your current value, style and services, it may need more of a refresh vs. a true overhaul. Talking with a web designer for photographers can help determine the best steps to ensure your investment is a wise one.
-
The short answer, yes. In today’s world having a thoughtful website and social media presence is ideal for photographers of all industries. You own your website, you do not own Instagram, Pinterest, etc. – so make sure you’re sending your potential clients to your website and not just driving them to your social channels.
Ready to build your custom photography website?
Reach out to Made by NF to discuss thoughtful brand identity and website design partnership opportunities for photographers.
