Those of you who know me well, know my passion for business. And not necessarily any business – but photography businesses. After being in the industry for over 7 years, I’ve developed some strong opinions (and pet peeves) about certain things in our industry. These opinions are ones that I feel can improve a photographer’s overall business. So I decided to share a few of those thoughts with you. You may or may not agree with me, and that’s a-ok! But maybe it will get you to change something, or just think about how you do things.

Today I’m giving you my top 5 must-haves for your photography website. Your website is one of your key marketing tools, so time and attention to it should be top priority for you.

1. Show Only Your Best-of-the-Best Images:  Sometimes, we feel the need to show as many images as we possibly can in our galleries. Remember that most people are not going to spend more than a few minutes on your website before making the decision to stick around. So spend some time picking out only the top 10-15 images (per gallery). Use your blog for the rest of your awesome images.
2. A Blog: You know all of those other awesome images that you didn’t include in your galleries? Put them on your blog. We all know this already, but blogging is a huge tool for your business. And in the photography industry it’s critical. Blogging can sometimes feel like such a task, but leverage a tool like BlogStomp to make it simple, quick and painless.
3. A Pricing Page: I know this one may be a bit of a personal preference. But like I said, coming from experience – it will save your client time and you time (and headaches) if you include your pricing on your website. First, you’ll immediately be rid of any clients who are not in your price range. This is where you’ll avoid those headaches. Someone who isn’t in your price range is either going to try and talk you down on price, flat out complain about it, or bum you out because they tell you you’re priced too high for them and they go elsewhere. PS – if you’re worried about putting your prices on your website because you think you’re priced too high, that’s another conversation!
4. Include Your Email Address:  This is a huge pet peeve of mine. If you put yourself in your clients shoes, if you can’t easily find a way to contact someone from their website – do you feel that you can actually talk with them? For me, if I can’t find a way to contact you – I’ll move on. And I know I’m not the only one. Even more important – a phone number! We are in an industry that is pretty personal – taking photos of families, weddings, you name it. Sometimes a phone call is better – so at least give that one some consideration.
5. A Good About-Me Page: Like I mentioned above, we are in a business that can be very personal. And although our skills and talent as a photographer are important, so is our ability to connect with our clients. Put some thought into your ‘about-me’ page, and give your clients a bit of insight into you and your personality. It can be hard to write about yourself, but by doing so you may grab that ideal client of yours that you may not have otherwise booked.

So what am I missing? Do you have any other must-have items or tips for the perfect photography website? Leave them in the comments below.

Meredith Gradle is the founder and CEO of Iris Works – a photography studio management program. As a photographer of nearly 6 years, Meredith used her knowledge of the industry to create a simple and intuitive studio management system.