Jonathan,
I am not sure there is going to be an answer you like. I know you have asked this and questions around it before, and there does not seem to be a result you want. The reason is you are approaching it as if it is carpentry and if you cut the boards correctly everything should fit. It does not work that way. You start your question with "I've asked this question before and got some strong advice ( I think ) but the results have been not so strong. I'm looking for advice on local. " I am assuming you are talking about the advice for your question on the 10th of July.
There are two people on that string that you may be unaware of: Linda Buquet seen here on Google who is a Top Contributor to Google for her contributions in Local. Along with her help, you had Miriam Ellis of Solas Web Design who is a top local person and a Moz associate (Typically, the associates must have some experience; they can't just send some candy, etc. to Seattle or Portland...I don't think they can anyway To give you an idea, I have paid Linda to train people for me. My head of local was already smart and she wanted to go learn from Linda - she is much sharper now. Miriam has helped me and others with really tough issues in Local and I would trust her advice anywhere on Local.
If you go back to what Linda said to you on that day it is very telling as to your situation:
**Wanted to let you know you have major violations that could get you suspended. So you may be suffering from a ranking penalty. **If Linda told me this, I would stop what I was doing and i would fix each and every item and I would tell thank you so much, where do I send a check? But Jonathan, you said this:
"I am a patterns person. If I saw a pattern that seemed to support your statement besides the fact that my clients listing isn't at the top, I would definitely agree with your comments but they simply don't apply to what I am seeing Google place at the top of the results." Toward the end of the string you were more conciliatory and complimentary, but you need to understand that Local is not easy at all. Frankly, there is no "easy" SEO if it is done right. (There are easy pieces.)
When you placed this question in mid Sept., You stated: "I know the drill about making a second page and trying to rank that page but is there a better way?" This comes off as if you don't believe them and don't want to do it, you would prefer doing something else.
Then you say this: " I got some pretty bad advice early on so Local has been a rough ride back up for me and I have yet to see any improvement on ranking in that area, but I did just install Local SEO by Yoast on the wordpress site which let me submit a Geo Sitemap and includes kml files for both locations so I'm hoping that helps with that. I really think you are missing the whole point now and I am not trying in anyway to be mean or abusive. I think you are falling into a very bad trap in SEO. You are looking for the "thing" that is going to do it and that does not exist IMO.
You did some things in Local and someone who talks with Google daily and is a top contributor told you that you had a big problem and you were lucky to not have been banned. Then they gave you advice you did not like and you want to rank now. Many on Moz deal with clients who come to us because the last firm did some things they should not have done. We are very clear with those clients that fixing major errors in judgement have tremendous resource costs: Time, money, people. I you are doing most of this yourself, you are dealing with a three headed dragon and it is likely frustrating you. But, you will not bend Google to your will. Trust me that knowing some of the people I do here on Moz, if it could have been done, it would have been done. There are some fire breathing dragons on Moz that have worked at this without end. They have not changed Google. There are even those who came at it with a different tact and were soft spoken and sent them candy, etc. It did not work. Google is a business that is focused on its self interest and the self interest of its stakeholders.
Marcus is a bright guy and he tells you right here you have to have an address on the website. That is a part of local. All this stuff about not wanting someone to steal expensive camera equipment, etc. flies in the face of reason. There are tons of photogs in Houston, NYC, Austin, etc. who have the equipment and addresses. Photogs are no more vulnerable based on what I see on the news than other businesses. But, if the owner doesn't want to have an address, give up on local.
You have changed the address at least twice in a few months. A one time address change can be a problem. Now you want to rank in local.
On the post you had mid September, I gave you several things that I know work. I said TWO pages. You do not want to hear that for some reason. You cannot rank the url that is #10 in the organic: http://www.photojennette.com/ also in the 7 pack. That is why two pages. You did not add the Google maps API (I would have added to a contact page). You have not used any local business structured data, etc. But, even more problematic is this:
The page you rank for in local for Austin wedding photographer, has Austin, wedding, photographer(s) each one time in that phrase. It also has Denver wedding photographers in it. The bottom of the page has Austin, Denver, Destinations and it has the 303 Denver # and the 512 Austin #??? When you go to the contact page you have:
Jenny and Jonathan are based out of Austin, Texas and Denver, Colorado and happily document weddings and events around the globe. Their current portfolio features weddings from all over the US, as well as Mexico and Italy. Photojennette also has an extensive portrait and commercial portfolio and would be thrilled to chat more about whatever your photography needs may be.
So, Jonathan, I think you need to sit your client down and explain to them they have a very pretty site and I love the story of who and what they are. You need to tell them that will be on the story page and you will be handling the other pages. You should create a contact page for Austin, you should do the sub directory for Denver Photog and another page for Denver contact. Use the API, place markup, authorship, review, etc. Make sure the photos are geotagged and that the Denver are on the Denver pages and Austin on Austin. That is what will fix your issue.
I took this amount of time to write to you because I think you mean well and you want to do well by your client. (Anyone who knows me in this forum will tell you I would not spend my time on it otherwise.) You need to learn TAGFEE and no matter how much it hurts (and it does sometimes) you have to be straight up with your clients and you sometimes have to tell them what they do not wish to hear. I have yet to lose a client because I told them the truth.
I wish you the very best, please trust these other Mozzers and do what they say. They are not here to hear themselves type. They actually have passion and they give a damn about the outcomes of those who ask questions here. And, when someone like me is wrong...they tell me.
Best,
Robert