Someone is looking for your business for the first time. They open your Google profile, see the hours, maybe a few product photos - but have no idea what the physical path from the street to your desk actually looks like. Is the entrance clearly marked? Is that even the right entrance? Do they need to look for an intercom, ring a bell, ask someone?

Every bit of that uncertainty is a reason to hesitate. This text walks through the complete process - everything you should photograph or film, in what order, and what to prepare before you even pick up your phone.

Why this goes beyond ordinary product photos

Product and interior photos (which we covered in an earlier guide on updating your Google profile) show what you offer. What this text is about shows how to get to you - and that matters especially if your space is harder to spot: an apartment in a building, an office on some floor, an entrance from the courtyard side, or a space with no clear storefront.

When a client can already see exactly what the path looks like, they arrive without worrying they'll "miss it" or "get the wrong address" - and that directly affects whether they set out at all.

Shooting order - follow the path a client actually takes

The best approach is to shoot in the exact order a client would physically pass through, from the moment they reach the street to the moment they sit down at your desk.

1. The street and surroundings

Capture a wide shot of the street the business is on, with clearly visible landmarks - neighboring shops, an intersection, parking if available. This helps the client recognize they've "arrived at the right place" the moment they step out of the car or off the bus.

2. The building facade or exterior

Capture the full facade of the building the space is in, ideally with the street number visible, during the day, in good weather and good lighting. If the business has its own sign or storefront, zoom in on that part separately too.

3. The building entrance

If the business space is inside a larger building (residential or commercial), photograph the exact door people go through - not the whole building again, but the specific entrance the client needs to find.

4. If the business space is an apartment in a residential building

This is the situation that confuses clients most, so it deserves extra attention.

• Right at the building entrance, on the intercom or the resident name board, the business name needs to be clearly listed - not just the owner's surname. If that doesn't exist yet, this is the first thing to physically put up, before photographing anything at all.
• Take a close-up shot of that marking (the intercom or board) so the business name is clearly visible among the other names.
• If the business has an unusual apartment number or floor, add that information to the photo description or profile text too ("Entrance B, second floor, apartment 12") - don't rely on the image alone.

5. Unlocking and entering the business space

Photograph the actual moment of opening the business's door - this seems like a small thing, but it gives a first-time client clear visual confirmation that this is the right door, with the right number or sign, before they even try to open it.

6. Interior - reception or waiting area

Photograph the first impression from inside - the space the client walks into first. This needs to look tidy, clean, and inviting, since it's the first thing the client sees once they physically walk in.

7. Work area, equipment, and details

Photograph the spot where the service is actually delivered - the work desk, equipment, tools, or the area where the client sits during the service. Add a few detail shots too - diplomas, certifications, or equipment that builds trust in your professionalism.

What to prepare before photographing anything

The shooting order is only half the job - what shows up in the photos needs to be ready first.

• Clean and tidy the entire space - remove clutter, boxes, personal items that shouldn't be visible, and anything that distracts from the space itself.
• Turn on all the lights and, if possible, open the curtains for natural light - a dark, poorly lit space looks unappealing no matter how nice it actually is.
• Arrange products or equipment neatly - straighten, clean, and rearrange things as needed so the space looks organized.
• Make sure your logo or business name is visible somewhere in the shot, if possible - on a sign, sticker, or plaque.
• Give employees a heads up in advance if they'll be in the shot - agree on uniforms or a tidy appearance, and get their consent to appear in photos.
• Turn off or remove anything temporary or unfinished - renovation tools, temporary signs, or anything that doesn't represent the space's permanent look.

How this gets technically captured for Google

There are two approaches, depending on how detailed you want the space to be represented.

Option 1 - regular photos through Business Profile

1. Open your profile at business.google.com and go to the Photos section.
2. Upload photos by category - Exterior for the street and facade, and Interior for inside.
3. Shots of entering and the building entrance also go under Exterior, or into the general gallery if no category fits exactly.

Option 2 - 360 photos and a virtual tour (Street View app)

For a more detailed, "walk through the space" experience, you can use the free Google Street View app, which lets you capture 360-degree photos and link them into a virtual tour directly on Google Maps.

1. Download the Street View app to your phone.
2. Inside the app, choose the option to capture a new photo sphere (360 photo) at each point a client passes through - the entrance, the hallway, the main space.
3. After shooting, the app offers to link multiple photo spheres into a sequence, creating a virtual walkthrough of the space.
4. Publish the captured material and, if possible, link it directly to your Business Profile, so it shows up as part of the profile in search.

This option takes a bit more time to set up, but leaves a far stronger impression than regular photos, since the client can literally "walk through" the space before arriving in person.

Practical tips for the shoot itself

• Shoot during the day, in natural light, whenever possible - avoid shooting in the evening or in bad weather for exterior shots
• Hold the phone level, at eye height, avoid shooting at an upward or downward angle that distorts the space
• Avoid direct light reflections in mirrors or glass, which can obscure part of the shot
• Take several shots of each spot and pick the best one - don't rely on your first attempt

Frequently asked questions

What if I'm not allowed to change the intercom or sign at the entrance (the building is managed by someone else)? Contact the building manager or homeowners' association for permission to add the business name - in most cases this is a simple, quick process, since it's also in the building's own interest for visitors to find the address more easily.

Do I need a professional photographer for this? Not necessarily - modern phones take perfectly good quality photos for this purpose, provided the lighting is good and the basic framing rules described earlier are followed.

How many photos do I need for each step? One to two clear, quality photos per step (street, facade, entrance, intercom marking, interior) is enough - quality matters more than quantity.

Do 360 photos require special equipment? No, the Street View app uses the phone's regular camera and guides you through the panoramic capture process itself, with no extra equipment needed.

How often should this process be repeated? Not often - repeat the shoot only if the look of the space, entrance, or building marking changes, or if you notice the existing photos no longer match the actual state of things.

In closing

This process takes one afternoon, but it directly affects how confident people feel coming to you for the first time - especially if the space is at all hard to spot. A client who already knows exactly where they're going arrives more relaxed, and decides more easily to head over in the first place.