Google's "Trusted Photographers" Turns Business Photos Into A Self-Serve Product

google-business-photos Google is hoping to expand its Business Photos product with the launch of a new service called “Trusted Photographers” that essentially makes the process entirely self-service.

Local businesses that are interested in having interior photos taken can use the new Business Photos website to find a “trusted photographer.” The business owner and photographer are supposed to negotiate prices and schedule an appointment directly. After the shoot, the photographer uploads the images to Google and they’ll appear in Google Maps/Places “shortly thereafter.”

Google’s FAQ says that the business owner will not be able to review the photos before they’re uploaded to Google. But they can, after the fact, request that certain images be blurred (for privacy reasons) and request that the entire panorama be removed. The panoramas can also be embedded on the business’s own website.

Google says Trusted Photographers is currently available in 14 US cities, and in the UK, Australia, France and New Zealand. The 14 US cities currently showing in the trusted photographers directory are: Austin, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Los Angeles, New York City, Orlando, Phoenix, Portland, Salt Lake City, San Francisco/Bay Area, Seattle and Washington, DC.

Google began shooting interior photos in early 2010, then formally launched Business Photos last May.

Related Topics: Channel: Local | Google: Maps & Local

About The Author: Matt McGee is Editor-In-Chief of Search Engine Land. His news career includes time spent in TV, radio, and print journalism. His web career continues to include a small number of SEO and social media consulting clients, as well as regular speaking engagements at marketing events around the U.S. He blogs at Small Business Search Marketing and can be found on Twitter at @MattMcGee and/or on Google Plus. You can read Matt's disclosures on his personal blog. See more articles by Matt McGee

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http://smart-keywords.com A.W.

mate this should last as long as Boutiques.com – when will G learn we do not see them as a seller – hell they say they are a search engine – manipulate the listings to sites but jumping in boots and all and trying commerce beyond their core does not seem to work
http://www.kensavage.com/ kensavage

Any idea how someone becomes a “trusted Photographer” in Boston? :)
Matt McGee

Ken – if you click through to Google’s website, they have a page dedicated to info for photographers.
http://www.facebook.com/marianne.annereau Marianne Annereau

Related info: How to embed your Google Business Photos into your Facebook Page
http://panthrough.com/embed-google-photos-facebook/
Terry Mc Donagh

Hi There
I’ve been appointed the first Google trusted photographer in Ireland
http://www.terrymcdonagh.com/blog/2012/04/google-business-photos/
Regards Terry
http://twitter.com/RExposure RExposure

The service is also available in Canada, e.g. in Toronto
http://www.rexposure.ca
Vera Handmann

The service is also available in Canada. Search for “Google Trusted Photographer Toronto” or whatever city.