ipd-ranking-v1
Performance Score Methodology
The IPD Performance Score is a deterministic 0–100 organic discovery metric. It combines native published review performance with confidence weighting, deterministic profile completeness and server-controlled verification. Organic ranking cannot be purchased. The score is a shortlisting aid, not a guarantee of service quality or booking outcome.
Bayesian confidence, in plain language
A raw five-star average from one review is much less evidence than a 4.8-star average from twenty reviews. IPD therefore starts from the current site-wide native review mean and gradually lets a photographer’s own native published review history take over as more reviews accumulate.
v = native published review count
R = photographer’s native published average
C = IPD-wide native review mean
5 = confidence prior used by ranking version 1
Native review component (61.111%)
The largest component uses only native published IPD reviews and confidence-adjusts their rating.
Published native reviews
Only reviews explicitly published through IPD moderation contribute. Pending, rejected, removed and legacy-visible reviews do not count.
Bayesian confidence
The native published average is blended with the site-wide native mean using a five-review prior, so one perfect review does not automatically outrank a substantial strong review history.
Profile and trust components (38.889%)
Only deterministic profile completeness and server-controlled verification contribute here.
Profile completeness (22.222%)
Ten deterministic public-profile checks measure whether useful identity, portfolio, service, location, experience and price information is present.
IPD Verification (16.667%)
Only IPD’s server-controlled Verified state contributes to this trust component.
Freshness (0%)
Freshness is excluded in ranking version 1 because the available update timestamp is photographer-editable. Its intended weight is redistributed across the safe components.
Editorial signals (0%)
Featured recognition, awards and other editorial placement may remain visible, but they never change the automatic organic score.
What the score does not use
Manual legacy rating/count fields have no direct effect. Neither do Featured recognition, awards, owner-editable timestamps, advertising spend, commercial relationships or a manually typed ranking value. If scores tie, native published review count and then stable profile ID ordering provide deterministic tie-breakers.
Use the comparison tool, full portfolios, pricing, availability and direct communication alongside this discovery signal. For the wider product principles, see Why IPD.