Google's 'Trusted Photographers' Can Take Panoramic Images of Bars, Shops

Google is making it easier for businesses to add panoramic images, similar to the ones in Street View, to their Google Places entries, which also show up in Google Maps and Search. This way, potential visitors will be able to get a feel for the place before they come.

Already, Google has made it possible for some businesses to get interior panoramic images into Google Places, but every time a Google team had to visit the location to do so.

Now, Google is opening up the process via a "Trusted Photographers" program. In essence, businesses will be able to contact photographers that have been approved by Google and ask them to shoot at their location.

The images taken will then be uploaded to Google and serve as the interior "Street View" for the business.

"Visit our new website and search for a Google Trusted Photographer in your area. Either email or call a photographer in your area to schedule a time and agree on a price that you will pay the photographer for a photoshoot of your business," Google explained.

"This self-serve model makes for easier scheduling and quicker turnaround, while also supporting the local photographers in your community," it said.

For now, the Trusted Photographers program is available in 14 locations in the US, but also in places in the United Kingdom, New Zealand and France. You can also request that Google hire a "Trusted Photographer" in your area as well, if enough businesses ask for it your location may be picked.

Google has already been to thousands of businesses to shoot. But this model doesn't scale too much, it simply can't visit all of the places that want to add the images. At the same time, panoramic images are not as easy to shoot and require a professional photographer and specialized equipment.