Photo Types You Need
Google categorises business photos into different types. Each type serves a specific purpose. Here's exactly what photos you need to take for a complete profile.
Profile Photo and Cover Photo
What to do
These are the most important photos — they appear first and create the initial impression of your business.
Step by step
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Profile photo: Your main identifying image. For most businesses, this should be your logo or your shopfront. It appears small (like a thumbnail) next to your business name in search results.
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Cover photo: The large banner image at the top of your profile. This should be your best, most representative photo — usually your exterior or a great interior shot that captures your business atmosphere.
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Make your profile photo clear at small sizes. Since it displays as a small circle or square, simple images work better than busy ones. A clean logo or clear storefront works well.
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Make your cover photo visually striking. This is prime real estate. Use your best photo that shows off what makes your business appealing.
Examples by industry
Profile photo: Your logo or branded van. Cover photo: Your van in front of a completed job, or a professional shot of your equipment/team.
Profile photo: Your logo or café exterior. Cover photo: A beautiful interior shot showing the atmosphere, or an appetising spread of your food and coffee.
Profile photo: Practice logo or building exterior. Cover photo: Your welcoming reception area or a professional team photo.
Profile photo: Firm logo or building entrance. Cover photo: Your reception area, meeting room, or a professional team shot.
Exterior Photos
What to do
Show customers what your business looks like from outside. This helps them find you and know what to look for.
Step by step
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Take photos from the street. Show your business as a customer would see it when approaching. Include your signage clearly.
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Capture your entrance. Show clearly where customers enter. This is especially helpful for businesses in larger buildings.
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Show your signage. Make sure your business name is visible and readable in at least one exterior photo.
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Take photos at different times. If you're open evenings, include a photo showing your business lit up at night.
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Include parking if relevant. If you have customer parking, show it. "Is there parking?" is a common customer question.
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Show surrounding context. A photo showing nearby landmarks or your position on the street helps customers find you.
Examples by industry
If you work from home, you don't need exterior photos of your house. Instead, photograph your branded van or vehicle — that's what customers will see arriving at their property.
Your café frontage from across the street showing signage, a closer shot of your entrance and any A-boards, and any outdoor seating area.
Building exterior clearly showing practice signage, entrance door with any practice name visible, car park if you have one.
Building exterior showing your floor or signage, main entrance, any nameplate or brass plate. If you're in a shared building, show how clients find your specific office.
Interior Photos
What to do
Show customers what it's like inside your business. This builds comfort and sets expectations.
Step by step
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Capture the overall space. Wide shots showing the general layout and atmosphere. Stand in corners to get as much in frame as possible.
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Show customer areas. Where will customers sit, wait, or spend time? Show these areas looking clean and welcoming.
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Show work areas (if appropriate). A kitchen (for restaurants), treatment rooms (for healthcare), meeting rooms (for offices). Only if they're presentable and help build confidence.
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Capture the atmosphere. Is your place cosy? Modern? Professional? Use photos that convey the feeling customers will experience.
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Include details that matter. Accessibility features, seating arrangements, any notable features customers would want to know about.
Examples by industry
Interior photos are less relevant for service businesses. Focus instead on photos of your work (completed jobs) and equipment.
Wide shot of the full café interior, seating areas, the counter/coffee machine area, any cosy corners or notable features (fireplace, window seats), and perhaps the kitchen if it's visible or impressive.
Reception/waiting area, a consultation room or surgery (clean, no patient), any special equipment you want to highlight, children's play area if you have one.
Reception area, meeting room set up professionally, any communal areas or notable features of your office space.
Product and Service Photos
What to do
Show what you actually sell or do. These photos demonstrate the quality of your offerings.
Step by step
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Photograph your products. If you sell things, show them. Food businesses should show their dishes looking delicious. Shops should show key products.
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Photograph your work. If you're a service business, show completed work. Before and after photos are powerful.
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Show variety. Don't just photograph one thing — show the range of what you offer.
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Make things look appealing. Food should look appetising. Completed jobs should look professional. Products should be well-lit and clearly shown.
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Action shots work well. A barista making coffee, a hairdresser mid-cut, a chef plating food — these add life to your profile.
Examples by industry
Completed bathroom installations (get customer permission), boiler installations, before/after of problem jobs solved, your equipment and van interior organised neatly.
Individual dishes looking beautiful, coffee with latte art, display cabinet of cakes, breakfast spread, any signature items you're known for.
Before/after of cosmetic work (with patient permission), modern equipment you want to highlight, treatment rooms ready for patients.
Products aren't really applicable. Instead, show professional meeting setups, team at work (with permission), any awards or credentials displayed.
Team Photos
What to do
Photos of your team help humanise your business and build trust.
Step by step
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Team group shot. A professional photo of your team together is valuable. Customers like knowing who they'll meet.
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Individual shots. Photos of key team members, especially business owners or customer-facing staff.
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At work shots. Team members doing their jobs — serving customers, working on projects, in their element.
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Keep it professional but personable. Business-appropriate but warm. Smiling faces build trust.
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Get permission. Always ask staff before featuring them in photos that will be published online.
Examples by industry
Photo of yourself in branded workwear, perhaps by your van. If you have a team, a group shot. Action shots of work being done (ensuring site safety).
Team behind the counter, barista making coffee, chef in the kitchen, team group photo with everyone smiling.
Reception team at the front desk, dental team in clinical wear (masks down for photo), practice owner/principal dentist portrait.
Professional headshots of partners/solicitors, reception/admin team, perhaps a team shot in the office or meeting room.
How Many Photos Do You Need?
What to do
Quality matters more than quantity, but you want enough photos to fully represent your business.
Step by step
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Minimum: 10-15 photos to start. This gives you coverage across the different categories and makes your profile look complete.
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Ideal: 25-50 photos. This lets you really show off your business comprehensively.
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Don't upload hundreds of similar photos. Quality over quantity. 30 great photos beats 200 mediocre ones.
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Add regularly over time. Don't try to photograph everything at once. Add new photos monthly — seasonal changes, new products, recent work.
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Check competitor profiles. How many photos do top competitors have? Use that as a benchmark.
**Create a shot list.** Write down every photo you want to take before your photo session: 3 exterior shots, 5 interior shots, 10 product/work photos, 2 team photos, etc. Check them off as you go.