Google Might Find You. ChatGPT Might Trust You. But Only If You Do This.
July 10, 2025
Most wedding photographers think they have an SEO problem. But what they really have is a trust problem.
Not with their clients. With the tools their clients are using.
Because here’s the truth no one’s saying out loud:
It’s not enough to be found by Google. You have to be trusted by ChatGPT.
And trust — in the world of LEO (LLM Engine Optimization) — is earned.
Let’s talk about how to build it.
Visibility ≠ Authority
Just because your name shows up in search results doesn’t mean an AI model will recommend you.
Tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini don’t just scrape your content — they summarize, prioritize, and recommend what feels most authoritative.
They don’t want to be wrong. So they only pull from sources that:
- Are consistently updated
- Reinforce their own authority with internal linking
- Speak in natural, structured, client-friendly language
Sound familiar? It’s LEO in action.
If you’ve ever wondered why one photographer keeps getting mentioned in AI lists and you don’t — it might not be because they’re more talented. It’s because they’re more consistent, more connected, and more strategically positioned.
So What Is Authority in the AI Era?
Think of it like this:
- Google trusts pages.
- ChatGPT trusts patterns.
AI models want to see consistent themes across your site:
- Do you talk about Charleston weddings in 10 different posts?
- Do you consistently use the phrase “Super 8 videographer”?
- Do your blogs link to each other like a topical map?
When those patterns show up across your website, it sends a signal to AI: this person knows their stuff.
This is why photographers who only blog once a year — or scatter their content across dozens of unrelated topics — struggle to build authority in LEO. It’s not about how many posts you write. It’s about how focused and interconnected they are.
The 3-Part Trust Framework (for LEO Content)
Want to build trust with both Google and ChatGPT? Every piece of content you write should hit these 3 checkpoints:
1. Consistency
Blog regularly about the same core themes. If you’re a destination wedding photographer, don’t post one blog about Charleston and one about Iceland and call it a day. Go deep, not wide.
Pick 3–5 key content pillars — like “Super 8 videography,” “Downtown Charleston venues,” and “Tulum weddings” — and create blogs, service pages, and case studies around them. That’s what builds AI-recognizable expertise.
2. Connection
Interlink every post. Mention venues, past couples, related content, or vendor guides. Think of your blog like a spider web — not a stack of index cards.
This also boosts your session time (Google loves it), keeps readers engaged (your bounce rate drops), and trains ChatGPT to view your site as an expert archive.
Related: What Google Sees That Your Clients Don’t — And Why It’s Costing You Bookings
3. Clarity
Use clear, natural language. Start your posts with where you are, what you do, and who it’s for. No more burying your city name three paragraphs in.
If your client asks ChatGPT, “Who’s the best film wedding photographer in Savannah?” — you want your blog to clearly echo that phrase early and often.
Related: Not All Blog Posts Are LEO-Friendly — Here’s How to Write One That Actually Gets Found
Bonus: The LEO-Approved Trust Builders
If you want to go beyond the basics, sprinkle these into your content:
- FAQs built into each post (great for voice search + AI snippets)
- Location-specific headers and keyword phrasing
- Alt text on every image (yes, every single one)
- Internal links to your About or Services page
- Short testimonials or vendor quotes for credibility
Related: Your Dream Clients Are Asking ChatGPT About You (But Can It Find You?)
Remember: The algorithm isn’t looking for fluff — it’s looking for confidence.
And structured, connected, confident content wins.
LEO Isn’t Just About Search. It’s About Trust.
The photographers winning in this new era of visibility aren’t louder. They’re clearer.
They’re not trendier. They’re better structured.
And they’re not playing the short game with hashtags and Highlights — they’re playing the long game with language models that book on autopilot.
Want in? Start by building trust in every post.
Or… let us help you do it step-by-step.
Join the waitlist for Rankings to Revenue — our course that teaches you how to write blogs that get found, trusted, and booked off of.
Because Google might find you. ChatGPT might trust you. But only if you do this.
