10 Essential SEO Research Tools for Photographers

In the competitive world of photography, ensuring your website ranks well in search engines can be the difference between getting discovered by potential clients or getting lost among the competition.

Good search engine optimization (SEO) requires the right tools to help you research keywords, analyze performance, and optimize your site for better visibility.

Whether you’re a wedding photographer, family photographer, portrait photographer, or specializing in some other photography niche, these SEO tools will help you get your website in front of the right audience.

1. Google Search Console

Best for: Monitoring your website’s performance on Google.

Google Search Console is a free tool that provides insights into how Google sees and indexes your website. It allows you to monitor keyword performance, track your website’s search traffic, and identify any technical issues that might be preventing your site from ranking well.

Key Features:

• Track search performance (clicks, impressions, average position)
• Submit sitemaps for better indexing
• Identify issues with mobile usability or page errors
• Review backlinks to your site

Google Search Console is my most used SEO tool simply because it allows me to go right to the source (so to speak) for relevant search data. The fact it’s free is also great!

I cover using Google Search Console extensively in our SEO and Blogging for Photographers course as well!

2. SEMrush

Best for: All-in-one SEO research and marketing insights.

SEMrush offers a range of tools that can help photographers perform SEO audits, find new keyword opportunities, and keep an eye on the competition. SEMrush is known for its easy-to-understand dashboard, making it ideal if you’re just starting with SEO but want robust data.

Key Features:

• In-depth keyword research and analysis
• On-page SEO checker for content optimization
• Track your competitors’ SEO strategies
• Comprehensive reports on backlinks and site health

Pro Tip: Use the Keyword Magic Tool to discover high-traffic, low-competition keywords for blog topics.

When it comes to paid SEO tools for photographers, SEMrush is my preference. I specifically like it’s competitor analysis features and ability to get visibility into backlink profiles on my website and my competitions websites.

For most photographers, I do believe taking advantage of their generous free trial period and/or purchasing a month’s subscription and collecting a bunch of info is a good option.

In my experience, even as someone who is passionate about SEO, there isn’t much of a need for a recurring high cost expense like this as it’s not necessary to constantly be monitoring this data – doing it periodically is absolutely fine.

Like Google Search Console, I also go in depth with walkthroughs of using the best features in SEM Rush in our SEO Course for Photographers.

3. Ahrefs

Best for: Comprehensive SEO analysis, backlink research, and competitor insights.

Ahrefs is one of the most powerful SEO tools available. It allows you to perform deep research into how your website is performing, what keywords you can rank for, and how your competitors are doing. For photographers looking to build backlinks and improve domain authority, Ahrefs is a great option.

Key Features:

• Keyword research with difficulty scores
• Backlink analysis to identify where your site is getting its links from
• Content gap analysis (shows which keywords your competitors rank for that you don’t)
• Site audits to identify technical issues

Pro Tip: Use the “Content Explorer” feature to find photography-related articles and websites that may be relevant for backlink opportunities.

Special Note about Ahrefs:

I should make a mention here – I really love using Ahrefs from the perspective that I’ve found it to be a useful tool with a solid interface, however I have come to hate it due to their removal of a free trial period AND pricing model that was changed a few years ago.

I was a user for a long time, we’re talking going back as far as 15+ years ago in the earlier days of SEO, and found much benefit. In fact, not much has changed to the core of the platform since then (which I consider a good thing!). But…their current credit based pricing model leads to a lot of wasted credits just for a new user to get familiar with what it has to offer.

I would argue it comes very close to predatory, especially for smaller businesses, but leave it on this list as it’s not like the pricing model isn’t disclosed to people (it is publicly available).

If you try this tool, subscribe for a month and see how you like it but be aware of this pricing model as costs could add up quickly.

4. Moz Pro

Best for: Beginners who want an easy-to-use platform for SEO research.

Moz Pro is a user-friendly SEO tool that helps you find the best keywords to target, track how well your website ranks, and improve your site’s overall SEO health. For photographers new to SEO, Moz offers helpful educational content to get you started.

Key Features:

• Keyword research and tracking
• On-page optimization recommendations
• Link building tools to improve domain authority
• Competitive analysis for keeping track of competitors

Pro Tip: Use Moz’s “Keyword Difficulty” tool to find lower-competition keywords that you can rank for more easily as a photographer.

5. Ubersuggest

Best for: Budget-friendly keyword research and SEO analysis.

Ubersuggest, created by Neil Patel, offers affordable SEO research tools that are especially helpful for small business owners like photographers. You can use it to find relevant keywords, audit your site, and analyze competitor strategies—all at a lower cost than many other tools.

Key Features:

• Keyword suggestions and difficulty analysis
• SEO audit to identify issues and suggestions for improvement
• Backlink analysis to build authority
• Rank tracking to monitor your keyword positions

You can use Ubersuggest’s free version to get basic keyword research and competitive insights before deciding whether to upgrade.

6. Keywords Everywhere

Best for: Quick keyword research while browsing.

Keywords Everywhere is a browser extension that displays search volume, CPC, and keyword difficulty directly in Google search results. For photographers looking to quickly research new blog post ideas or find relevant terms on the go, this tool provides quick, accessible insights.

Key Features:

• See keyword search volume and difficulty in real-time
• Related keyword suggestions
• Data on cost-per-click (CPC) for paid advertising
• Ability to export data to CSV for further analysis

What makes Keywords Everywhere so nice is the ability to gather keyword data as you research competitors or search for topics related to your photography niche in the actual SERP (search results page) itself. This really streamlines SEO practices for a lot of people by not needing to go into a more complicated tool program.

7. AnswerThePublic

Best for: Finding content ideas and uncovering search intent.

AnswerThePublic helps photographers discover what questions people are asking related to their photography services. By entering a keyword, the tool generates a visual map of the most common questions and queries, providing valuable insight into what your potential clients want to know.

Key Features:

• Visual content ideas based on real search queries
• Uncover long-tail keywords in question format
• Ideal for creating blog content that addresses common client concerns

Pro Tip: Use this tool to discover blog topics that directly answer client questions, such as “How to choose the best wedding photographer?”

I personally like the visual nature of this tool – which takes SEO concepts (which are usually showcased with just a lot of data thrown in your face) and puts them in a more visual format. For some people, this will make it a lot easier (and dare I say…fun?) to digest.

8. Serpstat

Best for: Affordable all-in-one SEO platform.

Serpstat is a versatile SEO tool that offers keyword research, rank tracking, and competitor analysis at a more affordable price compared to some larger platforms like Ahrefs or SEMrush. It’s great for photographers who need comprehensive SEO insights without breaking the bank.

Key Features:

• In-depth keyword research and tracking
• Competitor analysis and comparison
• Site audit tool for identifying issues
• Backlink analysis

Pro Tip: Use Serpstat’s rank tracker to monitor how your site performs over time and adjust your SEO strategy as needed.

9. Screaming Frog SEO Spider

Best for: Technical SEO and website audits.

Screaming Frog is a powerful website crawler that helps photographers identify technical SEO issues like broken links, missing meta descriptions, and duplicate content. While it’s more advanced, it’s an essential tool if you want to ensure that your website is optimized for search engines.

Key Features:

• Crawl your entire website to identify SEO issues
• Discover duplicate content and broken links
• Analyze page titles and metadata
• Create sitemaps for better indexing

Pro Tip: Run Screaming Frog once every few months to check for any hidden technical issues that may be impacting your SEO.

10. Google Trends

Best for: Identifying trending topics and seasonality.

Google Trends allows you to see how popular a search term is over time, making it useful for finding seasonal trends or understanding how certain topics (like elopement photography) are gaining or losing popularity. For photographers, this can be a great way to stay ahead of the competition by focusing on trending keywords.

Key Features:

• Track the popularity of keywords over time
• Compare search terms to see which is more relevant
• Find regional search trends for your specific market
• Discover seasonal spikes in interest for certain topics

Pro Tip: Use Google Trends to find timely topics for blog posts or social media content that align with what potential clients are searching for.

Conclusion

SEO may seem overwhelming, but by leveraging the right tools, you can build a strong foundation for your photography website. These tools will help you identify relevant keywords, track your progress, and optimize your site for better visibility, leading to more bookings and inquiries.

Whether you’re just starting or looking to take your SEO strategy to the next level, these tools offer the insights and data you need to make informed decisions.

Looking to get more out of SEO? Check out our SEO and Blogging for Photographers course, part of The Photography Business Academy.

Christian Romans

Chris is a business strategist at Shoot and Thrive and co‑owner of Hand and Arrow Photography alongside his wife. With over a decade of professional shooting experience (and a passion for photography since high school), he helps creatives grow through smart websites & SEO, blogging, branding, and sales strategies. When he’s not behind the lens or refining a marketing funnel, you’ll find him playing guitar, skateboarding, or planning his next adventure—his favorite so far was campervanning around Iceland. Chris holds degrees in Psychology and Philosophy, which inform his human‑centered approach to both art and business.

www.shootandthrive.com