How to Optimise Your Website and Images for Visual Search

The way people search for information is evolving, and visual search is leading the way.

With tools like Google Lens, Pinterest Lens, and Bing Visual Search, users can now discover products, find wedding inspiration, and even identify locations simply by snapping a photo.

For businesses in the wedding industry, this presents a huge opportunity. If your images are properly optimised, you could be reaching couples before they even type a single word into Google.

So, how can you make sure your website and images are ready for the rise of visual search? Let’s break it down.

What is Visual Search & Why Does It Matter?

Traditional search relies on text-based queries, but visual search allows users to find results based on images. Whether a couple sees a wedding dress on Pinterest or a beautifully styled venue on Instagram, they can now use visual search to track down similar styles, suppliers, and locations.

For wedding professionals—venues, florists, photographers, planners, and designers—this shift means that your images need to be searchable, optimised, and aligned with the right audience.

How to Optimise Your Website for Visual Search

If your images aren’t optimised, you could be missing out on valuable website traffic and enquiries. Here’s how to ensure your content is primed for visual search:

High-Quality, Unique Images

• Use high-resolution, well-lit images that showcase your work

• Avoid stock images—original content is more likely to rank

• Showcase multiple angles of products or venue spaces to give search engines more context

Rename Your Image Files with Keywords

Before uploading images, rename them with relevant keywords instead of generic file names like "IMG_1234.jpg."

For example:
Bad: IMG_5678.jpg
Good: yorkshire-barn-wedding-venue.jpg

Add Descriptive Alt Text

Alt text is crucial for SEO and accessibility. It tells search engines what your image is about. Be descriptive and include relevant keywords.

For example:
Bad: “Table”
Good: “Rustic wedding reception table with floral centrepieces at [Venue Name]”

Optimise Image Size & Format

Large image files slow down your website, which can hurt rankings. Use tools like TinyPNG or Squoosh to compress images while maintaining quality.

Use JPEG for photos, PNG for graphics, and WebP for faster loading
Enable lazy loading so images load only when needed

Read my blog here on how to optimise website images for SEO

Add Structured Data (Schema Markup)

Using image schema markup helps search engines understand what’s in your images, making them more likely to appear in Google Image Search and visual search results.

For wedding businesses, adding structured data to key pages (venues, galleries, portfolios) can improve visibility.

How to Make Your Business More Discoverable via Visual Search

Optimising your website is just the start—you also need to optimise how and where your images appear online.

Upload Your Best Images to Google Business Profile

Google pulls images from your Google Business Profile for search results. Regularly update your profile with:

• High-quality venue or product shots

• Behind-the-scenes images

• Photos from real weddings or styled shoots

Pin Your Images on Pinterest

Pinterest is a major visual search engine, so make sure you:

• Add clear, keyword-rich descriptions to pins

• Use Pinterest SEO-friendly titles and tags

• Link pins back to relevant pages on your website

Use Descriptive Captions on Social Media

Instagram and Facebook images can appear in search results, but only if they have strong captions. Use keywords and hashtags that align with what couples are searching for.

For example:
"Dreaming of a rustic barn wedding in Yorkshire? Our venue combines exposed beams, fairy lights, and a countryside setting for the perfect day. #YorkshireWedding #BarnVenue"

Encourage User-Generated Content

Encourage couples to tag your business and share their wedding photos. When their images get searched, your business gets discovered.

• Create a branded hashtag (e.g., #WeddingsAt[VenueName])

• Repost tagged images and credit the couple/photographer

• Add images to a dedicated real weddings gallery on your site

The Future of Search is Visual—Are You Ready?

Couples are searching differently than they were five years ago. With visual search gaining popularity, ensuring your website and images are searchable, high-quality, and well-optimised is key to getting discovered by your dream clients.

Need Help Getting Your Website & Images SEO-Ready?

If you’re unsure whether your website is fully optimised for search, I can help! I offer SEO audits, website strategy sessions, and content optimisation to help wedding businesses increase their visibility and bookings.

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