Apply core photography principles to take better business photos with a smartphone.
Module 4 · Lesson 5
Photography Tips
Take professional-quality photos for your Google Business Profile without a professional photographer.
Learning Outcomes
Use natural light effectively to improve photo quality.
Compose photos that attract attention and build trust.
Create a photo content plan covering all required photo categories.
Key Concepts
You Do Not Need a Professional Photographer
Modern smartphones produce excellent photos when used correctly. With the right technique, you can take professional-quality business photos that showcase your premises, team and products attractively. The key factors are: lighting, composition, clean backgrounds, and taking multiple shots to choose the best one.
Lighting Is Everything
Natural light is the best and most flattering light source for most business photography. Open blinds and curtains, turn off harsh fluorescent overhead lights, and shoot near windows during daylight hours. If shooting outdoors, overcast days provide soft, even light without harsh shadows. Avoid shooting directly into the sun or strong light sources that create blown-out highlights.
Composition Principles
Rule of thirds: Imagine your frame divided into 9 equal sections by two horizontal and two vertical lines. Place your main subject at one of the four intersection points rather than in the dead centre. This creates more visually interesting and dynamic photos.
Clean backgrounds: Before shooting, declutter the area behind your subject. Messy backgrounds are distracting and unprofessional. A clean, tidy environment signals that your business is organised and trustworthy.
Depth and perspective: Shooting from slightly below eye level (for interiors) or at eye level (for people) creates more flattering, natural-looking images. Avoid shooting down at products or looking up at people.
What to Photograph
Google recommends covering these photo categories: Exterior — show the building facade and entrance from multiple angles and in different lighting conditions. Interior — show the inside atmosphere, workspace or dining/reception area. Team — professional photos of staff (with their permission) build personal connection. Products/services in action — show work being done, products being made, or services being delivered. Before and after — powerful for trades, cleaning, renovation, beauty and similar services.
Step-by-Step Practice
Plan your photo session — write a shot list covering exterior, interior, team, products and services in action.
Choose the best time of day for each shot based on where natural light enters your premises.
Declutter each area before photographing — remove personal items, rubbish, clutter.
Take at least 5 shots of each subject and choose the best one.
Upload the best photos to your Google Business Profile, aiming for a minimum of 15 photos across all categories.
Ian's practical tip: I have planned and completed a photo session covering key categories. I used natural light and good composition principles. I have uploaded at least 10 quality photos to my profile. I have deleted low-quality photos from my profile.
Practical Activity
Complete and record this task
Take more photos than you think you need. Shoot 10 to get 3 great ones. Review each photo at full size on a computer screen before uploading — small imperfections that are invisible on your phone screen become obvious at full size.