Introduction, Are Your URLs Costing You Traffic?
You’ve invested in stunning photography, a sleek website, and engaging blogs.
But here’s the twist
Even the best content can lose search visibility if your URLs aren’t optimised.
What most photographers don’t realise is:
- Messy URLs confuse both Google and users
- Missing keywords mean lost ranking opportunities
- Long, unreadable links reduce clicks in search results
Meanwhile, competitors with clean, keyword-rich URLs are quietly outranking you.
If you wait, your competitor might already be using these URL secrets.
What Are SEO-Friendly URLs for Photography Websites?
SEO-friendly URLs are clean, descriptive, and easy to read for both humans and search engines.
For photographers, this means:
- Short, simple URLs with keywords
- No unnecessary numbers or special characters
- Using hyphens (-) instead of underscores (_)
- Logical hierarchy reflecting website structure
- URLs that give visitors a clear idea of the page content
Example:
- Bad:
www.example.com/page?id=123 - Good:
www.example.com/wedding-photography-leeds
Before: Google struggles to understand your pages.
After: URLs support rankings, improve click-throughs, and enhance user experience.
Key Questions People Ask
Should I include keywords in my photography URLs?
Yes. Include primary keywords relevant to the page, but avoid keyword stuffing.
How long should URLs be?
Keep URLs under 60 characters if possible. Shorter URLs are easier to read, share, and rank.
Does URL structure affect SEO?
Absolutely. Clear, hierarchical URLs help search engines understand your site and improve rankings.
Can I change old URLs?
Yes, but always set up 301 redirects to prevent broken links and preserve SEO value.
5 Benefits of SEO-Friendly URLs
- Improved Google rankings → Stop losing traffic to messy URLs
- Better click-through rates → URLs that look readable attract more clicks
- Enhanced user experience → Visitors easily navigate your site
- Simpler sharing → Clean URLs are easier to share on social media
- Reduced errors → Easier for Google to crawl and index pages
The #1 mistake photographers make? Keeping auto-generated, confusing URLs that confuse both Google and clients.
Best Practices
| Feature | Advantage | Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Short URLs | Easy to read and remember | Better CTR and user trust |
| Keyword inclusion | Relevant to page content | Improves search visibility |
| Hyphens instead of underscores | SEO-friendly separator | Google reads words correctly |
| Logical hierarchy | Organized categories (portfolio, blog, services) | Better crawlability and navigation |
| Avoid special characters & numbers | Clean, simple links | Reduces broken links & errors |
Investing in URL optimisation is low-effort but high-impact for photographers.
Mistakes to Avoid + Expert Tips
❌ Mistake 1: Using auto-generated URLs
Avoid messy strings like /page?id=123 or /wp-content/2026/02/portfolio-1.
❌ Mistake 2: Keyword stuffing
Overloading URLs with multiple keywords looks spammy and hurts SEO.
✅ Expert Tip 1: Use descriptive words
E.g., /wedding-photography-london instead of /services/wedphoto123.
✅ Expert Tip 2: Maintain hierarchy
Group portfolio, blog, and services logically.
E.g., /portfolio/wedding → /portfolio/wedding/leeds.
✅ Expert Tip 3: Update URLs carefully
Use 301 redirects if you change old URLs to preserve SEO juice.
Here’s the secret your competitors don’t want you to know:
Optimised URLs improve rankings, click-throughs, and user trust all without creating extra content.
How to Implement SEO-Friendly URLs for Your Photography Website
- Audit current URLs for messy links
- Include primary keywords in every page URL
- Keep URLs short, descriptive, and readable
- Use hyphens to separate words
- Avoid numbers, underscores, and special characters
- Maintain logical hierarchy reflecting site navigation
- Set up 301 redirects for any old URLs
Many photographers save time by letting Social Media Max optimise their URL structure, internal links, and SEO settings to improve rankings instantly.
Loss aversion reminder: Every messy URL = lost traffic and clients your competitors are capturing.
Final Thoughts + Call to Action
Before: your URLs confuse visitors and search engines.
After: your website URLs improve rankings, CTR, and conversions.
That’s the power of SEO-friendly URLs for photography websites.
And remember your competitors are already optimising their URLs.
👉 Ready to optimise your photography website URLs and boost SEO? Contact Social Media Max today.
Don’t wait your competitors won’t.