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Google Business Photography
General
What Is Google Business Photos?
It’s an opportunity to showcase your business to customers around the world. Our expert photography partnered with Google’s technology will bring your business to life in high-quality, 360-degree, interactive, images.  You can now let your online customers experience your business like never before.
How We Can Help
Using the power of Google, we show off your business using 360 panorama photography. Google Business Photos allows businesses like yours to bring the power of Google “Street View” into your business so that potential customers can see the services, products and experience you have to offer. 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.
How We Do It
We have partnered with Google for this unique technique that showcases the interior and exterior of your business.  We use state of the art cameras, lenses, equipment and software to create a dynamic interactive experience for your potential customers. There are strict guidelines monitored by Google and once completed your have full access to the photos and virtual tour, which is embedded into your search results, places page, and even your website.
What You Get
Through the Google Business Photos project you receive between 4-30 panoramic images using HDR photography and linked together through Google’s exclusive software.  Additionally we create 10-15 detailed images showcasing your business, services and products.  The onsite photo shoot is usually completed in 1-2 hours. All images are then edited, compiled, uploaded, passed through quality control before being approved by you.  Then they are embedded with your search results, places page and can be embedded on your website.
How do 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 is the process?
Contact Chroma360 to schedule a time and agree on a fair price for your photo shoot. Our professional photo shoot take usually 1-2 hours and scheduled at a time to be non-disruptive. We know you’re running a business, and that’s why we designed photo shoots to be as non-disruptive as possible. 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.

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.

Photo shoots will include the main customer-facing areas of your business. You can work with the photographer to determine what areas of your businesses you would like to highlight, or even exclude from the shoot. Once again, the goal of the photographs is to show customers what they would expect to see if they visited your business on a normal day.

Within days, your images will be hosted on Google for the world to see.

Prior to any photo shoot, the Trusted Google Photographer will present the standard Google Service Agreement, specifying their services and that you will own the images.  Upon your acceptance the photo shoot goes forward as planned. Once the images are completed the Google Trusted Photographer will hand you an invoice for payment.
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.
Do I own the photographs taken by a Trusted Photographer or Trusted Agency photographer?
Yes, you will own the photos taken by Trusted Photographers or Trusted Agency photographers once you have paid for this service and the shoot is completed. Keep in mind that by signing the agreement, provided by the Trusted Photographer or Trusted Agency, you will also license the use of the photos to Google who will publish the imagery.
Who takes Google Business Photos?
Trusted Photographers are trained by Google 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.
Why are businesses being photographed and how can I see the pictures?
Google Trusted Photographers are taking panoramic camera technology. These Trusted Photographers are independent contractors who have been trained and certified by Google to produce high quality panoramic high-quality still photographs that will be stitched into 360-degree views using images. As a business owner, you can also upload your own photographs to Google+ Local by signing into Google+ Local. You'll be able to see the photos and 360-degree panoramic imagery directly on Google search results and on your Google+ Local page.
Where are Trusted Photographers currently active?
There are a limited number of Trusted Google Photographers selected and assigned to geographic areas around the world.  Although our company has been selected to work primarily in Boston we can literally take Google Business Photos anywhere in the world.  Google is ramping up the program and encouraging businesses to schedule photo shoots in virtually all of the United States, including areas in France, Germany, Italy and Canada.
Can a business anywhere in the world apply for a photo shoot?
Absolutely.  Increased interest by communities will help us decided where to expand the program.  Many business work together to schedule shoots, allowing us to do a multi-location shoot, reducing our overhead and we pass along the savings to you.
What types of businesses can participate?
Restaurants, retail stores, gyms and salons have been the business segments most interested to this point, but virtually any business could benefit.  For various reasons Google is not allowing photography of legal, medical, corporate or religious establishments.
Is the Trusted Photographer a Google employee?
Trusted Photographers are independent contractors/businesses and are not employed by Google nor are they agents of Google.  Google has selected and certified a few photographers across the country that meet Google’s standards of quality for taking professional images and experience in processing, moderating, uploading, and publishing on Google.
How much do Google Business Photos cost?
The cost of the photo shoot depends on your business size and how much detail you would like to showcase. A Google Business Photo session consists of anywhere from 4-30 panorama locations at your place of business.  Internal panorama locations can only be a maximum of 15 feet apart.  As a Google Trusted Photographer we will work with you to design an efficient map for your storeview panoramic tour.
Each session includes:

1. A minimum of 10 product or merchandise shots detailing your business. Images automatically downloaded to Google Places, Google Maps and available to be embedded on website.
2. 4-30 Panoramic images depending on the size of your location, professionally processed images stitched together using Google technology to create your panoramic tour.

Packages generally start at $349.99.  After our initial consultation, we will quote you an exact cost before the shoot is scheduled. Discounts are available for multi-location or multi-business shoots. Contact www.chroma360.net for pricing based on the number of images needed to show off your business.
Privacy and Legal
What measures are in place to ensure privacy and legal compliance?
Photo shoots will exclude any areas of your businesses which you would not like to feature. In addition, our photographers will always alert customers and employees before a photo is taken, to uphold their privacy. All panoramic imagery will be processed by our state-of-the-art blurring technology to blur out faces of any employees or customers who appear in the imagery. At any time you may request additional blurring or takedown of entire images through our Report a Problem link at either the bottom of the pano image, or within your Google+ Local page.
Who from my business can give legal permission for the photo shoot?
You must have the proper authority to allow a Trusted Photographer access to the business premises to collect photographs and to subsequently allow Google to use those photographs in its products and services. People with this authority include the owner of the business or a director or manager with the designation to make those commitments on behalf of the business. Please note that by agreeing to the terms and conditions and the Google Terms of Service, before your photo shoot, you are confirming that you have the authority to make that commitment.
Will Google be using the imagery in other applications besides Google+ Local pages?
Google may use these images in other products and services in new ways that will make your business information more useful and accessible to users. For example, further integration with Google Maps will allow customers to find these images easily from the 360-degree Street View imagery of nearby roads for many locations.
Can I review the photos after they are taken and before they go live on my Google+ Local page?
Because of the technology takes individual unstitched and unreviewed images that need considerable processing after they are uploaded by the photographer, to produce the attractive ‘walk- through’ experience, you will not be able to review the images before they are uploaded to Google.
Can I blur the images or take down all panoramas from my business listing?
Yes, if you see a major issue you can ask us to blur some areas in each of the panoramic images. You may also ask us to take down all panoramas. At this time we are unable to take down individual panoramas. To request blurring or takedown click on the "Report a Problem" link on the specific images where you see issues and provide the requested information. Please note that the blurring/removal process may take several days.
Could my photos be removed for other reasons?
Yes, your photos might be removed if they are found to violate the Google photo policy. Although all business images undergo quality review before being uploaded, some photos may still be reported as inappropriate and later removed. The complete photo policy can be found here.
If I’m not the business owner, can I request the removal of a photo?
Similar to our policy for Street View imagery, our “Report a Problem” tool enables users to request further blurring of images that feature the user in the 360-degree imagery. Users can also request the removal of images that display inappropriate content, and business owners can ask us to remove 360-degree images taken by photographers through the “Report a problem” link or the “Report inappropriate photo” link for feature photos..
Additional Questions
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.
Can I have a repeat photo shoot?
Yes, you are welcome to engage with a Trusted Photographer or Trusted Agency and coordinate a repeat shoot as often as you’d like, but it is up to the individual Trusted Photographer or Trusted Agency 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