Turn Your Squarespace Photography Website Into a Client Magnet

So many talented photographers struggle with the same thing: a beautiful portfolio of work, but a website that doesn’t do them justice. Maybe it’s confusing to navigate. Maybe the messaging doesn’t clearly reflect their brand or speak to the right clients. Or maybe there are simply too many images without real curation, leaving visitors overwhelmed instead of inspired. 

Here’s the truth: your website isn’t just a gallery. It’s your hardest-working team member - the first handshake with a potential client. In just a few seconds, people are deciding if they like your style, if you feel like an expert they can trust, and whether you’re the right fit. If your site doesn’t answer those questions quickly, they’ll move on. 

The good news is that a handful of intentional updates can make your Squarespace photography website feel clearer, more professional, and ready to book your dream clients. 

Let’s break it down, starting with the part of your site most people see first - your homepage. 

1. Homepage Clarity 

Your homepage is prime real estate. Think of it like your storefront: people glance in, scan, and decide if they want to stay. 

It’s also where you set the tone for both visitors and Google. Start with a keyword-rich headline that combines your service with your location - for example, ‘Editorial Wedding Photography New York’ or ‘Family Photographer in Maine.’ 

Alongside this, your opening messaging should make it clear what sets you apart, whether that’s your style, approach, or personality. Once that foundation is in place, layer in trust-builders like testimonials, venue knowledge, or publication features, and then reinforce that authority and consistency across the rest of your site. 

In short: say what you do, where you do it, and why it matters - clearly, confidently, and in language your dream clients will instantly connect with. 

On your homepage, make sure to include:

● An intro that explains how you work and what you offer 

● Your best images curated as a cohesive collection (don’t just use brides and grooms - mix in details and portraits for interest) 

● Links to blog posts or real weddings or shoots - three is ideal, and choose venues or locations you’d love to book again 

● FAQs and a “venues I love” section. Squarespace’s accordion block is perfect for natural language but keyword-rich FAQs to boost SEO 

● An “as featured in” section with publication logos or awards 

● Testimonials. Real words from real couples carry weight 

● A strong call-to-action: “Check if I’m free for your date.” 

For example, on Samantha Jane Photography’s website, her homepage combines a strong hero image with her primary keyword above the fold, plus links to blogs, testimonials, FAQs, and venue knowledge - giving both visitors and Google confidence she’s an expert. 

2. Storytelling & Branding 

Your photos show your craft, but your brand tells your story and it needs to resonate with the clients you most want to attract. 

If your ideal couples are adventurous and fun, your site should feel bold and playful, with vibrant colours, modern fonts, and relaxed, chatty copy. If they’re editorial and refined, your site should feel calm and elegant, with muted palettes, serif fonts, and confident, minimal copy. 

Every element plays a role: colours create the atmosphere, fonts set the tone, your copy speaks directly to your client in a way that makes them feel understood, and your imagery shows the kind of stories you want to be known for. 

On Katie Rogers’ site, for example, we focused on elegant branding and carefully curated imagery - from muted tones to classy serif fonts to refined copy - all reflecting her editorial film style. Visitors instantly know whether her approach resonates with them. 

3. Curating Imagery 

Too many images can create overwhelm. A curated gallery shows confidence and builds trust. 

I usually suggest one highlights gallery with 30-40 of your strongest images. Make sure they share a consistent edit and flow well together on the page and include a good mix

of wide shots, close-ups, and details so the gallery feels confident and varied without overwhelming visitors. 

Alongside your highlights, use blog posts to showcase real weddings or shoots. A gallery shows your range, but a blog demonstrates consistency across a full wedding or shoot. It reassures potential clients that you can deliver from start to finish. 

4. SEO That Works While You Sleep 

SEO is what ensures people actually find your site. It doesn’t have to be complicated. Focus on: 

● Homepage H1 title: combine your service + location. “California Wedding Photographer | Natural, Storytelling Photography.” 

● Meta descriptions: write them like ads, not afterthoughts. 

● Alt text: describe the image clearly, and include the keyword where it makes sense (not on every image). 

● Footer keywords: add a line like ‘Based in California and capturing weddings throughout Los Angeles, San Diego, Palm Springs, and beyond.’ It reinforces your location site-wide. 

● Natural language in paragraphs: write in a way that sounds natural to humans but also includes your primary keyword and related semantic keywords. This helps Google understand the context of your page. 

● Blog with intent: every real wedding is a keyword opportunity. Title posts with the venue + your service. 

● Internal linking: make sure you add 3-5 links pointing back to your key “money pages” - usually your home and service pages. Link to them from your blog posts, gallery pages, even your 404 page if you want to guide people back. This signals to Google that those pages are the most important, and helps clients find them too. 

● Keywords: focus on one main keyword per page. Don’t try to rank the same phrase across your whole site. Use tools like SEO Space to find the right keywords and avoid using the same keywords on multiple pages. 

5. Building Trust 

Photos make people stop and look. Trust makes them book. You can build trust in simple but powerful ways: 

● Scatter testimonials across your site, not just on one page 

● Show your face. A friendly, professional portrait makes you relatable ● Be transparent with pricing. Even “packages from £X” sets expectations Use human calls-to-action, like “Check if I’m free for your date,” instead of “Submit.”

● Share logos from features, awards, or associations 

● Demonstrate local expertise with venue blogs and planning tips Trust is the difference between someone admiring your work and actually reaching out.

6. Capture the “Not Yet” Clients 

Most people visiting your site aren’t ready to inquire right away - they might be browsing, comparing photographers, or still early in their planning. That doesn’t mean they’re lost. 

Offer them something valuable to download in exchange for their email address - a simple PDF like ‘10 Tips for Choosing Your Wedding Photographer’ or ‘How to Get the Best Photos on Your Wedding Day.’ It should feel useful, easy to digest, and relevant to the exact kind of clients you want to attract. 

Once they download it, you can follow up with a friendly welcome sequence - share more about your approach, link them to your best galleries or blog posts, and gently guide them towards booking when the time is right. 

A thoughtful lead magnet means your website doesn’t just capture inquiries in the moment, it also starts conversations with the clients who will be ready a little further down the line. 

Final Thoughts 

A beautiful website is the foundation, but what really makes it work is the feeling it gives your clients. When your words resonate, your images are thoughtfully chosen, and your site quietly builds trust at every turn, people don’t just admire your work - they feel ready to reach out. 

That’s when your photography website becomes a true client-winning magnet! 

About the Author 

Clare Butler is a Squarespace designer and SEO consultant based in the UK. She creates clean, thoughtful websites for photographers, creatives, and wellness professionals.