Does Your Photography Website Need a Complete Makeover?

Whether it’s a complete rebrand or just a touch of necessary finessing, let’s find out if you actually need that website makeover

If you’ve been reading my other blogs, you've probably learnt by now that I'm obsessed with websites, and for good reason. 

Your website acts as a digital 24/7/365 shopfront for your business, showing off your uniqueness. It should give your target audience a clear understanding of who you are and why your business can help them achieve their goals.

But as a photographer (who's always evolving), there will often be times when you look at your photography website and just feel meh. 😐

Maybe it's looking a wee bit boring or outdated, and you feel that itch to redesign it all over again. Who doesn't love a good makeover, right?

Waiiiiiiiiiit - hold your horses - does your website actually need a complete makeover, or does it just need a bit of zjooshing? 

10 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Redesigning Your Photography Website

Yes, redesigning your photography website is super exciting. You want it to look current, on brand, and trendy AF to attract your dream photography clients and feel like you.💅

However, if you’re picturing a major overhaul, it’s important to remember that the project can be costly, time-consuming, and plain ol’ exhausting.

You must have the time, budget, and mental capacity to complete it. Once you start on it, you need to commit to finishing it properly (and not half-arsing it or calling it quits halfway through).

So, let's explore 10 questions you need to answer before diving into the deep end!

The most important thing here is to answer the questions as objectively as possible - set your personal feelings and thoughts aside.

1. What are my main goals in redesigning the website?

For example, if your main goal is to rank higher for SEO and attract more clients organically, and your website isn't doing that - an aesthetic website makeover won't fix your traffic problem. Instead of redesigning your website, focus on improving your SEO efforts. 

Similarly, if your aim is to attract more bookings via your website, and you're getting lots of traffic but not many enquiries - focus on improving your website's engagement and conversion touchpoints. 

Sometimes, a website redesign might not be your desired answer or miracle. Take the time to identify the gaps and how you can solve them, then determine what work your website needs. 

2. When was the last time I updated my website, if ever?

If it's been over a year since you last touched it, it's not a surprise if you don't feel as excited about it. Sometimes, the quickest fix could be a simple overhaul of your featured images. 

Image Credit: Ashleigh Haase Photography

If you aren't already, I highly recommend setting yourself a task every 3 months (at minimum) to review and audit your website for improvement areas proactively. 

3. Does the current website represent my business well, from my photography style to my client experience? Why or why not?

You're probably updating your Instagram feed way more often than your website. If you compare your Instagram page with your website, do they reflect the same overall aesthetic and vibe? 

If you've evolved your photography style, levelled up your client experience, or changed your client language, ensure your website reflects those updates!

4. How do I want to position myself in the market? How do I want my photography brand to be perceived?

When reviewing your website, setting aside your personal preferences can be challenging. While your website is an extension of you and your personality, we also want to ensure that it reflects your target audience!

For example, your favourite colour might be bubblegum pink. But if you're targeting super-luxury, timeless weddings, a bubblegum pink website probably won't work in your favour.

Please don’t hate me…purely for example and LOLs.

Revisit your brand values and ideal target audience to determine how your website can complement your brand positioning. 

5. What do I love and want to keep about the current website?

It's highly unlikely that you hate everything about your website. Make a list of the things you love and would be happy to keep the same, whether it's the font, colours, layout, copy, images, or other.

6. What do I hate and want to replace/remove from the current website?

Narrow in on what you dislike about your current website. Is it an old logo, outdated portfolio images, or how the copy sounds? Be as specific as possible. 

7. What do I neither love nor hate but could be improved?

Maybe you don't mind the colour palette, but you feel that it could use a refresher or that the mobile layout could be further improved for a better user experience. 

8. Do I need to address specific pain points in the current website experience?

If you decide to proceed with a website redesign, your #1 focus should be addressing the current pain points and any areas that have been stumbling blocks in the past.

Those areas should be at the top of your list, whether it's poor mobile optimisation or confusing navigation. 

9. Which areas of the website am I okay with doing myself, and which areas should be outsourced?

If you have the budget to outsource the entire project, great - go ahead and let them do their thang!

If you'd like to make some of the updates yourself, make a list of those areas and set aside the time to give it a go. Once you've figured out what you realistically can and can't do, you'll then have a better idea of what and how to brief your designer. 

10. How will I measure and evaluate the new website's success?

So, you've decided that you DO need a website redesign, and everything's well underway.

While this question may seem like an afterthought, it's important to circle back to your original website goals and determine how you'll objectively assess if you've achieved them with the new website. Write down some performance metrics that you can refer back to.

Once you've answered these questions, you should - hopefully - gain some clarity as to whether you need a complete website design overhaul or simply a refreshed look. 

Finally, is your website copywriting engaging, and does it effectively attract and convert your ideal photography clients?

Remember, your photography website is so much more than an online gallery; it’s your digital shopfront where you’ll educate, hype, and sell your audience on your incredible services.

It gives your target clients a complimentary taste test of how you and your photography business can best serve their needs.

Your carefully curated photos and website copy should work as hard as each other to create an impactful user experience.

Think of it this way: your photos reflect your style, while your website copy sells your audience on who YOU are and why they should choose you over every other available photographer.

Want my 5 biggest copywriting tips for photographers?

Join my waitlist for a FREEBIE that covers exactly that!

Would you rather have all your copy done by a copywriter who genuinely cares about you and your photography biz?

You’re already burning the midnight oil culling, editing, and delivering gorgeous galleries to your clients - the last thing you want is to sit in front of your screen, with your cursor blinking on an empty page, and cursing school for your lack of writing skills, right?

I feel that. Like, I can’t even take a decent photo on my phone…let alone convince people to pay me $$$ for my severe lack of photography skills.

But - if I may be so bold - I can write and will write the shit outta your photography business…and convince your people to pay you $$$ for your chef’s kiss photography skills. That’s the least I can do for you.😘