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Google Business Profile photos: what to upload, how to take them, and how often
Businesses with photos on Google Business Profile receive 42% more direction requests and 35% more website clicks than businesses without photos. These aren't decorative numbers — they're the difference between appearing and being ignored. And yet, most profiles have low-quality photos, outdated images, or no photos at all.
Why photos matter to Google
Google interprets activity on your profile as a signal that the business is active. Uploading new photos regularly indicates that the business exists, is operational, and values its online presence. A profile with the last photo from 2020 sends the opposite signal.
For a potential customer, photos are their first virtual visit to your business. In seconds, they decide whether the space looks inviting, whether the work looks high quality, and whether the experience will match what they're looking for.
Which types of photos you need
1. Cover photo and profile photo
The cover photo is the first image that appears when someone visits your profile. It should show your business clearly and attractively — the space, the team, or your main product. The profile photo is typically your logo. Recommended dimensions: cover 1080×608px, profile 250×250px.
2. Exterior — how to find you
One or two exterior photos, with your business name visible if possible. This helps customers identify the location when they arrive for the first time. For Google, it confirms the physical location and increases relevance for proximity searches.
3. Interior — the atmosphere
3 to 6 interior photos, in good light, showing the space as it normally looks. They don't need to be perfect — they need to be real. Heavily edited photos or strong filters create distrust when the customer arrives and the space looks different from what they saw.
4. Services or products
Photos of the work you do. For a salon, before and after treatments. For a restaurant, the dishes. For a clinic, the equipment. For a shop, featured products. These are the photos with the most direct impact on the purchase decision.
5. Team
One or two photos of the team — individually or together — humanise the business. Customers who have already "met" the people before arriving feel more at ease. Especially important for health, beauty, or wellness services.
How to take good photos without a photographer
A modern smartphone is sufficient for acceptable quality photos. What makes the difference isn't the equipment — it's the light:
- Natural light whenever possible — avoid direct flash, which creates harsh shadows and unnatural tones
- Right time — for exteriors, early morning or late afternoon. For interiors, when natural light enters through windows
- Organised space — remove anything that shouldn't be in the photo before shooting
- Landscape, not portrait — horizontal format works better on Google Business
- No heavy filters — basic editing (brightness, contrast) is enough
How often to update
Once a month is the minimum to signal activity to Google. For businesses with high product turnover or seasonal services, once a week is better. You don't need a full photo session — one quality photo of the work you did that week is enough.
Google allows customers to upload photos of your business — and those photos appear on your profile without your control. Monitor regularly and, if an inappropriate photo appears (that violates Google's policies), report it for removal through your profile.
What not to upload
- Images with heavy text or infographics — Google may not index them correctly
- Stock photos — Google can detect them and reduce their relevance
- Blurry, dark, or low-resolution images — these are worse than having no photos
- Screenshots from other websites or social media
Want to optimise your Google Business Profile from scratch?
Aumnia handles the full profile setup, guides you on photo production, and creates a regular update plan that keeps the profile active and well-positioned.
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