GOOGLE STREET VIEW MELBOURNE 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How can Google Business Photos help my business?

What will the Trusted Photographer do that I can't do myself?

Are there any restrictions on what type of businesses can participate?

How long will the photo shoot take?

What do I need to do to prepare my business ahead of the photo shoot?

Will the photo shoot disrupt my business operations?

Will people be included in the photo shoot?

Can I embed these images on my business website?

What's the maximum number of 360 degree nodes/views per business?

Can I have a repeat photo shoot?

How can Google Business Photos help my business?

When potential customers search for your business by name on Google, they will see the images displayed directly on the search results page. These panoramic images will also be published on Google+ Local pages, Google Maps and other Google properties and give customers a better sense of the layout, decor and beauty of your business interior. Using easy-to-use html snippets or Maps APIs, you can also link to these images from your own business website, attracting potential customers who visit your website too.

What will the Google Business Trusted Photographer do that I can't do myself?

Google Business Photos Trusted Photographers are trained to take high quality photos of building interiors, accommodating for common challenges such as low lighting and tight spaces. The photographers are also certified to take pictures using fisheye lenses and rotating camera turrets (mounted on tripods) that, once uploaded to Google’s processing pipelines by photographers, will be transformed into 360-degree panoramic imagery and a walk through of your business. Once photographers upload the pictures from their cameras, Google’s processing pipelines use sophisticated image stitching, HDR, image matching and other technologies to produce these panoramic walkthroughs.

Are there any restrictions on what type of businesses can participate?

Currently, we are not photographing legal, medical, corporate, religious or large chain establishments.

How long will the photo shoot take?

In most cases, a photo shoot will take about an hour or two, but this varies depending on the size of your business.

What do I need to do to prepare my business ahead of the photo shoot?

You are welcome to clean and tidy things up prior to the photography session, but remember that the aim of the photographs is to show customers what they would expect to see if they visited your business on a normal day.

Will the photo shoot disrupt my business operations?

We know you’re running a business, and that’s why we designed photo shoots to be as non-disruptive as possible. Google Business Photos Trusted Photographers will work around your schedule to ensure that photos are taken at a convenient time for you and your business. Photo shoots do not require any sort of special equipment, lighting, or setup, so you are free to stay open. Although photo shoots are non-disruptive and should not interfere with your normal business operations, it’s a good idea to let your customers know photography is in process and to avoid being in view of the camera, whenever possible.

Will people be included in the photo shoot?

Because we want to keep the focus of the photos on the inside of your business, we aim to have as few people in the shots as possible. During the shoot, photographers may put up a sign and alert customers and employees about to be photographed. As the business owner it would be your responsibility to notify your employees and customers that the photo shoot is taking place.

Can I embed these images on my business website?

Yes, we encourage you to share the walk-through experience of your business with your customers. To embed the 360-degree panoramas on your website, simply find the HTML snippet from a good point of view of the panoramic imagery on Google Maps, click on the “Link” button , click “customize and preview embedded map,” and then copy and paste the HTML to embed in your website. If you’re looking for even more customizability with your images, check out the Google Maps API.

What's the maximum number of 360 degree nodes/views per business?

The largest tour we know of on the Google platform has 260+ nodes/views, and was done in England

Can I have a repeat photo shoot?

Yes, you are welcome to engage with a Google Streer View Trusted Photographer and coordinate a repeat shoot as often as you’d like, but it is up to the individual Trusted Photographer to decide the cost. Many businesses who have recently renovated their interiors or that have seasonal decor will request a reshoot. Remember that you can always upload your own up-to-date photographs through Google+ Local as well.