The Changing Landscape of Search

For years, photographers have relied on Google—whether for business visibility, marketing research, or finding inspiration. But a quiet revolution has been happening behind the scenes. ChatGPT has grown from a tech novelty into a serious platform that changes how people search, plan, and create.

In this 2025 report, our team analyzed how both Google and ChatGPT perform worldwide using verified analytics, behavioral data, and engagement modeling. The goal: to understand how photographers—and the clients they serve—are shifting their search habits.

Whether you’re running a full-time studio or balancing sessions around family and creative projects, these trends show where your audience’s attention is heading.

The Big Picture: Who’s Leading in 2025

What It Means for Photographers

• Google is still the giant. If your website is optimized for Google Search, that visibility remains essential.
• ChatGPT, with 9% of all global queries, represents a fast-growing opportunity—especially for those who want to build content around education, creativity, and storytelling.
• Engagement time is where ChatGPT shines: users stay nearly three times longer, showing they’re searching for deeper, more meaningful answers.

From Quick Answers to Creative Conversations

Between 2023 and 2025, ChatGPT’s rise has been driven by how people want to interact with information. Instead of typing short keywords, users now describe what they need in full sentences—like:

“How can I plan a fall family session with soft natural light?”

That’s not just a search query; it’s a conversation.

And for photographers, that’s powerful. It means clients are now looking for ideas and expertise, not just service listings. The more you share creative knowledge (lighting tips, outfit guides, behind-the-scenes stories), the more both Google and ChatGPT will recognize you as a trusted voice.

👉 The Photographer’s Take

Photographers use both—Google for fast info on the go and ChatGPT for in-depth brainstorming at their desks. Clients, meanwhile, are mostly mobile-first. They’re Googling during coffee breaks, checking Instagram links, or browsing your portfolio between errands. But when they want help planning—for example, “How should I prepare my kids for a photo session?”—they may be turning to conversational AI. 

What’s Interesting for Photographers

Photographers aged 35 and older are among the fastest-growing users of ChatGPT for business tools and creative planning—writing blog content, pricing guides, and social captions.

Younger users still dominate total AI usage, but seasoned professionals are using it smarter—to save time, brainstorm content, and strengthen client communication without losing their personal voice.

Insight for Photography Businesses

• Google is where clients find you—your website, your portfolio, your booking form.
• ChatGPT is where they may plan the experience—asking what to wear, how to choose a photographer, or how to pose for a family session.
• This means the two platforms now work together: one drives visibility, the other drives trust and engagement.

If your business uses both—blogging for SEO and generating helpful content ideas through AI—you’re meeting clients exactly where they are.

The digital world isn’t just about algorithms anymore—it’s about connection.

Women photographers, especially those juggling family, creativity, and business, are using these platforms differently. Google helps them stay visible; ChatGPT helps them stay inspired.

As the lines between “search” and “conversation” blur, the photographers who thrive will be those who embrace both:

• Google to get discovered.
• ChatGPT to create, plan, and connect more deeply with their audience.

Because in 2026, visibility and voice go hand in hand—and both belong to you.