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Job Photos That Market for You: Google Business Profile Photos for Contractors
By George Copeland · · 4 min read
Key takeaways
- Fresh job photos make your Google Business Profile look real and busy, and Google counts image quality on Local Services Ads.
- Google's specs: JPG or PNG, 10 KB to 5 MB, 720 × 720 px recommended, with no heavy filters, alterations or AI.
- Five shots per job is plenty: before, during, after wide, after detail, and the team or truck.
- Ask the customer's permission, and keep house numbers, plates, faces and location data out of your photos.
- Make photos part of closing every job, and post weekly or after every job.
Your crew already takes photos on the job. Posted to your Google Business Profile, those photos become the cheapest marketing you have. Homeowners want to see real work before they let a stranger into their house, and Google counts image quality when it judges your Local Services Ads profile. The trick is shooting the right photos, following Google's rules, and getting them posted every week instead of whenever someone remembers.
Why do job photos matter on Google?
- They prove you're real and busy. A profile with this month's jobs looks like a company that shows up. A profile with three photos from 2021 doesn't.
- They sell the work. Before-and-after shots of a roof, a kitchen window or a new panel do more than any description.
- They count on Local Services Ads. Google lists image quality as part of profile quality when it ranks Local Services Ads.
- Google asks for them. Google recommends at least three photos of your team at work and three of your team, to show customers what to expect.
What are Google's rules for profile photos?
Google wants photos that show your business as it really is. Its guidance says the image should "represent reality," with no significant alterations, heavy filters or AI.
| Requirement | Google's spec |
|---|---|
| Format | JPG or PNG |
| File size | 10 KB to 5 MB |
| Resolution | 720 × 720 px recommended, 250 × 250 px minimum |
| Quality | In focus and well lit, no heavy filters, alterations or AI |
| Video | Up to 30 seconds and 75 MB, at 720p or higher |
| Visibility | Your profile must be verified for photos to show |
Photos also have to follow Google's content policy, so skip anything offensive, misleading or that isn't yours.
What should your crew shoot on every job?
A simple shot list beats "take some pictures." Five shots per job is plenty:
| When | Shot | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| Before | The problem, wide and close: the rotted sill, the old unit, the storm damage | Shows why the job was needed |
| During | The crew at work, with tools, safety gear and materials in frame | Google's "at work" photos; shows a real, careful team |
| After, wide | The finished job from the same spot as the "before" | Makes an honest before-and-after |
| After, detail | The clean finish: flashing, trim, caulk lines, a tidy panel | Shows craftsmanship up close |
| Team or truck | The crew or the branded truck at the job | Puts faces and a name to the work |
A few tips that make phone photos look professional:
- Shoot in daylight when you can, and wipe the lens first. Pockets and job sites are hard on cameras.
- Stand in the same spot for the before and after shots, so the change is obvious.
- Hold the phone steady and level, and leave a little space around the subject.
- Skip the filters. Google's rules and homeowners both prefer the real thing.
What about the customer's privacy?
The house in the photo belongs to your customer. Treat it that way:
- Ask permission. Add a line to your contract or sign-off: "We may photograph our work for our portfolio and Google profile. We never show your address." Respect a no.
- Hide what identifies them. Keep house numbers, street signs, license plates, faces and personal items out of frame, or crop them out.
- Watch location data. Most phones store GPS location inside photos. Turn location tagging off for the camera, or remove it before sharing photos anywhere else.
- Never post a customer's interior without a clear yes.
What shouldn't you post?
- Stock photos, or photos of another company's work
- Heavily edited, filtered or AI-generated images
- Before-and-after pairs from two different houses
- Anything showing a customer's address, documents or family
- Blurry, dark or sideways photos
How often should you post photos?
Weekly is a good rhythm, and after every job is better. The easiest rule: no job is marked complete until its photos are in. That way the photos exist, they're tied to the right job, and nobody has to dig through a camera roll on Friday night.
The same photos do more than one job. Use them on your website and service pages, in your Local Services Ads profile, and on social media. When a happy customer leaves a review and agrees to be featured, pairing their words with photos of their job makes a strong post.
For how photos fit with reviews, Local Services Ads and the map pack, read The Top of Google for Contractors. For the rest of your profile, see How to Claim and Optimize Your Google Business Profile.
How Gozango helps your photos market for you
- Photos kept with the job: your crew adds photos from their phones, and they stay with the job they came from, so the right before-and-after is always easy to find.
- Automatic posting to your Google profile (coming soon): job photos will post to your Google Business Profile for you, so the profile stays fresh without anyone logging in.
- Google Business Profile in sync: keep services, hours and service areas current from Business Settings.
- Review requests after every job: requests go out automatically by text or email, so new reviews arrive alongside new photos.
Sources
- Google Business Profile Help, Tips for business-specific photos on your Business Profile
- Google Business Profile Help, Manage your Business Profile photos and videos
- Google Local Services Help, About ad rankings
Frequently asked questions
- What size should Google Business Profile photos be?
- JPG or PNG files between 10 KB and 5 MB. Google recommends 720 by 720 pixels, with a minimum of 250 by 250. Videos can be up to 30 seconds and 75 MB, at 720p or higher.
- Can I edit or filter photos before posting?
- Light cropping and straightening are fine. Google's guidance says photos should represent reality, with no significant alterations, heavy filters or AI.
- How often should contractors post photos on Google?
- Weekly is a good rhythm, and after every job is better. The easiest rule is that no job is marked complete until its photos are in.
- Do I need the customer's permission to post photos of their home?
- It's the right thing to do. Add a line to your contract or sign-off asking to photograph the work, never show the address, and respect a no.
- Can I use stock photos on my Google profile?
- Don't. Google wants photos that show your business as it really is, and homeowners can tell stock photos from real work.
- Do photos help my Local Services Ads?
- Google lists image quality as part of profile quality when it ranks Local Services Ads, so real, clear job and team photos help.
- Why aren't my photos showing on my profile?
- Your Business Profile must be verified for photos to appear, and every photo has to meet Google's content policy and technical specs.
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