Frequently Asked Questions
| How can Street View 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. |  |
| Why are businesses being photographed and how can I see the pictures? |
| We Google Trusted Agency photographers will take high-quality still photographs that will be stitched into 360-degree views using panoramic camera technology. We are independent contractors who have been trained and certified by Google to produce high quality panoramic images. As a business owner, you can also upload your own photographs to Google 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. |
| Can a business anywhere in the world apply for a photo shoot? |
| Yes! It's great to see interest from around the world, and your requests will help us decide where to expand this program next. |
| Are there any restrictions on what type of businesses can participate? |
| Images of legal and government establishments are not allowed, even imagery of museums are not allowed through the Street View program, as this imagery is supported through Google Art Project. |
| What is the relationship between a Acumen Technologies (Trusted Agency) and Google? |
| We are Google certified Trusted Agency because we meet Google's standards of quality for taking the feature pictures and panoramic pictures, uploading them, moderating them and eventually publishing them on Google properties. |
| How can I coordinate a photo shoot? |
| Please contact us directly either through mail or by phone to schedule a photo shoot. |
| How long will the photo shoot take? |
| In most cases, a photo shoot will take about an hour, but this varies depending on the size of your business. |
| What do I need to do to prepare my business ahead of the Street View? |
| 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. |
| Which areas of my businesses will be photographed? |
| 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. |
| 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. We will work around your schedule to ensure that photos are taken at a convenient time for you and your business. Street View 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |