Module 3

Before You Take Any Photos

Photos are one of the most important parts of your Google Business Profile. They help customers visualise your business and significantly impact whether they choose you. Before you start snapping, let's cover the basics.

Why Photos Matter So Much

What to do

Understand the impact photos have on your listing's performance before you invest time in taking them.

Step by step

  1. Photos drive customer decisions. According to Google, businesses with photos receive 42% more requests for directions and 35% more website clicks than those without.
  2. Photos appear prominently. When customers find your listing, photos are one of the first things they see. They form an instant impression.
  3. Photos answer customer questions. What does the place look like? Is it clean? Professional? Welcoming? Photos answer these questions before customers contact you.
  4. Photos affect which searches you appear in. Google's image recognition can understand what's in your photos. Quality photos help Google understand your business better.
  5. No photos = lost opportunity. If you have no photos and a competitor has great ones, guess who customers choose?
Do photos directly affect rankings?

Google has confirmed that listing completeness matters for rankings, and photos are part of that. More specifically, photos increase engagement (clicks, direction requests) which signals to Google that your listing is relevant and useful. Businesses with more photos tend to perform better in local search, though the relationship is complex and involves many factors.

Google's official guidelines

Google's Photo Requirements

What to do

Make sure your photos meet Google's technical requirements so they display properly.

Step by step

  1. Format: JPG or PNG. Stick to JPG for most photos — smaller file sizes and universal compatibility.
  2. Size: Between 10KB and 5MB. Most phone photos fall within this range easily.
  3. Resolution: Minimum 720 pixels wide. Aim for at least 1200 pixels wide for good quality on all devices.
  4. Aspect ratio: No strict rule, but Google displays photos at various aspect ratios. The main profile photo displays best at roughly 4:3 or 16:9.
  5. No heavy editing: Photos should represent reality. Don't use heavy filters, excessive text overlays, or misleading edits.
  6. No prohibited content: No explicit content, violence, or anything that violates Google's policies.

Planning Your Photo Session

What to do

A bit of planning makes your photo session much more effective. Don't just wander around snapping randomly.

Step by step

  1. Choose the right time. Natural daylight is your friend. For interior shots, midday often works well when light streams in. For exterior shots, avoid harsh midday sun — morning or late afternoon gives softer light.
  2. Clean and tidy first. Before taking photos, clean your space. Tidy counters, straighten furniture, clear clutter. You're creating the best possible impression.
  3. Plan what to photograph. Review the next section on photo types and make a list. Walk through your business and note specific shots you want to capture.
  4. Consider staging. A café looks better with a few customers enjoying coffee than completely empty. A plumber's van looks better with the doors open showing organised equipment.
  5. Charge your phone. Nothing worse than running out of battery halfway through. Start with a full charge.
  6. Clear some storage. Make sure you have space to take plenty of photos. You want to take multiple shots of each subject to choose the best.

Examples by industry

Best time: When your van is clean and equipment is organised. Consider staging some equipment laid out neatly. Good weather for outdoor shots of the van.
Best time: After opening when the café is fresh and clean, with a few (ideally photogenic) customers present. Avoid busy periods when it's too chaotic. Natural daylight makes food and drinks look better.
Best time: Before patients arrive — everything clean, equipment in place, lights on. Waiting areas look best with a few people seated (with permission).
Best time: During business hours when reception is staffed. Meeting rooms look better set up as if for a meeting — notepads, water glasses on the table.

Phone Camera Settings to Check

What to do

Before you start, check these settings on your phone to get the best results.

Step by step

  1. Turn on HDR (if available). HDR (High Dynamic Range) helps balance bright and dark areas in your photos. Most modern phones have this — look in your camera settings.
  2. Check your resolution. Make sure you're shooting at full resolution, not a reduced size. Look in camera settings for image size or quality.
  3. Clean your lens. This sounds silly but makes a huge difference. Phone lenses get grimy from pockets and fingers. Wipe it with a soft cloth before shooting.
  4. Turn off location/watermarks. Some phones add watermarks showing the phone model — turn this off. Location tags in the image metadata are fine (and can help verify your location to Google).
  5. Use the standard camera app. Unless you know what you're doing, stick to your phone's default camera app rather than third-party apps.

Getting Permission for Photos

What to do

If people appear in your photos, think about whether you need permission.

Step by step

  1. Staff photos: Get verbal or written permission from staff before photographing them. Most people are fine with it, but ask first.
  2. Customer photos: It's generally okay to take photos of your space with customers in the background, but don't feature specific customers prominently without permission.
  3. Children: Be extra careful with photos that include children. Get parental permission before featuring any child in your photos.
  4. Work examples (before/after): If showing customer projects (like completed bathroom installations), get the customer's permission first.
  5. When in doubt, ask. A quick "Is it okay if I include you in photos for our website and Google listing?" avoids any issues.

Before you start taking photos: