A few months ago, a new client messaged me saying she found me through an Instagram reel. Not a viral reel. Not even one where I shared a jaw-dropping wedding or artfully composed landscape. Nope. It was a reel of me, at my studio, with baby Lake in his carrier. She said she saw it, followed me for the mom content… and then decided right there that I was her photographer. Not because of a keyword stuffed blog post. Not because I ranked #1 on Google. Because she saw me, connected with me, and trusted me.
That story keeps echoing in my head as I watch what’s happening with AI and online visibility right now. Because just like that client didn’t need to read my full portfolio to know she wanted to work with me, internet users are doing the same thing. They’re not clicking. They’re skimming. They’re deciding in a flash. And increasingly, they’re not even getting their answers from websites—they’re getting them from AI summaries.
Screenshare of reel with baby lake in carrier
What Are AI Overviews (and Why Should Photographers Care)?
Google’s rolling out something called AI Overviews—basically, a little box at the top of your search results that gives users a tidy, AI-generated answer pulled from multiple sources. It’s designed to be helpful… but for small business owners? It can be a little terrifying.
Recent data shows organic click-through rates are dropping big time, sometimes by 18 to 64%. One study found that only 1% of users click any of the links inside the AI summary. So if your site isn’t cited in the AI-generated overview, there’s a solid chance you’re invisible.
AEO = The New SEO (Especially for Creatives)
That’s where AEO (Answer Engine Optimization) comes in. Or GEO (Generative Engine Optimization). Both are just fancy ways of saying: your content should be good enough, trustworthy enough, and structured clearly enough that AI tools want to quote you.
As photographers, we used to think SEO was about keywords like “Milwaukee family photographer” or “best wedding photographer near me.” That still matters! But now we also need to:
- Write blog posts that answer real questions (like “What should we wear to a fall photo session?”)
- Use conversational language that mirrors how real people ask things
- Make our sites fast, mobile-friendly, and easy for AI to understand
Think of it like this: you’re not just trying to rank for Google. You’re trying to be the example that AI uses when it summarizes a topic.
Real Talk: You Either Show Up or You Fade Out
Let’s say someone types “what to wear for family photos with toddlers” into Google. If your blog post is clear, structured, and helpful—and AI grabs a line like, “Soft neutrals photograph beautifully and help avoid distractions in outdoor family portraits”—you win.
If AI grabs that tip from someone else’s site instead? You’re invisible. But here’s the encouraging part: the bar isn’t being the biggest, most optimized site in the world. The bar is being useful, human, and clear.
You’re not just trying to trick the algorithm. You’re showing up as an expert people (and bots) can trust.
5 Easy Ways Photographers Can AEO-Optimize Their Content
- Answer real client questions in your blog posts
- Use headings like “What’s the best time of day for newborn photos?”
- Write like you talk
- AI tools love conversational phrasing—it mirrors how people ask questions
- Be the expert
- Offer actual tips, not just pretty pictures. Share how you prep clients, what you recommend, why you do what you do
- Keep your site speedy and mobile-friendly
- AI prefers fast, structured sites. (Also, so do humans.)
- Create content regularly
- Consistent posting builds authority—and gives AI more to pull from
Visibility Isn’t Dead, It’s Just… Different
That Instagram reel with baby Lake? It never “ranked.” But it resonated. It was real, human, trustworthy—and that’s what made me visible to someone who was ready to book.
AI visibility works the same way. You don’t have to be the loudest. You just have to show up clearly enough, often enough, and helpfully enough that the machines (and the people) know you’re worth trusting. You’ve already got the magic: your perspective, your photos, your stories. Now it’s time to make sure AI sees you, too.
Screenshot
The SEO + AI Visibility Checklist for Photographers
Struggling to Get Found Online?
If you are pouring time into Instagram but still not booking dream clients, the problem is not your talent. It is your visibility. In 2025, search is shifting. Your clients are not typing “photographer near me.” They are asking full questions like:
- What should my kids wear for fall photos?
- Best newborn photographer in Milwaukee?
- How do I book branding photos in Charleston?
And here is the truth: AI is answering first. If you are not included in those answers, you do not exist.
Why You Need This Checklist
- AI is changing search. Over 60% of searches now end without a click. AI overviews surface a handful of trusted sites. You want to be one of them.
- Local visibility drives bookings. Your Google Business Profile, reviews, and schema markup directly influence whether you show up in search and maps.
- Experience wins. Google rewards content written from lived experience. That means your voice, your sessions, and your process are now your SEO advantage.
This checklist shows you exactly how to set up your website and online presence so Google and AI pick you.
Who This Is For
This is for photography business owners who:
- Want to book more clients without hustling harder on social.
- Want to show up in Google and AI tools like ChatGPT.
- Are tired of guessing what works for SEO.
- Want a simple, practical system they can check off!
How to Get It
👉 Subscribe today to unlock The SEO + AI Visibility Checklist for Photographers.
This is not another generic SEO guide. It is written for photographers, by me, a photographer who has built a multi-six-figure business while ranking in both search and AI results.
Stop competing for likes. Start showing up where clients are actually searching.
✨ Subscribe now and get instant access.
FAQ: AI, SEO, and Photographers
What is AEO or Answer Engine Optimization?
AEO is the practice of creating content that AI tools (like Google’s AI Overviews or ChatGPT) can easily cite in their generated answers. It focuses on clear, trustworthy, structured content.
Does traditional SEO still matter?
Yes! You still want your site to rank in search results. But now, you also want to optimize your content so AI tools use your insights in summaries.
How do I make my content more AEO-friendly?
Answer common client questions, write in a conversational tone, use headers and bullet points, and keep your site mobile-friendly and fast.
Can photographers really get traffic from AI tools?
Absolutely. If your blog post is used in a ChatGPT answer or a Google AI Overview, it can lead to high-quality referral traffic—even if you’re not on page one.
What kind of blog posts should I write now?
Think helpful, not salesy. Topics like what to wear, how to prep kids, choosing a location—real questions your clients are Googling right now.
Want more tips like this? Stick around and follow me on Substack for MORE exclusive content. I’m always sharing what’s working (and what’s shifting) for creatives growing their business online—between nap times and snack breaks, of course.
CITED RESOURCES
- Moz / WordStream reporting that AI Overviews could slash organic traffic by 18% to 64%, especially for straightforward, informational content.The Guardian+15WordStream+15Writesonic+15
- Xponent21 coverage referencing a study by Kevin Indig, noting that when AI Overviews appear, organic CTR can drop by 18% to 64%, depending on the search query.Search Engine Land+4Xponent21+4Homepros+4
- Writesonic blog also highlights a 18%–64% drop in organic traffic depending on industry—particularly where AI Overviews dominate.The Guardian+15Writesonic+15Forbes+15
- Pew Research Center (via Search Engine Journal): Users click on a link within the AI summary itself in just 1% of visits to pages with an AI-generated summary.9to5Google+5Pew Research Center+5Stan Ventures+5
- PPC Land summary of the Pew study confirms: “Only 1% of visits to pages containing AI summaries resulted in clicks on links within the summary content.”Reddit+4PPC Land+4Medium+4
- Search Engine Land reports two major data sources—Ahrefs and Amsive—finding significant declines in organic click-through rates when AI Overviews are present:
- Ahrefs: 34.5% drop in CTR for top-ranking results (position 1).
- Amsive: Average 15.5% drop, with deeper declines for non-branded informational queries.Reddit+15Search Engine Land+15Xponent21+15
- The Guardian reports that a site previously ranking first could lose up to 79% of its traffic when results appear below an AI Overview.The Guardian
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