{"id":6609,"date":"2025-01-14T08:57:37","date_gmt":"2025-01-14T15:57:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/whitespark.ca\/?p=6609"},"modified":"2025-01-14T08:57:39","modified_gmt":"2025-01-14T15:57:39","slug":"10-expert-tips-for-taking-great-photos-for-your-google-business-profile","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/whitespark.ca\/blog\/10-expert-tips-for-taking-great-photos-for-your-google-business-profile\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Expert Tips for Taking Great Photos for Your Google Business Profile"},"content":{"rendered":"\n


As a commercial photographer who\u2019s primarily focused on creating content for the purpose of helping businesses be better found, seen, and trusted online, I see people make a lot of mistakes with their GBP Photos section.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The truth is, when it comes to visual content, it’s easy to get 99% of the way there and not cross the finish line (a.k.a., do all the hard work, but not convert). That\u2019s because most business owners fail to understand that photos in marketing have to have utility<\/em>. Yes, they have to look great, but they also have to answer the question that the viewer wants answered \u2013 this could be a practical question, an emotional question, or both, and we\u2019ll get into all of that in a bit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is why when I heard Darren Shaw speak about GBP Photos during his interview with Joy Hawkins and Luc Durand<\/a>, I knew I had to write this piece. Darren said that photos and videos impact local rankings and that the best way to use this ranking factor is to hire a professional photographer on a quarterly basis to keep your photo feed fresh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, as a photographer who has devoted his career to capturing photos for Business Profiles and websites, I had to share my best tips on local SEO photography.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What kinds of photos do you need? How many? Do they really have to be professional? I\u2019ll answer all these questions and provide you with some additional tips and hints below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A note before we start<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you only take one thing away from this article, it should be that you have to be purposeful<\/em>. Before you hire a photographer, be clear on what you want the function of the photos to be. Are you trying to showcase your place, products, employees, service, or brand? These are all important aspects of the business that you should ideally<\/em> photograph, but if you want to only focus on a few things, make it clear to your photographer before the photoshoot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Customers Want to See in Your Photos Section<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Your GBP photos (and videos) should be purposeful and utilitarian. When people do a search in Google and click on your Profile, they’re trying to make a decision. They’re looking to find out if you can solve their problem or meet their wants and needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Location, amenities, and hours<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

If your business has a physical location, your viewers will want to know where you are located, if you\u2019re close to other businesses, whether you have parking, what your hours of operation are, whether you have a wheelchair-accessible entrance, etc. Show these practical things in your photos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Products and staff<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The next thing people look for are your products, staff, and level of professionalism. Can you visually show them that you sell what they’re looking for and that the people who will serve them know (or at least look like they know) what they’re talking about?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Brand and experience <\/h4>\n\n\n\n

This is where photos of customer interactions come in. The ultimate goal here is to capture a photo that looks like a \u201creview without words\u201d: happy customers, happy employees, and authentic smiles. This is the best branding you can get. People will remember how you made them feel above all else, so your photos should convey positive emotions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I know this may sound a bit overwhelming, which is why many businesses opt to hire a professional photographer to deal with all of it, but you can totally do it yourself if you have some free time on your hands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Below are 10 tips to make the process clearer and easier for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

10 Expert Tips for GBP Photos<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When I take photos for businesses, this is what’s going through my mind:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Shoot Wider Than You Think<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Use a wide-angle lens (or the wide-angle setting on your phone) and leave plenty of space around whatever you\u2019re photographing. This will give you flexibility for captions, cropping, or text overlay in post-production.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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2. Straighten Walls and Horizons<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Small adjustments can make a photo look a lot more polished and professional. This can be done in post-production, but it’s far better to get it right in-camera whenever possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Showcase All Aspects of Your Premises<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

For physical businesses, ensure all critical areas are covered, such as entrances, parking, and accessible facilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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If you’re a Service Area Business (SAB) like a plumber, inspector, or home repairer, get photos of you doing what you do. Ask a friend or colleague to take photos of you in action \u2013 talking to customers, fixing a sink, using your cool gadgets, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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4. Ensure Your Business\u2019 Exterior Is Well-Documented<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Include shots of the exterior of your business to help customers recognize your location from the street. Include parking areas, disabled parking, entrances, and ramps for wheelchairs, strollers, or shopping carts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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5. Focus on Clean, Simple Backgrounds<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Minimize distractions by using simple, clean backgrounds so your products or team members stand out. Also, try taking photos from various angles to see what works best.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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6. Use Videos to Show What Goes on \u201cBehind the Scenes\u201d<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Showing your team at work or the process behind making your products can help humanize your business and build trust.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7. Don\u2019t Over-Edit Your Photos<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Keep your images as natural as possible; over-editing can make photos appear unprofessional or fake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is also a good time to mention that Google will not approve photos that look too \u201cphotoshopped\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/a>. They’re looking for authentic content that helps tell a clear story, so keep your edits to a minimum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

8. Keep Your Resolution High<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Ensure your images are high resolution for clarity and sharpness across all devices and platforms. Google has minimum standards for photos, so if they’re too small, poorly lit, or out of focus, they will get rejected.

Here are the basic photo guidelines, as per Google\u2019s official documentation<\/a>:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n