How to Upload Photos in Google My Business

A picture on your Google Business Profile is often the very first visual impression a potential customer has of your brand, and uploading the right ones consistently is one of the most effective local marketing moves you can make. This guide walks you through exactly how to upload photos, what types of images will get you the best results, and the simple best practices to turn your profile into a customer-attracting tool.

Why Your Google Business Profile Photos Are So Important

Think of your Google Business Profile (GBP) as your digital storefront. When a local customer searches for "coffee shop near me" or "plumber in Austin," the search results they see are packed with images. Profiles with a rich variety of high-quality photos consistently get more clicks, more calls, and more direction requests than those with few or no images. It's that simple.

But it goes deeper than just getting a click. Photos:

• Build Instant Trust: A profile with real pictures of the location, the team, and the products feels legitimate and transparent. It shows you're a real business, run by real people, and you have nothing to hide. This transparency is a massive shortcut to building trust before a customer ever steps through your door.
• Answer Questions Visually: What's the vibe of your restaurant? Is your storefront easy to spot from the road? What do your flagship products actually look like? Photos answer these questions faster and more effectively than any text description ever could. They set expectations and help customers decide if you're the right fit for them.
• Tell Your Brand Story: Photos convey the personality of your business. Are you a cozy, family-run bookstore or a sleek, modern tech repair shop? Thoughtful choices in your cover photo, interior shots, and team pictures communicate your brand’s story and differentiate you from the competition in a crowded local market.

How to Upload Photos to Your Google Business Profile: Step-by-Step

Adding photos to your profile is straightforward, whether you're at your computer or on the go. The desktop interface offers a bit more control, so we recommend starting there whenever possible.

From a Desktop Computer (The Preferred Method)

Using the Business Profile Manager on a desktop is the easiest way to upload and manage your entire photo library.

1. Sign into the Google Account associated with your Business Profile.
2. Search on Google for your exact business name. You may also search for “my business.”
3. In the menu above the search results, click on "Add photo." You may also see an “Edit profile” button, which also contains the photo options.
4. You'll be prompted to select a photo type (Photo, Logo, or Cover photo). Choose the appropriate category.
5. Drag your photos into the upload window or click "Select photos from your computer" to browse your files.
6. Wait for the photos to upload, and you’re done! It may take a few minutes up to 24 hours for them to be reviewed and appear on your live profile.

From a Mobile Device (Using the Google Maps App)

Adding photos from your phone is great for capturing in-the-moment shots like a new product arrival or a special event.

1. Open the Google Maps app on your phone and make sure you're logged into the correct Google Account.
2. Tap the "Business" tab at the bottom of the screen.
3. If you manage multiple profiles, select the one you want to update.
4. In your business dashboard, tap the "Add a photo" button. You can also tap "Edit profile" and then select "Photo".
5. Grant access to your photo gallery if prompted.
6. Select an existing photo from your phone's library or take a new one directly through the app. It's a fantastic way to quickly upload authentic, behind-the-scenes content.

Not All Photos Are Created Equal: Key GBP Photo Categories

To get the most out of your profile, you need more than just one or two pictures. A robust gallery should include a strategic mix of photo types, each serving a specific purpose.

The Essentials: Logo and Cover Photo

• Logo: This is your brand's calling card. Google uses your logo to identify your business across its network, especially when you respond to customer reviews. A clear, high-resolution logo makes your profile look professional and easily recognizable. Use a square photo, ideally 250 x 250 pixels or larger.
• Cover Photo: This is your hero shot. Your cover photo is the image that Google is most likely to display prominently at the top of your profile. It should be a compelling, high-quality photograph that best represents your business's personality. Think about what single image captures the essence of what you offer. For a restaurant, it might be a beautiful food spread. For a retail shop, it might be a wide shot of your curated interior. Use a horizontal image, ideally around 1080 x 608 pixels.

Showcasing Your Business: Categories That Build Trust

• Exterior Photos: Upload at least 3-4 photos of your business's exterior from different angles and at different times of day. This helps customers recognize your storefront and find you easily. Include snaps of the entrance, signage, and a wider view that shows the building in a bit of context.
• Interior Photos: Give customers a tour before they arrive. Showcase your decor, seating, merchandise displays, and the general ambiance. Let them imagine themselves in your space. People want to know what to expect, and great interior shots make your business feel more inviting.
• Product Photos: If you sell physical goods, this is non-negotiable. Post clean, well-lit photos of your most popular products. Show them in use or displayed attractively. This section acts as a free, high-visibility product catalog.
• Team/Action Photos: Humanize your business! Show your team in their element - whether that's a barista crafting a latte, a mechanic working on a car, or your office staff collaborating. Action shots are infinitely more engaging than stale, staged photos. Plus, adding pictures of your staff helps build a personal connection and shows the friendly faces behind the business.
• Videos: Don't forget video! You can upload short videos (up to 30 seconds) to your profile. A quick walkthrough of your store, a product demonstration, or a message from the owner can be incredibly powerful for connecting with potential customers.

Best Practices: Optimizing Your Photos for Maximum Impact

Uploading photos is one thing. Uploading them in a way that helps your local SEO and genuinely attracts customers is another. Follow these tips to get the best results.

• Quality Over Everything: Your photos must be clear, well-lit, and in focus. Blurry, dark, or pixelated images make your business look unprofessional. You don't need a high-end camera - modern smartphones work great - but pay attention to lighting and composition.
• Be Authentic: While one or two professional photos are great, customers crave authenticity. Avoid sterile stock photos at all costs. An amateur but genuine photo of your team laughing is more effective than a generic stock image of smiling strangers.
• Get the Specs Right: Google prefers JPG or PNG files. Keep the file size between 10 KB and 5 MB. While Google will resize images, a good starting point is a resolution of at least 720 x 720 pixels.
• Rename Your Image Files: Before you upload, change the file name from something generic like `IMG_8432.JPG` to something descriptive. For a bakery in Boston, a filename like `fresh-blueberry-scones-boston-bakery.jpg` includes relevant keywords and location information, which can provide a small but helpful SEO signal to Google.
• Add Geotags (Optional but Recommended): Geotagging embeds geographical metadata (latitude and longitude) directly into your image file. This reinforces your business’s physical location to Google. You can use free online tools like GeoImgr or use your smartphone's location services when you take the photo.
• Keep Your Gallery Fresh: Aim to add new photos every week or two. This activity sends positive signals to Google that your profile is actively managed and up-to-date, which can favorably impact your local ranking. This can be as simple as adding a photo of a new menu item, a seasonal display, or a satisfied customer (with their permission, of course).
• Leverage Google Posts: Creating Google Posts with an eye-catching photo is another excellent way to add fresh, timely imagery to your profile. Promote a sale, announce an event, or highlight a featured product. These posts appear prominently in search results and add another layer of visual engagement.

Common Sticking Points: What to Do If Your Photos Aren't Showing Up

Sometimes you upload a photo, and it seems to vanish. Don't panic. There's usually a simple explanation.

• Give it Time: Newly uploaded photos go through an approval process. They're scanned to make sure they meet Google's content policies. It can take anywhere from a few minutes to 24 hours for a photo to appear on your profile.
• Check for Policy Violations: Your photo might have been rejected. Make sure it doesn't contain excessive text overlays, stock imagery, or anything that violates Google’s photo guidelines. The image must be relevant to your business.
• Review the File Format and Size: Double-check that your image meets the technical requirements mentioned earlier (JPG/PNG, under 5 MB). A file that's too large or in the wrong format simply won't be processed.
• Confirm Your Profile Is Verified: Photos and other edit functions often work best on a fully verified Business Profile. If your profile is pending verification, that could be the cause of the hold-up.

If you've checked all these boxes and your photos still aren't appearing after a few days, try uploading them from a different device or browser. As a last resort, you can reach out to the Google Business Profile support team for help.

Final Thoughts

Getting your photos right on your Google Business Profile isn't a one-time task, it's a small but powerful piece of your ongoing local marketing strategy. By consistently adding fresh, high-quality, and authentic images across different categories, you’re not just optimizing for an algorithm - you're building a genuine connection with your community and inviting customers to see what makes your business special.

Keeping your Google Profile fresh with photos feels a lot like managing your visuals across Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok - consistency is everything. That’s why at Postbase, we designed our platform to make managing your entire visual content calendar feel organized and simple. With our visual planner, you can schedule all your posts and short-form video across your social channels from one place, ensuring your brand looks its best everywhere your customers are engaging with you online.