THE SETUP SESSION
You Bought the Template. Now Let's Make It Actually Work.
Done-for-you Squarespace and Showit template setup, with SEO built in from the start, not added as an afterthought.
The Problem
You found a template you loved. Maybe it was ours. Maybe it was from the Showit Template Library, or something you found on Etsy at midnight. Either way, you bought it, downloaded it, opened it up, and then it sat.
Because setting up a template is not as simple as swapping in your photos and calling it done. There is the technical setup. The customization. The pages that need to actually say something. And the SEO layer that nobody talks about, the part that determines whether Google ever sends a single person to your site.
Most photographers end up with a template that looks fine and does nothing.
This is not that.
WHAT THE SETUP SESSION IS
A fully built, SEO-ready website. Done for you. In five days.
You send us your template, your content, and your login. We handle everything else.
When we hand it back, your site will be installed, customized, and optimized, not just pretty, but positioned to actually show up in search.
WHAT’S INCLUDED
Here is exactly what you get
Template Installation
We install your template on your Squarespace or Showit account and handle all the technical setup so you never have to figure out what a DNS record is.
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Meta Descriptions Written for Every Page
The text that shows up under your link in Google search results. We write these for every page so your site actually gets clicked when it does show up.
2
Full Customization
Your photos, your colors, your fonts, your content — placed throughout the template so it looks like you, not like the demo version everyone else bought.
3
Image Alt Text Throughout
Google cannot see your photos. It reads the alt text. We add descriptive, keyword-informed alt text to every image on your site so your visual work actually contributes to your rankings.
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Page Titles Written for Every Page
This is one of the highest-impact SEO elements on your site and one of the most skipped. We write a keyword-intentional page title for every main page on your site so Google knows exactly who you are and where you are..
5
One Round of Revisions
Once we deliver your site, you have one round to request changes. We make them within 48 hours.
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WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED
A few things worth knowing upfront
We are big on scope clarity because surprise deliverables help no one.
The Setup Session does not include copywriting. We place the content you provide; we do not write it from scratch. If your pages need copy, check out The Development Day.
It does not include additional pages beyond your template's existing structure. What comes in the template is what we build.
It does not include domain purchase, email setup, or third-party integrations like scheduling software or client management systems.
If you are not sure whether your project fits within this scope, reach out before you book. We will tell you honestly.
WHO THIS IS FOR
This is for you if…
You bought a template and it has been sitting untouched for longer than you want to admit.
You set it up yourself and it does not look quite right and you are not sure why.
You are launching your photography business and want your site done correctly from day one.
You know enough about SEO to know you do not know enough about SEO, and you want someone who does to handle it.
The investment
$697
That includes installation, full customization, page titles, meta descriptions, image alt text, and one round of revisions. Delivered in five business days from the day we receive your content.
WHAT COMES NEXT
Here is how it works
ABOUT THE BRAND DARKROOM
Why us
The Brand Darkroom is a web design and SEO studio built exclusively for photographers, by a photographer.
Most web designers know design. Most SEO people know search. We know both, and we know the photography industry specifically, which means we are not guessing at what your clients search for or how to position your services. We have built this infrastructure for photographers across the country and we know what works.
The Setup Session is our way of meeting photographers where they are, whether you are just starting out or you have been sitting on a half-finished template for two years.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Any template built for Squarespace or Showit. That includes templates from The Brand Darkroom, Tonic, Northfolk, Big Cat Creative, and anywhere else you may have purchased.
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We recommend having your photos, bio, and service descriptions ready before you book. Your start date does not begin until we receive your content, so booking in advance while you pull things together is totally fine.
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Page titles, meta descriptions, and image alt text for every main page on your site. This is the foundational layer of on-page SEO — the part that tells Google who you are, where you are, and what you do.
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No. The Setup Session is a one-time project that gets your site technically sound and search-ready. If you want ongoing SEO strategy or content, that's a conversation for a different service.
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The Development Day is what you're looking for. It's a focused VIP day where we handle copy and SEO strategy together. You can find it here.
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Five business days from the day we receive your completed content and onboarding questionnaire.
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Squarespace and Showit only.