📸 The “pinball” buyer journey & your website

Plus 3 quick tips on competition, copy refresh, social links

Author

Alex Vita
January 13, 2026 • Estimated reading time: 9 minutes

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ForegroundWeb Newsletter

YOUR WEEKLY DOSE OF PHOTO WEBSITE ADVICE & INSPIRATION.

IN TODAY’S EMAIL:

⚡️ 3 Quick tips: competition, copy refresh, social links
🧠 SEO Deep dive: The “pinball” buyer journey & your photography website

2026 Photography Business Predictions — What’s About to Change

Honored to be part of a 2026 Predictions list gathered by Andrew Hellmich from PhotoBizX, where I spoke about these aspects:

  • Traffic is no longer the goal — authority is: Photography websites need to focus less on clicks and more on being trusted, cited, and recommended by AI tools that influence client decisions.

  • If AI can’t clearly explain your business, you’re invisible: Clear, consistent entity details (who you are, where you’re based, and what you specialise in) across your website, Google profile, and socials directly affect how AI represents your brand.

  • Stop trying to rank first, start being the answer: Modern SEO for photographers is about showing up in AI recommendations by clearly defining who you serve, where you work and what you specialise in.

  • Depth beats volume in content: Fact-dense About pages, detailed testimonials, case studies, and long-form educational guides give AI the confidence to recommend your photography business to real clients.

You’ll find this episode in the PhotoBizX podcast feed if you’re subscribed (which you should!), or you can listed to it online here:

QUICK TIPS

1. 🧠 Sometimes, your competition isn’t other photographers

It’s friction.

For example, interior designers already buy art.

Just not from you.

Why? Because stock sites are easier. Even when the images are worse.

That’s the real competition:

  • Faster browsing

  • Clear licensing

  • Instant previews

  • No back-and-forth emails

One photographer I spoke with said it perfectly: “I’m trying to sneak in the back door.”

That back door is usability. If your site lets designers:

  • Quickly shortlist images

  • Download previews

  • Request prints or files cleanly

You’re suddenly not competing with the entire internet anymore.

You’re just the obvious choice. And obvious wins.

2. ✍️ Refresh Your Copy Regularly

Photography businesses evolve, and your website copy should too.

Every 6 months, ask yourself:

  • Does my homepage still match my current services?

  • Have my business goals shifted?

  • Is this copy helping me get the kind of inquiries I want?

Even small updates can make a big difference.

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