This year’s Rotary Photography Contest winner is thrilled to have been in the right place at the right time to capture this beautiful picture of a Bighorn Mountain Sheep. His winning photograph will appear on the 2024 Friendship Card, and he will receive two Friendship Cards to use when in town.

Steven Rishel and his wife live most of the year in Eastern Nebraska, but their love of Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park draws them to Colorado for the month of February, where they love to hike and explore the park when the temperatures are low, and the visitors are few.

On a windy day last February, they left the Alluvial Fan parking lot to walk to Endovalley. Steve fell behind his wife as he stopped to take pictures along the way.

He rounded a curve to see his wife waving at him to come quick. There on the side of the road were two rams majestically standing in the sun. While he rushed to prepare his camera, the rams waited patiently without moving away. Steve was able to zoom in on them and captured seven or eight photos before they sauntered away.

Steve described it as the shot of a lifetime. The ram was looking directly at him, and most importantly its eyes were in focus.

They never saw Bighorns through the rest of their month-long visit.

Even before winning this contest, Steve and his wife were Friendship Card holders. Introduced to the card by the Country Market cashiers, they consider it to be a valuable shopping tool whenever they are in Estes Park. They look forward to receiving their complimentary cards for their upcoming return visit to Estes Park next February.

Watch for the announcement as Friendship cards for 2024 will go on sale the second week of December. They make great stocking stuffers.

Here’s the thing, they don’t really teach SEO in school, do they? You can read about SEO until you’re blue in the face, but the real learning? That happens when you’re actually in the trenches, optimizing websites, figuring out what clicks and what flops.

You’ve probably heard stuff like “do this for SEO” and “do that for SEO” all the time, right? And there you are, trying it out, but kind of wondering, “Is this actually doing anything? Why am I even doing this?” Trust me, you’re not the only one thinking this.

The best way to get the hang of SEO? Start your own website. Build it from the ground up, try to grow it organically. That’s the real deal.

Guess what? I’ve been there, done that. I’ve grown a bunch of sites: an EDM site, a candle site, and even a streetwear site. In fact, I rank number one if not top five for many photography-related keywords. 

With that being said, I wanted to share 7 simple SEO tips for photographers that you can implement on your photography website today.

7 SEO Tips for Photographers

Here are the seven SEO tips for photographers.

1. Use HTTPS

Alright, first up on the SEO tips for photographers: make sure your website is using HTTPS. So, what’s HTTPS? It’s Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure, which basically means it’s a more secure version of the old HTTP, thanks to SSL/TLS encryption and authentication.

Now, let’s skip the geeky stuff. The key thing is HTTPS makes your site safer, and guess what? Search engines love that. If they’re happy, your site’s more likely to rank well for your photography keywords. Wondering if your site’s already got HTTPS? Easy. Just pop over to an SSL Checker Website, throw in your URL, and see if you’ve got an SSL certificate. Here’s a screenshot from my site when I checked it. As you can see, I’m all good to go.

If your site needs one, you’ll have to chat with your web hosting provider. Most photography websites use popular hosts like SiteGround, Bluehost, or GoDaddy. If you need to get an SSL certificate, here are some helpful links based on who’s hosting your site:

If you aren’t using one of these hosting providers, then just head to a search engine and input your web hosting provider plus “SSL instructions” and you’ll find an article on how to add it.

2. Check for CDN

Next SEO tip for photographers? Check if you’ve got a CDN, which stands for Content Delivery Network. Here’s why it’s a big deal: a CDN can seriously boost your photography website’s page speed, and that’s gold for SEO. Think of CDNs as a bunch of servers working together. They’re great for SEO because they:

• Deliver content to your visitors super fast
• Speed up your website’s performance
• Guard against cyber threats

Curious if your site’s using a CDN? There’s an easy way to find out. Just use a CDN Checker Tool. When I did this for my site, you can see I’m using Cloudflare’s CDN:

And speaking of Cloudflare, they’re like the go-to for getting a CDN. All you need to do is hop onto the Cloudflare website, sign up, add your domain, and then redirect your domain name to their nameservers. They’ve got a tutorial that makes it super straightforward, and it’s free too.

3. Optimizing Image File Names and Alt Text

Tip number three for photographers looking to ace SEO is all about optimizing your image file names and alt text. As photographers, our websites are usually chock-full of images. This is actually a great chance to boost our SEO game by including our target keyword in both our image file names and alt text. The image file name? That’s what you name your image when you save it:

The alt text, or alternative text, is a brief description of the image on your site. It’s crucial for both accessibility and SEO because search engines can’t “see” images. The alt text explains what’s in the picture.

So, when you’re naming your files and writing alt text, try to sneak in your target keyword. Let’s say you’re aiming for “portrait photographer in Miami” and you’ve got shots of you taking photos of clients. Instead of naming an image something generic like “image1.jpg” or “DSC1002.jpg,” go for something like “portrait-photo-in-miami.jpg.” And for alt text, instead of just “photo,” use something more descriptive like “Portrait photographer with client in Miami city on a sunny day.” This approach makes your content way more search engine-friendly, helping you rank better for those keywords you’re targeting.

4. Using Keyword-Rich Titles

Fourth SEO tip for photographers: get those titles keyword-rich! Your page titles, also known as meta titles, are HTML elements that define the title of a web page. They’re the bits you click on in search engine results — the clickable headlines:

They’re written like this in HTML:

Here’s what you need to focus on with your title tags:

• Make sure your target keyword is in there.
• Avoid duplicating title tags across your photography website.
• Keep an eye on the length to avoid truncation.

What’s truncation? It’s when your title is too long, and the search engines chop it off with an ellipsis (…), which can hurt your click-through rate. That means potentially less traffic, less revenue, less of all the good stuff:

If you’ve got a custom-coded website, you can tweak the HTML directly. But, if you’re like most folks and use a CMS like WordPress or Squarespace, it’s a bit different. On Squarespace, they’ve got settings for you to edit the meta title for each page. On WordPress, you’ll need a free SEO plugin for editing HTML elements. I use RankMath myself.

5. Use Proper Heading Structure

Fifth on the list for photographers’ SEO: Make sure your headings are structured right.

Your heading structure is all about the heading tags on your page, like your H1, H2, H3, and so on. These are HTML tags that define the headings and subheadings of your content. They’re like road signs, guiding both your visitors and search engine bots through your page, making your content easier to follow and letting the bots know what your page is all about.

Here’s how they look in HTML and then how they look on the page:

Here’s a key tip: each page should have just one H1 tag, and it’s a great idea to include your target keyword in it.

For instance, if you’re gunning for “new york headshot photographer,” that should be your H1 header. This isn’t the only thing that’ll get you to rank #1, but having your target keyword in your H1 definitely helps.

Now, what about the H2s and H3s? Here’s where your secondary keywords come into play. These are the keywords that support and relate to your primary keyword. Say your main keyword is “new york headshot photographer.” Your secondary keywords might be “new york headshot photographer for fashion,” “headshot photographer in new york,” “ny headshot photographer,” and “new york headshot photographer for actors.” Each photographer will have different secondary keywords that fit best. Figuring out which photography keywords are ideal for you will require consultation in order to tailor your keyword strategy to match your business goals.

6. Mobile Responsive Website

Sixth SEO tip for photographers: make sure your website is mobile-friendly.

It’s a big deal to have a website that’s optimized for mobile devices. Here’s why: nearly 60% of all global web traffic comes from mobile devices. Plus, search engines like Google use mobile-first indexing. This means they look at your website as if they were using a mobile browser and use that version for indexing and ranking.

In simple terms, your site needs to look great on mobile, perhaps even more so than on desktop. If it’s not up to scratch on mobile, it could be hurting your rankings and your ability to attract traffic.

Wondering how to check if your site is mobile-friendly? Use Google Chrome’s DevTools. Just open Chrome, go to your site, right-click and hit Inspect. Then click the Toggle Device Toolbar icon and select a mobile device to simulate. This lets you see how your site looks on mobile.

For example, I checked how one of my articles looks on an iPhone 12 Pro. If things look wonky on mobile, like the padding, margins, images, or text, you might need to tweak them or get a developer to help out.

7. Local SEO

Seventh and final SEO tip for photographers: tap into the power of local SEO.

For photographers servicing local clients, local SEO is crucial. Actually, it’s vital for any business that customers would typically visit locally, like restaurants, contractors, salons, shops, and stores. Local SEO is a specialized niche within the broader SEO landscape, focusing on search results in a specific area. You’ll often see local results when you add “near me” to your search or when you’re looking for services that generally need local providers. This is a screenshot of the “local map pack” where you can show up with proper Local SEO:

Here are the key factors for nailing local SEO:

Google My Business Optimization

This free tool from Google lets your business appear in Local Map Pack and Google Maps. If you’re a local photographer without a Google My Business profile, it’s time to set one up. Fill out all the details like services, images, contact info, and website link.

Local Citations

These are about having your business listed on popular online directories and citation sites with consistent name, address, and phone number. For photographers, being on Yelp is a good start. Just like with Google My Business, make sure your Yelp profile is complete and consistent.

Getting Online Reviews

The third big piece of local SEO is gathering reviews on your Google My Business Profile and other local directory listings, like Yelp. A good practice is to ask clients for a review right after a successful photoshoot when their satisfaction is high and the experience is fresh in their minds.

That wraps up my SEO guide for photographers. Hopefully, you’ve found some valuable insights here. If you realize you’re missing out on any of these optimizations, now’s a great time to start implementing them!

Got questions? Drop a comment or shoot me an email.

Flagler County will be featured in the Florida Association of Counties 2024 calendar “Skylines of the Sunshine State” for the month of November with a stunning image of the canals in Palm Coast that was shot by photographer Lori Vetter Bowers, a member of the Flagler Beach Photography Club.

Dozens of photographers – both amateur and professional – provided photographers to Flagler County for the contest, all of which were submitted.

“There are many talented photographers here in Flagler County, and we appreciate their willingness and effort to help us showcase the county,” said County Administrator Heidi Petito. “Congratulations to Lori Vetter Bowers. Your lovely photograph shows the beauty of our largest municipality, the City of Palm Coast.”

More than 580 photos were submitted to the FAC from 52 counties, though the contest was open to all 67 Florida counties. The winners were announced on November 17 during the FAC’s Legislative Conference that was held in Hillsborough County.

“We decided to showcase the skylines of Florida counties because it highlights the beauty and diversity from the most rural to the most urban areas,” said Bill Truex, FAC President and Charlotte County Commissioner. “Among the 580 submissions, ranging from downtown cityscapes to historical landmarks, the selection of the 15 counties featured in this publication was not easy, but highlights the incredible variety Florida’s counties have to offer.”

The list of winning submissions for the 2024 calendar includes:

• Front and inside cover – Charlotte County taken by John Elias
• December 2023 – Volusia County taken by Volusia County Government
• January – Citrus County taken by Ken Rohling
• February – Marion County taken by Mark Anderson
• March – Franklin County taken by Jeff Talbert
• April – Calhoun County taken by Kade Williams
• May – Putnam County taken by Debbie Gross
• June – Miami-Dade County taken by Ryan Holloway
• July – Escambia County taken by Krista Rudder
• August – Hillsborough County taken by Mark Flynn
• September – Baker County taken by Tina Carver
• October – Glades County taken by Kevin Ziegler
• November – Flagler County taken by Lori Vetter Bowers
• December – Clay County taken by Dennis T. Hoban
• Back Cover – Pinellas County taken by Bruno Rivera

The FAC Skylines of the Sunshine State calendar can be purchased on the association’s website for $15, https://fl-counties.site-ym.com/store/viewproduct.aspx?id=23015610.

To view a list of calendar winners and pictures, visit https://www.fl-counties.com/2023-24-calendar/.

Once I started racing, I developed a newfound appreciation for photography. After an event, I’d excitedly hop online to look for as many photos and videos as I could find. These snapshots helped me relive the excitement and share it with friends and family. Photos of our cars, and coincidently, ourselves began covering our living room and office walls. I could look at those photos and be transported to the moments when they were captured. Seeing yourself doing what you love feels great, reminds you of your passion, and is confidence inspiring. Each day I look at all the photos around me and I am inspired to keep pursuing those passions.

My curiosity about the world of photography was piqued, but the gear seemed expensive and confusing to choose from. Hearing a photographer discuss aperture, focal length, and which lenses to choose made my brain freeze over much like when you try to explain car modifications to a non-car person. I was so busy racing and competing myself that I didn’t feel I had time to pick up and learn another skill. On race days, if I had a few free moments I’d quickly snap a phone photo and toss it on social media hoping the photographers got the good stuff. Though it was an art form that I had a deep appreciation for, I decided it wasn’t for me, and that I’d rather be in front of the lens than behind it.

Over a year ago, I began preparing for the Rebelle Rally. This event is technologically closed from the outside world. This meant I wouldn’t be able to shoot pictures with my phone and with so many competitors spread out across the desert I had no idea how many photos would be captured of the X5 I’d be competing with. My partner Calvin pointed out to me that If I wanted to get photos of my week-long adventure to share with friends, family, and most importantly my sponsors, that I would need to pick up a camera and start learning as part of my event preparation. To start me on my journey, he gifted me a Fuji X100F. The camera body is wrapped in vintage brown leather and its diminutive size means it tucks into my bag easily. After seeing so many bulky black cameras with massive lenses at race events my cute little camera seemed far less intimidating.

I had the privilege of taking the Ladies group photo at the Southern Ohio Forest Rally.

Calvin took me on a hike, knowing one of the few passions that rivals my love of motorsport is my love of nature. He figured that since I loved stopping every few steps to admire and identify plants that I might as well snap a few photos while I was there. I set the camera to “auto” and snap I did! I wanted to capture all the natural beauty around me. As we hiked out of the forest I hoped that the photos were at least good enough to help me identify a few of the plants and mushrooms I tried to capture. After being pleasantly surprised from seeing the results on my computer, I tucked my camera into my backpack excited to continue learning more.

The sun sets behind my X5. This shot was taken while stopped during a Time Speed Distance Rally.

I packed my camera with me everywhere and took photos as often as I could to practice for the Rebelle. Before I knew it, I was searching the library for books on photography and watching videos on YouTube to learn more. I began playing with the settings on the camera to test out different effects. Car shows and track days were great places to practice. At first, I was worried photography would be a distraction but instead I found myself even more engaged so that I could time my shots perfectly.

Some of my favorite photos combine the landscape with the cars, and rally provides no shortage of stunning scenery with cars in action. Even though the Rebelle schedule was action packed I couldn’t resist pulling over to capture the X5 in the vast desert scenery as often as I could. BMWs are growing in popularity in stage rally and when I hear a straight six barreling through the forest I get even more excited to capture it. Rally also presents a variety of dynamic landscapes and backgrounds. Gravel or dust slinging out from the tires adds even more drama to the photos. The conditions can also provide extra challenges for a photographer and learning to adapt or overcome also adds to the learning curve.

In the last year of shooting, I have captured so many memories. Aside from landscapes, my other specialty is candid photos of the crews and drivers. Since I am a driver myself, I have a personal connection with many of them and this eases their discomfort with being photographed. I love showing the world the people behind the wheels and wrenches. Standing trackside at GingerMan as cars drifted and raced just a few feet past the end of my lens was absolutely thrilling. I had to keep cleaning tire debris from my lens, my nose and eyes burned from tire smoke, but the rush of adrenaline and resulting shots made it worth it.

As much as I love being behind the wheel I have grown to love being behind a camera equally so. Capturing so many thrilling moments and splendid scenes makes me feel even more present and attentive to the little moments during an event. I notice the way the light reflects off the car accentuating its body lines or the way the lines on a driver’s face accentuate their smile. I have learned so much and my photography has grown and improved each time I pick up the camera. Each photo takes me back to the adventure that led to it and I’m so thankful for each snap of my shutter. —Kelsey Stephens

This December, Monrovia-based John Moran Auctioneers and Appraisers is presenting three distinct sales highlighting some of the most influential and captivating artists of the 20th century.

Beginning the string of auctions is “20th Century Photography: The Emergence of Modernism” on Wednesday, December 6, at 10 a.m. PST, featuring works by pioneers of the field like Ansel Adams, Imogen Cunningham—and eight previously undiscovered photos from the 1920s by Edward Weston.

Later that day at 12 p.m. PST is “The Collection of Frederick W. Davis,” which will feature an expansive, 344-lot exploration of Latin American Art from the estate of the collector and dealer, ranging from fine art and photography to traditional craft and decorative art.

Rounding out the slate of events is the “Latin American Art and Design” sale on Thursday, December 7, at 12 p.m. PST, which will see further exploration of Latin American art and culture, and including 200 lots spanning everything from Mexican silver tableware and jewelry to artworks by important Latin American artists such as Diego Rivera, Felipe Castañeda, Fred Davis, and more.

Below, we explore just a few of the most intriguing lots from across the three sales.

Imogen Cunningham
Two Callas (1925–1929)
Est. $100,000–$200,000

Imogen Cunningham, Two Callas (1925–1929). Courtesy of John Moran.

Imogen Cunningham (1883–1976) had an incredible, seven-decade-long career in which she became world famous for her diverse photography practice as an influential member of the California-based Group f/64, founded by Willard Van Dyke and famous landscape photographer Ansel Adams. Cunningham garnered specific acclaim for her striking botanical photographs, with her Two Callas and other floral compositions drawing comparisons to the work of Georgia O’Keeffe. The present edition of Two Callas is of particular interest, as it is an example that was produced on a specific type of matte paper that she used throughout the 1920s, and it has the artist’s Mills College label, which was used for just a sliver of her career between 1929 and 1934.

Edward Weston
Cuernavaca (1925)
Est. $100,000–$200,000

Edward Weston, Cuernavaca (1925). Courtesy of John Moran.

Working across genres, including landscape, still life, nudes, portraits, and more, American photographer Edward Weston (1886–1958) was also a member of Group f/64, but unlike fellow members, was deeply influenced by the tenets of Surrealism. The present image is the result of the artist returning to a subject he had focused on previously, the palm tree, but instead of a traditional overall image of the tree, Weston omits much of its unique identifiers, such as the frond leaves, from the frame. Instead, the solidity and texture of the trunk becomes the focus, so that on first glance, viewers may not even know what it is they are looking at. The unusual crop of the subject speaks to Weston’s experimental approach to the medium.

Fernando Botero
Nude Figure Reclining (2002)
Est. $100,000–$150,000

Fernando Botero, Nude Figure Reclining (2002). Courtesy of John Moran.

Columbian figurative artist Fernando Botero (1932–2023) developed a unique signature style that has been termed “Boterismo,” recognized for portraying human bodies in exaggerated scale and proportions. This mode of representation bestows Botero’s work with both an element of humor as well as the ability to engage with political criticism. Also a sculptor, Botero’s iconic figures can be found installed around the world, including along New York City’s Park Avenue and Paris’s Champs-Élysés. Today, he is considered one of the most influential and recognizable Latin American artists in the world.

Alfredo Ramos Martines
Madonna India (ca. 1932)
Est. $60,000–$80,000

Alfredo Ramos Martines, Madonna India (ca. 1932). Courtesy of John Moran.

Mexican painter, muralist, and teacher Alfredo Ramo Martinez (1871–1946) was influential in the development and propagation of Modernism in his home country, so much so that he is often referred to as the “Father of Mexican Modernism.” Synthesizing both Modern and traditional styles of painting, Martinez’s work is recognized for its empathetic representation of the people and landscapes of Mexico both in his standalone paintings and murals. Following his relocation to Los Angeles, California, in 1930, his work was brought to a broader audience, and he developed a significant following from the Hollywood set. Posthumously, the Alfredo Ramos Martinez Research Project was established in 1991, which seeks to preserve and advance the artist’s legacy.

Miguel Covarrubias
El Mercado (n.d.)
Est. $20,000–$30,000

Miguel Covarrubias, El Mercado (n.d.). Courtesy of John Moran.

Miguel Covarrubias (1904–1957) began his professional career as a teenager following his move from Mexico to New York City at the age of 19, working as a caricaturist for Vanity Fair. Homing in on his own signature style and approach, Covarrubias’s practice grew to include painting and murals—though he continued creating caricatures for publications and theater productions. An avid explorer and academic, he was also credited with co-discovering the Olmec civilization, identifying it as distinct from the Mayan civilization. Mass-produced reproductions of his work are considered some of the most influential in America during the 1920s and 1930s, and his use of flat planes of color and simplified forms contributed to Modernism’s ability to take root in the country.

Diego Rivera
Dos Indios Arando En Un Frutal (1935)
Est. $30,000–$50,000

Diego Rivera, Dos Indios Arando En Un Frutal (1935). Courtesy of John Moran.

Recognized as one of the most influential and famous artists of the 20th century, Mexican painter Diego Rivera (1886–1957) was a pioneer in the mural movement—both in Mexico and internationally—and his work can be seen in public buildings around the world. A devoted Communist, Rivera frequently depicted everyday people and their work, which can be seen in the present lot that depicts two individuals plowing. Though he was married multiple times, his most famously wed to Mexican Surrealist painter Frida Kahlo, and the two had great influence over each other’s work. Rivera’s work today can be found in some of the world’s most prestigious institutions, including the Museum of Modern Art, New York; Centre Pompidou, Paris; and Museo Nacional de Arte, Mexico City.

Learn more about the sales at John Moran Auctioneers here.

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One of the more difficult landscape scenes to photograph are woodland environments. Many landscape photographers find these locations challenging to photograph, myself included. This video has several tips on how to improve your woodland landscape photography.

In this video, we follow Nigel Danson as he composes several woodland images with commentary along the way on what worked well and what did not. From these scenes, he provides several tips on what to watch for while composing your photograph.

Woodlands are often very chaotic and messy, with trees, branches, rocks, and more all needing to be considered for your photo. Danson explains that the key to success in woodland photography is to simplify the scene and reduce the clutter in the scene. 

An important part of accomplishing this is to be purposeful with your compositions. Danson demonstrates taking complicated scenes, identifying the prominent objects in the scene, and then using your position and focal length to help simplify and arrange those elements in a deliberate manner.

As a landscape photographer who continues to practice my woodland photography, this video was very helpful. I am looking forward to my next outing to put Danson’s tips on simplifying and being deliberate with your woodland photography to use!