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. Effective 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, or specializing in any 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

Pro Tip: Regularly check which keywords are driving traffic to your photography website and adjust your content to match those terms.

2. 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:

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 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 – 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.

If you try this tool, subscribe for a month and see how you like it but be aware of this (in my opinion – fairly predatory) pricing model.

3. 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.

I would consider SEM Rush to be fairly comparable to a tool like Ahrefs, but without the negative pricing downside. As such, it’s a much easier recommendation.

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

Pro Tip: 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

Pro Tip: Use Keywords Everywhere to gather keyword data as you research competitors or search for topics related to your photography niche in your search results page.

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?”

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.