Dear All
We know that a great photo can make or break someone’s decision to visit a place. Whether it’s a cozy local cafe or a sprawling historical monument, our photos are the visual front door for millions of users.
However, not every picture sitting in our camera roll is helpful for Maps. To keep our contributions high-quality and useful, here is a quick refresher on what to share and what to leave out.
What We SHOULD Post (The Do’s)
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Keep it Real & Original: Always upload photos you captured yourself. People want to see the authentic experience, so screenshots, GIFs, and stock photos are a definitive no-go.
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Highlight Helpful Details: Think about what a first-time visitor would need to know. Photos of accessibility ramps, updated menus, storefronts, and clear interior layouts add immense value to a listing.
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Prioritize Clarity: Well-lit, in-focus photos taken from good angles are the most helpful. A clear, horizontal shot of a restaurant’s dining area helps people gauge the vibe much better than a dark or blurry snapshot.
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Keep it Recent: Make sure your photos represent the current state of the location.
What We SHOULD AVOID (The Don’ts)
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Selfies and Group Shots: While it’s fun to document our travels with friends and family, the location itself must be the primary focus. Save the group shots for your personal social media!
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Heavy Filters and Edits: Minor adjustments to correct lighting or rotation are perfectly fine. However, heavy filters, added text overlays, borders, or collaged images misrepresent reality and violate the guidelines.
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Duplicates: Uploading the same picture (or nearly identical angles of the same subject) multiple times just clutters the listing. Pick your single best shot of a specific dish or building and let it shine!
Let’s keep making the map better, clearer, and more accurate for everyone.
What is your absolute favourite thing to photograph when reviewing a place?
