E16: Website Tips for Photographers: Octavia Elease Spills It All

Website Tips for Photographers: Octavia Elease Spills It All

Photographers, if your website is just “meh” or if your location is buried so deep no one can find you… this episode is your sign to fix it. We sat down with Octavia Elease, a Showit website designer and HoneyBook/Flodesk pro, who literally turns chaotic client experiences into ✨ Main Street with a Dole Whip ✨ level magic. 🍍

Let’s break down the best website tips for photographers—without the techy overwhelm.

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Why Every Photographer Needs a Website (Like Yesterday)

We love Instagram, but here’s the hard truth: you don’t own your social media. One weird Mark Zuckerberg mood swing and—poof—your business pipeline’s gone. 😅

Octavia said it best:

“Your website and your email list are what you OWN.”

Your website lets you control the narrative, serve your vibe, and show up in search (hello, Google gods). Without it, you’re just screaming into the social void.

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Website Mistakes Photographers Keep Making 😬

Octavia dropped some tough love on the most common mistakes photographers make:

• No location listed. Bruh. How are people supposed to know where you are?!
  
• No clear call-to-actions. Make it easy to book you! Buttons should be bold and consistent.
  
• Not enough words. Yes, your photos are stunning. But SEO runs on copy, not pixels. Add text. Describe the experience. Tell Google (and your clients) what you’re about.
  

She also shared a fave free tool: HeadingsMap Chrome Extension to check if your H1s, H2s, and H3s are actually doing their job.

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Build the Client Journey Before the Pretty Design

Forget obsessing over fonts and logos. Octavia says to start with your client journey. What do you want people to do on your site? How should they feel? THAT shapes everything.

Also, don’t sleep on your contact page. Add your email. Your hours. A start-at price. FAQs. Redirects. It’s not just a form—it’s a conversion moment.

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Stand Out By Being Loudly, Boldly YOU

Here’s your permission slip to ditch the beige aesthetic. If you’re colorful, loud, and Disney-obsessed like Octavia? LET IT RIP. Your website should feel like you.

“There’s a photographer on every corner. What they don’t have? You.”

Don’t dull your brand to fit in. Your people will find you because of your personality, not despite it.

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Connect with Octavia

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/octaviaelease/