The trusted streetview photographer program is now dead for good

[MortenCopenhagen]

I noticed this email announcement:

And on the help page, you can see this:

This has been a long and drawn-out death. Maybe 3 years ago it became impossible to join the program. Changes were made so that anyone can add 360 images and street view video.

I don’t know if old members will be allowed to continue to use the title, but I doubt it. Google’s list of trusted photographers for hire will likely also evaporate.

It can not come as a surprise, but those volunteers who liked the program are of course upset and frustrated. I don’t know if the “trusted badge” helped their marketing efforts. My interpretation was that the wording signaled too much of recommendation and association to Google. Imagine if Local Guides were allowed to brag about being trusted by Google. Instead, we have this disclaimer: Reviews aren’t verified on display over all our reviews.

Let me know what you think.

Morten

[ErmesT]

This is certainly a clear sign of how things change over time, @MortenCopenhagen . When the SVTP program was born, to get the badge you had to create the images with a specific camera and a corresponding set of lenses, and use specific software to stitch the images together and create a high-resolution photosphere.

With the advent of 360° cameras all this started to lose its meaning. I myself got the badge in a few days and without any serious effort.

What started out as a small group of professionals has suddenly become a huge mass. There are currently 25588 SVTPs who have entered Connect at least once. Many of them, like me, are not professionals. For us the badge is just another badge, but it no longer serves to identify our ability and competence. In addition, professional SVTPs, those who do it for a living, cannot do it as Local Guides, so they are not counted in the figure above.

So I think having that badge no longer means you are identified as a “professional”. On the contrary, I have seen many abuse it, some even trying to “sell” their “professional work” while taking 360° images with their phone. Others have used their Connect profile where the badge was visible just to show that they are “Trusted”, while in reality they are producing very poor quality content.

I confirm that from December 31st badges and branding materials provided by Google can no longer be used, and the “for hire” list will be deleted. The market has changed a lot in recent years, and certainly the For Hire list is not currently the best way to promote a professional However, this is an aspect that does not concern Local Guides, who cannot use such material. How to be a Street View trusted photographer while also being a Local Guide

[MortenCopenhagen]

Thanks @ErmesT

I found the remaining announcement text, which also confirmed what I anticipated.

I remember the days when all the Trusted Photographers were asked to join the Local Guides program to get support on this site. It was not a happy “Marriage”.

Cheers
Morten

[Gezendunyali]

Hi @MortenCopenhagen & @ErmesT This is actually quite a sad situation… because I spent a lot of money to buy a camera to become a Google trusted photographer, but then the program suddenly closed. I think the most important part was that it should not close. Because it is a feature that other map applications do not have. Also, I think Google should make some changes to increase its reliability instead of closing such programs. Unfortunately, in my country, comments are especially bought with money and this is done by level 1 bot accounts. Although I constantly complain, unfortunately, no action is taken. I have seen that this reduces trust in some countries. People used to trust a lot, but now they do not pay much attention to comments. Although I gave a few ideas about this, it was not implemented. I think our ideas should be taken privately before the programs are closed or while the program is being developed.

[MortenCopenhagen]

@Gezendunyali

Please remember that you can continue to make and share great street view images. It is only some minor marketing elements that gets taken away.

Cheers

Morten

[ErmesT]

@Gezendunyali , as @MortenCopenhagen said, this change is not affecting our ability to add 360° photos, nor to do this for business (with a different account) if we wants.

The first steps of the change were taken years ago, with the closure of the SVTP private section in Connect and the creation of a separate help area.

With that step Google Maps returned at the origin of the program, Street View, separating the business side because Local Guides is a Volunteer program.

I know, Morten, that at first the SVTP were invited to join Connect. This was a step to help to create a new, and at that time very appealing, business. The board was moderated by several Googlers, and most of the conversations in there were very technical. But in this moment most of the 360 businesses are managed by the same agencies that are helping them to manage their Google Business Profiles, and the word Trusted" don’t have anymore the same meaning.

I continue to add blue lines in natural areas and 360 photos especially in public places and monuments without any problems. Sometimes I do it with a 360° camera, other times with the phone. Having that badge was nice, it has a “historical” value because one day I will be able to say “I was there”, but in fact it no longer has any practical effect. The photographer’s ability has been replaced by technology.

A bit of history:

September 2017

Caption: A professional SVTP taking shots for a 360° photo with professional camera, lens and special tripod (tools required by Google)

Here below the result

Caption: A 360° photo taken with a professional camera made with a series of photos stitched with a special software

Same place, same day, my photo, that is also part of a blue line

Caption: A 360° photo taken with a single shot Using a Ricoh ThetaV

July 2021

Caption: Photo 360° that is part of a blue line generated in “Video Mode” with a Ricoh ThetaV

November 2023

The photo was taken inside the church of Santa Maria dei Carmini - Santa Maria del Carmelo. The use of the monopod was forbidden, so I had to try something different.

Caption: Photo 360° captured with my Pixel 7 phone and the 360° photo software of the Camera App

April 2024

A small church on the top of an hill: Cappella San Gaetano

Caption: Photo 360° captured with my new Insta360° Camera

I think you can clearly see the improvement in quality of consumer 360° cameras or photos taken by a Mobile phone

[Gezendunyali]

Thank you for your information and valuable comments. @MortenCopenhagen @ErmesT

[MortenCopenhagen]

In the Facebook group Google Street View Trusted Photographers there has been quite a lot of discussion and some resentment from frustrated members. Seasoned members also expressed the value of the support, marketing materials, and the list of photographers were very limited.

I shared this in the discussion:

Just some perspective: The technology is successful, and Google obviously decided to invest in their own equipment, staff, and cars to consistently collect high-quality street view imagery at scale. Be proud that you were part of this development. Times change, and Google did not make this decision quickly - if we are honest: the signs have been clear and consistent for years that this day would come. I speculate that Google regrets that they decided on a wording that gave us a too strong link to the big and successful company. And as others said repeatedly: You can continue to upload individual panos, virtual tours, and blue lines. Move on.

Cheers
Morten

[MrUpsidown]

I don’t think that having my name listed as a trusted photographer on Google’s own website was a “minor marketing element” really.

Google wants data. Any data. And they don’t care who it comes from. And they don’t care the quality. This is just too obvious. Proof of that is that I have reported a huge amount of images uploaded to Google Maps, still images and street view images, terrible quality, sometimes even faked or badly photoshopped, featuring the wrong place, etc. etc. and a few accounts as well that are ONLY posting garbage and never did Google take ANY action. Not a single image I have reported got deleted. Not a single one. And the same applies to users. They keep posting the same garbage on a daily basis, totalling tens of thousands of images that are just pollution to Google Maps but Google won’t do anything.

Google wants data, whatever it is, and they don’t want to give you ANY sort of compensation for that.

How satisfying is it to learn that Google is discontinuing the entire programme when people have invested a LOT OF TIME and MONEY to be part of that programme. This is petty, disrespectful and pitiful. Thank you Google.

Oh and by the way, I am part of the Trusted programme, was listed on the “hire a pro” page (not anymore and I don’t even know why and wasn’t notified at any point that I was going to be unlisted) and I didn’t receive the email mentioned in this thread. Thank you Google, again.

[GiovanniRosso]

I’m sorry which year w’are talking about?

this things didn’t come out already 2-3 years ago?

plus dear @MortenCopenhagen how come you still having Inbox whaen all the world is in Gmail?

I think that are more important things to talk about than Trusted Program, and this the right place, but i see noone realizing it.

I extend the hand

[MortenCopenhagen]

Hi @GiovanniRosso

I follow if you think this is not news as the program has been changing to almost nothing over the past years But the announcement was made October first this year as you can see here if you have access to the help center.

I’m not sure what you mean by “how come you still having Inbox whaen all the world is in Gmail?”.

Cheers

Morten

[GiovanniRosso]

ciao @MortenCopenhagen , i thougnht i saw this message so many times last 4-5- years that was and old trhead, pardon.

sorry but this feeling of dejavu continued when i saw Inbox:

https://www.quora.com/How-do-I-switch-from-Inbox-back-to-Gmail

plus, i would like to ask you where i can find a discussion about photo’s managing in Google Business Profile, i mean, as local guides we upload photos on busines profiles most of time, and management and viewing of them it’s a mess.

i think it’s big problem both sides. noone looks like taking care

[MortenCopenhagen]

@GiovanniRosso

Business owners and local guides are 2 very separate worlds. Unfortunately.

I’m not aware of any trans border info. But you can always read the GBP help pages. There is s ton of information.

Cheers

Morten

[ErmesT]

Ciao, @GiovanniRosso bentornato in Connect dopo tre anni.

Giusto per eliminare il primo dubbio, Inbox è il termine Inglese utilizzato da Gmail per indicare la casella di posta in ingresso

Riguardo al soggetto di questo post, cioè la chiusura del programma di Fotografo Certificato Street View con il relativo divieto di uso del badge e del materiale di Marketing dato da Google a partire dal primo Gennaio 2025, si tratta dell’ultimo di una serie di passi che riflettono l’evoluzione tecnologica della fotografia a 360°, come evidenziato nella mia risposta precedente.

Passi dei quali puoi trovare traccia nel link fornito da @MortenCopenhagen nella sezione annunci della pagina di aiuto di Street View.

Credo che alcuni annunci potrebbero interessarti, ad esempio quello del 202 Novembre 2020 in cui si indica che chi fornisce Tour Virtuali a pagamento non lo può più fare con il proprio account di Guida Locale.

Riguardo alla gestione delle immagini all’interno delle schede, mi sembra la stessa conversazione che abbiamo avuto tre anni fa. O mi sbaglio?

[indahnuria]

I didn’t join the program but I can understand the frustration felt by those who are truly, wholeheartedly joined this earlier, especially the professional ones @MortenCopenhagen

but I do agree with you @ErmesT that so many have abused Google Maps in various ways. It’s easy to see many poor qualities, and even ‘wrong’ photos are posted, along with, sadly, fake reviews

[ErmesT]

Just today there was the last call from an agency pretending to be “Google Maps” that wanted to “improve” (for a fee) the page of our small “non-profit”, @indahnuria , so I am very well aware of the abuse caused by the fact that a lot of people own the badge.

In addition I can add that Google Maps is returning to the origin, by separating “Street View” (contributions at street level) and Virtual Tours. So the meaning of that badge (Street View Trusted Photographer) is becoming senseless. Right now Street View is taken / uploaded with a completely different technique, in a way that is extremely different to the one used to create virtual tours.

I feel sorry for the many enthusiasts who will lose the badge (I am one of them), but I am also aware that times change, technology evolves, and the lack of that badge will certainly not affect the way I contribute.