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How to take quality photos and post them to your Google business listing

Kyle Dill
  • Updated

When you publish photos to your Google business listing, they make it easier for people to find your business in Google Search and Maps. Business listings with photos are more likely to attract the attention of searchers in a much greater quantity, leading to more visitors online, but also more visitors in person.

When you post photos that highlight the unique features of your business, you give potential customers a reason to spend their money with your business over another.

Make an effort to stand out by posting photos that echo the quality of your work. Modern consumers are often making their buying decisions before setting foot through the front door.

Add photos to your Google business listing

After you select the photos you want to add, follow the steps below to upload them to your listing:

  1. Sign in to Google My Business. If you have multiple locations, open the location you'd like to manage.
  2. From the menu, click Photos.
  3. Choose the type of photo you'd like to add.
  4. Upload the photo from your computer, or choose one you’ve already uploaded.

Types of photos you can add to your Google business listing

All businesses should add a Logo and Cover Photo at a minimum, but also make a sincere effort to add photos that fall under the Additional Photos category. 

Unique to restaurants and hotels, these types of businesses should also include the photos that fall under the Extra Photos category.  

Logo and Cover Photo

Logo

Help your customers recognize your business on Google.

Cover Photo

Showcase your page’s personality. Adding a cover photo automatically sets it as your listing’s preferred photo. This action doesn’t guarantee it populates as the first image for your business, but it does tell Google you prefer to display this photo.

Additional Photos

Exterior photos

Exterior photos help customers recognize your business as they approach from different directions.

  • Add at least three great exterior photos to help customers recognize your business.
  • Capture a photo from each direction that customers might approach your business.
  • Try uploading photos that show your business at different times of day.

Interior photos

Interior photos help your customers get a feel for the ambiance and decor of your business.

  • Add at least three great interior photos to show customers what your business feels like inside.
  • Capture photos that truthfully show what it's like to stand inside your business as a customer.
  • Capture the atmosphere of your business in your photos.
Product photos

Great photos of representative or popular products give customers a better understanding of the kinds of goods you offer.

  • Add at least three photos of products that you sell.
  • Showcase the items that are most popular for your business.
  • Try taking evenly lit photos of your products.
Photos at work

Photos help customers quickly understand the type of work you do.

  • Add at least three photos that are representative of the services you offer.
  • Capture photos of your team providing different types of service to customers.
  • Capture photos of the specialty services you deliver.
Team photos

Team photos are important to present a more personal side of your establishment.

  • Add at least three photos showing your management team and your employees.
  • Show something a little less formal to humanize your business.
  • Show yourself and any staff to highlight your personalities and give potential clients a feel for what you're like.

Extra Photos (Restaurants and Hotels)
Food & drink photos

Food & drink photos add color and detail to your menu and help customers plan where to eat.

  • Add at least three photos of the food or drinks you serve.
  • Showcase the food items that are most popular for your business.
  • Try taking evenly lit photos of your food items.
Common areas

Photos of your common areas help attract customers who are planning business or leisure travel.

  • Add at least one photo of each of your common areas.  
  • Add at least one photo of each common area (for example, spa, gym, or breakfast room).
  • Capture the atmosphere of the common area in your photos.
Rooms

Customers rely heavily on photos of guest rooms when deciding where to book their next hotel for business or leisure.

  • Add at least three photos of your most popular guest rooms.
  • Try showcasing all the different types of rooms that you offer to guests.
  • Capture photos that truthfully show what it's like when you are in the room as a guest.

How to take quality photos of your business

Review these eight tips to take high-quality photos of your shop or business, using only your smartphone.

  1. Take interesting photos of your signs and branding. Don't forget the exterior!
  2. Vary your shots. Take a ton. Choose the best.
  3. Use simple editing software to make your photos pop.
  4. Find an awesome hero shot of your store.
  5. Use the grid on your smartphone to take better photos.
  6. Bounce light into problematic areas with white foam instead of using flash.
  7. Diffuse light if it's too bright, diffuse light with cloth.