[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":777},["ShallowReactive",2],{"help-\u002Fhelp\u002Fphotographer-website":3,"help-related-\u002Fhelp\u002Fphotographer-website":662},{"id":4,"title":5,"body":6,"category":650,"description":651,"extension":652,"meta":653,"navigation":654,"order":655,"path":656,"product":657,"seo":658,"stem":659,"updated":660,"__hash__":661},"help\u002Fhelp\u002Fphotographer-website.md","Photographer website: what clients check before they write to you",{"type":7,"value":8,"toc":630},"minimark",[9,13,16,23,28,31,70,77,81,84,110,114,117,187,202,206,209,249,252,256,259,291,295,298,349,353,356,387,391,394,418,422,439,443,446,466,470,473,506,509,513,516,520,535,539,567,571,600,604],[10,11,12],"p",{},"People who visit a photographer's site are choosing a person and a style, and they decide from the first few pictures. Then they want four answers: what it costs, whether their date is free, what they get, and what happens next.",[10,14,15],{},"In October 2026 we opened 26 independent photographer websites in 11 towns across 11 states, on a phone. Almost all showed a price. Few said how far ahead they book, none said how they use clients' own photos, and the median homepage was 7.6 MB. This guide goes through what matters in order, with the steps to set each part up.",[10,17,18,22],{},[19,20,21],"strong",{},"This isn't legal advice."," Copyright, publicity and advertising rules depend on your state. We read federal copyright and endorsement rules and New York's publicity law; check yours with a lawyer if you're unsure.",[24,25,27],"h2",{"id":26},"say-what-you-photograph-and-where","Say what you photograph, and where",[10,29,30],{},"Thirteen of the 26 sites named five or more kinds of work on one page. Clients searching \"newborn photographer near me\" want to see theirs at once.",[32,33,34,46,57],"ol",{},[35,36,37,38,41,42,45],"li",{},"Click ",[19,39,40],{},"Business info"," in the left menu. Under ",[19,43,44],{},"Tagline",", write what you do and where, like \"Wedding and elopement photographer in Asheville\".",[35,47,48,49,52,53,56],{},"Fill in ",[19,50,51],{},"Phone"," and ",[19,54,55],{},"Service area",": the towns you cover.",[35,58,59,60,63,64,69],{},"Do several kinds of work? Lead with one, and give each other kind its own page from the ",[19,61,62],{},"Service page"," template. See ",[65,66,68],"a",{"href":67},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fadd-a-page","Add a page",".",[10,71,72,73,69],{},"See ",[65,74,76],{"href":75},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fbusiness-info-and-hours","Business info and hours",[24,78,80],{"id":79},"put-a-way-to-reach-you-on-the-first-screen","Put a way to reach you on the first screen",[10,82,83],{},"None of the 26 sites had a tappable phone number on the first phone screen, and only 5 had a Book or Hire button. Most showed a photo and a menu icon.",[32,85,86,107],{},[35,87,37,88,41,91,94,95,98,99,102,103,106],{},[19,89,90],{},"Menu",[19,92,93],{},"Header button",", turn on ",[19,96,97],{},"Call bar on phones",", type ",[19,100,101],{},"Button text"," like \"Check your date\", and under ",[19,104,105],{},"Goes to"," choose your inquiry page.",[35,108,109],{},"For real estate or same-week headshots, keep the phone number up front too.",[24,111,113],{"id":112},"show-your-own-work","Show your own work",[10,115,116],{},"The photos are what clients buy. Show real sessions, one set per wedding or session, not stock photos.",[32,118,119,152,165,176],{},[35,120,37,121,124,125,124,128,131,132,135,136,135,139,135,142,135,145,148,149,69],{},[19,122,123],{},"Lists",", then ",[19,126,127],{},"Edit projects",[19,129,130],{},"Add project",". Fill in ",[19,133,134],{},"Project name",", ",[19,137,138],{},"Kind of work",[19,140,141],{},"Town or neighborhood",[19,143,144],{},"After photo",[19,146,147],{},"More photos"," (up to 12) and a ",[19,150,151],{},"Short description",[35,153,154,155,158,159,63,162,69],{},"Add a ",[19,156,157],{},"Projects"," section to your home page, or make a page from the ",[19,160,161],{},"Project gallery",[65,163,157],{"href":164},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fprojects",[35,166,167,168,171,172,175],{},"Or use a ",[19,169,170],{},"Gallery"," section and leave ",[19,173,174],{},"Open photos larger when clicked"," on.",[35,177,178,179,182,183,69],{},"Write ",[19,180,181],{},"Describe this photo"," under each one: \"Couple at sunset on the Blue Ridge Parkway.\" Nine of the 26 sites left half their images without a description. See ",[65,184,186],{"href":185},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fedit-text-and-photos#describe-your-photos","Describe your photos",[10,188,189,190,193,194,197,198,69],{},"Pick your best 6 to 12. Photos are resized for the web automatically, so your site starts lighter than most of the 26, whose median page moved 7.6 MB. Don't use ",[19,191,192],{},"Free photos"," or ",[19,195,196],{},"Make with AI"," pictures as work samples; keep them to backgrounds, and see ",[65,199,201],{"href":200},"#be-straight-about-ai-and-edited-pictures","Be straight about AI",[24,203,205],{"id":204},"say-what-it-costs","Say what it costs",[10,207,208],{},"Twenty-four of the 26 sites showed a price. A couple choosing between photographers compares numbers; \"inquire\" sends them to the one who shows one.",[32,210,211,218,243],{},[35,212,213,214,217],{},"Make a page called \"Investment\" from the ",[19,215,216],{},"Pricing or menu"," template.",[35,219,154,220,223,224,135,227,230,231,234,235,238,239,242],{},[19,221,222],{},"Packages"," section. For each, fill in ",[19,225,226],{},"Name",[19,228,229],{},"Price"," (\"$3,750\"), ",[19,232,233],{},"Price note"," (\"starting at\") and ",[19,236,237],{},"What's included",": hours, edited photos, a second shooter, delivery time. Use ",[19,240,241],{},"Fine print"," for the retainer and print rights.",[35,244,245,246,69],{},"Do the same for each kind of session, with a ",[19,247,248],{},"Price list",[10,250,251],{},"\"Starting at\" works. Don't list a price you wouldn't honor.",[24,253,255],{"id":254},"say-how-booking-works-and-what-holds-the-date","Say how booking works and what holds the date",[10,257,258],{},"Eleven of the 26 sites mentioned a contract and 12 a retainer, but few said when it's due or whether it's refundable.",[32,260,261,267,270,281],{},[35,262,154,263,266],{},[19,264,265],{},"Steps"," section to your Investment or Contact page: \"Send an inquiry\", \"We talk\", \"You sign a contract and pay the retainer\", \"Your date is held.\"",[35,268,269],{},"Say the retainer in dollars or a percent, when it's due, and whether it can be moved or refunded. Link your contract.",[35,271,272,273,276,277,69],{},"Your contract and invoices stay in your own tool (HoneyBook, 17hats, Dubsado and others). Link its inquiry page, or paste its code in an ",[19,274,275],{},"Embed code"," section. See ",[65,278,280],{"href":279},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fadd-embed-code","Add embed code",[35,282,283,284,287,288,69],{},"To take a retainer by card without a tool, ",[19,285,286],{},"Request a payment"," (add-on) sends a link that pays into your Stripe account. See ",[65,289,286],{"href":290},"\u002Fhelp\u002Frequest-a-payment",[24,292,294],{"id":293},"let-people-check-a-date","Let people check a date",[10,296,297],{},"Only 5 of the 26 sites said how far ahead they book. A couple's first question is whether the date is free.",[32,299,300,308,343],{},[35,301,302,303,307],{},"Say it near the top of your Contact page: \"Now booking 2027 weddings. Popular Saturdays go first.\" Use the ",[65,304,306],{"href":305},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fbusiness-info-and-hours#announcement-bar","Announcement bar"," for a booking window.",[35,309,310,311,314,315,318,319,322,323,326,327,330,331,334,335,338,339,69],{},"In your contact page's ",[19,312,313],{},"Form"," section, open ",[19,316,317],{},"Choose a ready-made form…"," and pick ",[19,320,321],{},"Catering or event inquiry",". Change its ",[19,324,325],{},"More questions"," to ask the ",[19,328,329],{},"Event date"," (",[19,332,333],{},"Answer type",": ",[19,336,337],{},"Date","), the kind of session and the town; remove the guests and budget questions. See ",[65,340,342],{"href":341},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fforms-and-inbox#start-from-a-ready-made-form","Start from a ready-made form",[35,344,345,346,69],{},"Reply within a day and say yes or no on the date. Say your usual reply time in ",[19,347,348],{},"Thank-you message",[24,350,352],{"id":351},"say-what-clients-get-and-who-owns-the-photos","Say what clients get, and who owns the photos",[10,354,355],{},"You own the copyright in your photos unless you sign a paper that says otherwise (U.S. copyright law, 17 U.S.C. § 201). Eleven of the 26 sites said what clients may do; most said nothing.",[357,358,359,365,371,381],"ul",{},[35,360,361,364],{},[19,362,363],{},"Say it plainly:"," \"You get edited, high-resolution files with a print release: print anywhere, share online. Photos stay my copyright. Selling them needs my permission.\" Don't write \"you own the photos\" unless a signed transfer says so.",[35,366,367,370],{},[19,368,369],{},"Say when they arrive:"," 15 of the 26 gave a time, like \"within 4 weeks\".",[35,372,373,376,377,69],{},[19,374,375],{},"Say if you don't send unedited files",", and why. Put the answers in your ",[65,378,380],{"href":379},"\u002Fhelp\u002Ffaq-list#use-suggested-questions","FAQ list",[35,382,383,386],{},[19,384,385],{},"Keep your credit on shared pictures."," Removing someone's copyright information can be a federal violation, so don't crop out another photographer's credit.",[24,388,390],{"id":389},"get-permission-before-you-show-clients-and-children","Get permission before you show clients, and children",[10,392,393],{},"None of the 26 sites said how it uses clients' photos. In New York, using a person's likeness to advertise requires their written consent, or a parent's for a minor, and other states have rules of their own.",[32,395,396,399,411],{},[35,397,398],{},"Put a line in your contract: \"I may show session photos in my portfolio and on social media. Tell me before the shoot if you'd rather I didn't.\" Keep the signed contract in your files, not on your site.",[35,400,401,402,405,406,410],{},"For a child, or when you want a separate yes, make a page from the ",[19,403,404],{},"Photo release"," template and send it. See ",[65,407,409],{"href":408},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fsigned-forms-and-waivers#start-from-a-template","Start from a template",". Signed forms is an add-on; its templates are starting points, so have a lawyer check the wording.",[35,412,413,414,69],{},"Don't collect health information in forms. See ",[65,415,417],{"href":416},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fsigned-forms-and-waivers#dont-collect-health-information","Don't collect health information",[24,419,421],{"id":420},"keep-full-client-galleries-private","Keep full client galleries private",[10,423,424,425,428,429,431,432,434,435,438],{},"Put proofs, full galleries and downloads in your gallery tool (Pixieset, Pic-Time, ShootProof, Zenfolio), behind its own link or password. On your site, add a ",[19,426,427],{},"Client gallery"," button in ",[19,430,90],{}," with ",[19,433,105],{}," set to ",[19,436,437],{},"Another website…",". A full gallery on a public page isn't private.",[24,440,442],{"id":441},"be-straight-about-ai-and-edited-pictures","Be straight about AI and edited pictures",[10,444,445],{},"\"Do you use AI?\" is becoming a question clients ask, and \"headshots for LinkedIn AI\" is a search of its own. One of the 26 sites said \"I do not use AI to edit your gallery, only hand edits\".",[357,447,448,454,460],{},[35,449,450,453],{},[19,451,452],{},"Say what you do and don't use",", in your FAQ list. Every photo in your portfolio should be of a real session.",[35,455,456,459],{},[19,457,458],{},"Don't present pictures made with AI as photographs of your work."," They're not your photography, and the law's treatment of AI pictures is unsettled.",[35,461,462,465],{},[19,463,464],{},"Real estate:"," label virtual staging and edits that change how a property looks. California requires agents to disclose them on listing photos from 2026, and agents will ask you to. Flying a drone for work needs an FAA Remote Pilot certificate.",[24,467,469],{"id":468},"show-reviews-and-dont-pay-for-them","Show reviews, and don't pay for them",[10,471,472],{},"Eighteen of the 26 sites mentioned reviews.",[32,474,475,491,499],{},[35,476,37,477,124,479,482,483,486,487,69],{},[19,478,123],{},[19,480,481],{},"Edit reviews",", and paste your best Google or The Knot reviews word for word, with first name and the kind of session in ",[19,484,485],{},"Detail",". See ",[65,488,490],{"href":489},"\u002Fhelp\u002Freviews","Reviews",[35,492,154,493,495,496,69],{},[19,494,490],{}," section to your home page, and your rating and count in ",[19,497,498],{},"Highlights",[35,500,501,502,69],{},"Don't offer a discount or a free print for five stars. The FTC's rule on reviews bars paying for positive ones. See ",[65,503,505],{"href":504},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fask-for-reviews","Ask customers for reviews",[10,507,508],{},"If you praise a planner, venue or vendor and they gave you something, or you share a styled shoot, say so. The FTC requires disclosing a connection that might affect how people weigh your words.",[24,510,512],{"id":511},"keep-your-claims-honest","Keep your claims honest",[10,514,515],{},"Three of the 26 sites said \"award-winning\" or \"voted best\" without naming an award. Name it and the year, or say what's true instead: \"Photographing Asheville weddings since 2014\", with the real number.",[24,517,519],{"id":518},"say-where-you-work-and-what-travel-costs","Say where you work, and what travel costs",[10,521,522,523,525,526,528,529,531,532,69],{},"Eleven of the 26 sites gave a travel fee. Add your ",[19,524,55],{}," in ",[19,527,40],{},", and in ",[19,530,241],{}," list towns with no fee and the cost beyond, like \"0 to 75 miles free, 75 to 150 miles $250.\" For a page per town, see ",[65,533,68],{"href":534},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fadd-a-page#make-pages-for-the-towns-you-serve",[24,536,538],{"id":537},"mini-sessions-and-gift-certificates","Mini sessions and gift certificates",[10,540,541,542,135,544,547,548,551,552,555,556,486,558,562,563,69],{},"Six of the 26 sites ran mini sessions. Turn one into an event with a few spots: in ",[19,543,123],{},[19,545,546],{},"Events",", open the event, turn on ",[19,549,550],{},"Take sign-ups on this site",", set ",[19,553,554],{},"Spots",", and write a ",[19,557,229],{},[65,559,561],{"href":560},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fbookings#take-sign-ups-for-an-event","Bookings",". For session gift certificates, see ",[65,564,566],{"href":565},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fgift-cards-and-coupons#sell-gift-cards-on-your-site","Sell gift cards on your site",[24,568,570],{"id":569},"what-we-cant-do-for-a-photographer","What we can't do for a photographer",[357,572,573,583,589],{},[35,574,575,578,579,69],{},[19,576,577],{},"Your contract, invoice and calendar."," Bookings & RSVPs keeps its own calendar, which isn't linked to HoneyBook or 17hats, so a date could be booked twice. Use it for mini-session sign-ups and consult calls, and link your tool for weddings. See ",[65,580,582],{"href":581},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fconnect-booking","Connect a booking calendar",[35,584,585,588],{},[19,586,587],{},"Client galleries and print stores."," Link to your gallery tool.",[35,590,591,594,595,599],{},[19,592,593],{},"Sales tax on photos."," Some states tax photography or digital files. Payment requests and booking deposits don't add tax; ask your accountant, or put it in your price. The ",[65,596,598],{"href":597},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fonline-store#set-up-pickup-shipping-and-tax","online store"," can add a rate to prints.",[24,601,603],{"id":602},"tips","Tips",[357,605,606,612,623],{},[35,607,608,611],{},[19,609,610],{},"Take out placeholder text."," Three of the 26 live sites still had \"Lorem ipsum\", one said \"website coming soon\", and four footers showed a 2022 copyright year or older.",[35,613,614,615,618,619,69],{},"Keep your ",[19,616,617],{},"domain"," renewed. See ",[65,620,622],{"href":621},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fconnect-your-domain","Connect your domain",[35,624,625,626,69],{},"Give each page a search title with your town and kind of work. See ",[65,627,629],{"href":628},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fsearch-and-sharing#set-a-pages-search-title-and-description","Set a page's search title and description",{"title":631,"searchDepth":632,"depth":632,"links":633},"",2,[634,635,636,637,638,639,640,641,642,643,644,645,646,647,648,649],{"id":26,"depth":632,"text":27},{"id":79,"depth":632,"text":80},{"id":112,"depth":632,"text":113},{"id":204,"depth":632,"text":205},{"id":254,"depth":632,"text":255},{"id":293,"depth":632,"text":294},{"id":351,"depth":632,"text":352},{"id":389,"depth":632,"text":390},{"id":420,"depth":632,"text":421},{"id":441,"depth":632,"text":442},{"id":468,"depth":632,"text":469},{"id":511,"depth":632,"text":512},{"id":518,"depth":632,"text":519},{"id":537,"depth":632,"text":538},{"id":569,"depth":632,"text":570},{"id":602,"depth":632,"text":603},"Guides by business","We looked at 26 independent photographer websites: what clients check before they write, what most photographers leave out, how to handle rights, permission and AI, and how to set up each part.","md",{},true,378,"\u002Fhelp\u002Fphotographer-website","sites",{"title":5,"description":651},"help\u002Fphotographer-website","2026-10-30","5xBWpRl-eaqRn83QEeFmlQpJZmiHRyvMGG-7HytfGwg",[663,666,669,672,675,678,681,684,687,690,693,696,699,702,705,708,711,714,717,720,723,726,729,732,735,738,741,744,747,750,753,756,759,762,765,768,771,774],{"path":664,"title":665},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fauto-repair-shop-website","Auto repair shop website: what earns the call",{"path":667,"title":668},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fcar-wash-website","Car wash website: what brings drivers in and keeps members happy",{"path":670,"title":671},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fsmoke-shop-website","Smoke and vape shop website: useful and on the right side of the rules",{"path":673,"title":674},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fdeli-website","Deli website: what gets the order",{"path":676,"title":677},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fstaffing-agency-website","Staffing agency website: what brings in applicants and orders",{"path":679,"title":680},"\u002Fhelp\u002Flive-theater-website","Live theater website: what sells the tickets",{"path":682,"title":683},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fcinema-website","Independent cinema website: what fills the seats",{"path":685,"title":686},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fhair-salon-website","Hair salon and barbershop website: what gets people into your chair",{"path":688,"title":689},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fplumber-website","Plumber website: what earns the call",{"path":691,"title":692},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fdentist-website","Dentist website: what patients check before they call",{"path":694,"title":695},"\u002Fhelp\u002Frestaurant-website","Restaurant website: what gets the table filled",{"path":697,"title":698},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fgym-website","Gym website: what brings people through the door and keeps members",{"path":700,"title":701},"\u002Fhelp\u002Freal-estate-website","Real estate agent website: what brings sellers and buyers to call you",{"path":703,"title":704},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fveterinarian-website","Veterinarian website: what pet owners check before they call",{"path":706,"title":707},"\u002Fhelp\u002Flaw-office-website","Law office website: what clients check before they call",{"path":709,"title":710},"\u002Fhelp\u002Flandscaping-website","Landscaping and lawn care website: what earns the estimate",{"path":712,"title":713},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fdaycare-website","Child care website: what parents check before they call",{"path":715,"title":716},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fcafe-bakery-website","Cafe and bakery website: what gets the order",{"path":718,"title":719},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fmassage-spa-website","Massage and spa website: what gets people onto your table",{"path":721,"title":722},"\u002Fhelp\u002Felectrician-website","Electrician website: what earns the call and the big jobs",{"path":724,"title":725},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fhvac-website","Heating and cooling website: what earns the call and the sale",{"path":727,"title":728},"\u002Fhelp\u002Froofer-website","Roofer website: look local, honest and easy to call",{"path":730,"title":731},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fpainter-website","Painter website: what earns the estimate",{"path":733,"title":734},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fcarpenter-website","Carpenter and remodeler website: what earns the estimate",{"path":736,"title":737},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fflorist-website","Florist website: what gets the order and the trust",{"path":739,"title":740},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fyoga-pilates-website","Yoga and Pilates studio website: what fills your classes",{"path":742,"title":743},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fmartial-arts-website","Martial arts school website: what parents look for and how to show it",{"path":745,"title":746},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fdance-studio-website","Dance studio website: the classes, costs and policies parents look for",{"path":748,"title":749},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fnail-beauty-website","Nail salon and beauty studio website: what gets people in the door",{"path":751,"title":752},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fpet-grooming-website","Pet groomer website: what dog owners check before they book",{"path":754,"title":755},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fbookstore-website","Bookstore website: what brings readers through the door",{"path":757,"title":758},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fantiques-website","Antique and vintage shop website: what buyers and sellers look for",{"path":760,"title":761},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fgift-boutique-website","Gift shop and boutique website: what shoppers look for",{"path":763,"title":764},"\u002Fhelp\u002Faccountant-website","Accountant and tax preparer website: what clients check before they call",{"path":766,"title":767},"\u002Fhelp\u002Finsurance-agent-website","Insurance agent website: what customers check before they call",{"path":769,"title":770},"\u002Fhelp\u002Finn-bnb-website","Inn or bed and breakfast website: what guests check before they book",{"path":772,"title":773},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fwinery-brewery-website","Winery, brewery or distillery website: what fills the tasting room",{"path":775,"title":776},"\u002Fhelp\u002Ffarm-stand-website","Farm and farm stand website: what gets the visit and the order",1793740286752]