Google StreetView|Trusted – Frequently Asked Questions

The Sign Up Process

  1. Who is Bayou City 360º, and what is your relation to Google?
  2. How can StreetView|Trusted help my business?
  3. Why are businesses being photographed and how can I see the pictures?
  4. What will the Trusted Photographer do that I can’t do myself?
  5. Where are Trusted Photographers currently active?
  6. Can you do a Google StreetView|Trusted for my business location?
  7. Are there any restrictions on what type of businesses can participate?
  8. What is the relationship between a Trusted Photographer and Google?
  9. What is the cost to get my business photographed?

The Photo Shoot

  1. How can I coordinate a photo shoot?
  2. How long will the photo shoot take?
  3. What do I need to do to prepare my business ahead of the photo shoot?
  4. Which areas of my businesses will be photographed?
  5. Will the photo shoot disrupt my business operations?
  6. Will people be included in the photo shoot?

Privacy and Legal

  1. What measures are in place to ensure privacy and legal compliance?
  2. Who from my business can give legal permission for the photo shoot?
  3. Will Google be using the imagery in other applications besides Google+ Local pages?
  4. Do I own the photographs taken by a Trusted Photographer?
  5. Can I review the photos after they are taken and before they go live on my Google+ Local page?
  6. Can I blur the images or take down all panoramas from by business listing?
  7. Could my photos be removed for other reasons?
  8. If I’m not the business owner, can I request the removal of a photo?

Additional Questions

  1. Can I embed these images on my business website?
  2. Can I have a repeat photo shoot?

     

     

    The Sign Up Process

    1. Who is Bayou City 360º, and what is your relation to Google?

      We are a Houston area-based Google Trusted Photographer. A Google Trusted Photographer is an independent contractor who have been trained and certified by Google to fulfill the need of local businesses for Google StreetView|Trusted’s Virtual Tour. Due to the complex and skillful nature of the virtual tour creation process, only an official Google Trusted Photographer like us can perform this service for businesses. Neither a non-certified photographer or a business owner is able or allowed to do it.

    2. How can StreetView|Trusted 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.

    3. Why are businesses being photographed and how can I see the pictures?

      Google Trusted Photographers take high-quality still photographs that will be stitched into 360-degree views using panoramic camera technology. We are an independent contractor who have been trained and certified by Google to produce high quality panoramic images. We also take regular still photos of businesses to be uploaded to Google My Business page. You’ll be able to see the photos and 360-degree panoramic imagery directly on Google search results and on your Google+ Local page.

    4. What will the Trusted Photographer do that I can’t do myself?

      We as a Google Trusted Photographer are trained to take high quality photos of building interiors, accommodating for common challenges such as low lighting and tight spaces. we 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 we 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.

    5. Where are Trusted Photographers currently active?

      Trusted Photographers are scheduling photo shoots with business owners in a limited number of cities in the U.S., Australia, New Zealand, France, Ireland, Netherlands, Canada, and the UK. Even if we aren’t currently active in your area, you can always upload your own photos via Google+ Local.

    6. Can you do a Google StreetView|Trusted for my business location?

      We are located in Houston, Texas so definitely anywhere in and around Houston would be our coverage area. We also serve locations neighboring Houston such as Katy, The Woodlands, Kingwood, Baytown, Galveston and more. If your location is much farther, feel free to contact us, and we may be able to make special arrangement for you as the Google StreetView|Trusted program is offered nationwide and worldwide.

    7. Are there any restrictions on what type of businesses can participate?

      Currently, we are not photographing museums or legal, government, or medical establishments.

    8. What is the relationship between a Trusted Photographer and Google?

      Trusted Photographers are independent contractors/businesses that are not employed by Google, agents of Google or affiliated with Google in any way. Google has certified us because they 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.

    9. What is the cost to get my business photographed?

      The cost of a Google StreetView|Trusted service depends on many factors such as coverage area, number of rooms and configuration of paths among others. We offer free initial consultation to figure out your need and come to an acceptable price for the service. As a Google’s partner, our service is priced at Google StreetView|Trusted’s fair market value. Prior to any photo shoot, we will present the Service Agreement, specifying their services, for your acceptance. The agreement also spells out (among other things) that, in return for your payment to us your Google Trusted Photographer, you will own the images that have been taken.

     

     

    The Photo Shoot

    1. How can I coordinate a photo shoot?

      Simply contact us at (713) 962-7552, email at info@biei.us or click here to fill up our online form, and we will be happy to find a suitable time for the photo shoot schedule.

    2. How long will the photo shoot take?

      In most cases, a photo shoot will take about an hour or two, but this varies depending on the size of your business.

    3. What do I need to do to prepare my business ahead of the photo shoot?

      It is up to you how you want your business to be seen. We will tell you some typical suggestions business would do for this Google photo shoot. In general, cleaning up and tidying a place is all that is usually involved.

    4. Which areas of my businesses will be photographed?

      Photo shoots typically include the main customer-facing areas of your business. You can work with us to determine what areas of your businesses you would like to highlight, or even exclude from the shoot.

    5. 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 with you on the scheduling, and 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. If you want us to do the photo shoot during opening hours, we will make sure that our operation is as non-disruptive as possible with minimal interference to your normal business operations.

    6. 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, we can put up a sign and alert customers and employees about to be photographed if you prefer. As the business owner it would be your responsibility to notify your employees and customers that the photo shoot is taking place, if they are present.

     

     

    Privacy and Legal

    1. 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, we 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.

    2. Who from my business can give legal permission for the photo shoot?

      You must have the proper authority to allow us as a Google Trusted Photographer to 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.

    3. 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.

    4. Do I own the photographs taken by us your Google Trusted Photographer?

      Yes, you will own the photos taken by us once you have paid for this service and the shoot is completed. Keep in mind that by signing the agreement, provided by the us as a Google Trusted Photographer, you will also license the use of the photos to Google who will publish the imagery.

    5. 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, we typically do not ask for client’s review. However, if you request us to do so, we can let you review the virtual tour before it is published to Google.

    6. Can I blur the images or take down all panoramas from by 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.

    7. 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.

    8. 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 Trusted Photographers through the “Report a problem” link or the “Report inappropriate photo” link for feature photos.

     

    Additional Questions

    1. 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, we will provide you with simple instructions as well as email and phone support. If you’re looking for even more customizability with your images, we offer some premium solutions that takes your virtual tour to a different level. Please ask us for more information.

    2. Can I have a repeat photo shoot?

      Yes, you can always repeat your photo shoot as often (or as seldom) as you’d like. We offer special discount for repeat photo shoot of the same business of the same location. Please ask us for details. Many businesses who have recently renovated their interiors or that have seasonal decor will request a reshoot. Please note that one business can only have one virtual tour, thus your repeat photo shoot will always replace the previous version. Remember that you can always upload your own up-to-date photographs through Google+ Local as well.