Your building
Shoot the outside the way a first-time customer sees it when they pull in. Google says an exterior photo helps customers recognize your business when they visit.
Guide
Photos & video
for local business.
The short answer
Show the real business.
The photos and videos that help a local business most are the ones that show what a customer will actually see: your building, your people, your work and your products.
Plan every shoot around where the images will be used, whether that is your website, your Google Business Profile or social media. Then keep them current as the business changes.
This guide covers what to shoot, how to get ready and how to put the results to work. It is written for owners in Carlsbad, Hobbs, Artesia, Roswell and across the Permian Basin, but the advice works anywhere.
What to shoot
What photos does a business need?
Start with the pictures a new customer needs before they call you. Most businesses need some mix of the six types below.
Your people
Real team members at work, plus a clean portrait of the owner. Customers want to know who they will talk to or who will show up.
Your work
Finished jobs, before and after, a full dining room, a plate ready to serve. Showing the work is stronger than describing it.
Your products
Clean, well-lit shots of what you sell, with close-ups of the details that set it apart.
Your space
The lobby, the shop floor, the trucks and the equipment. Anything that shows you are established and ready.
Your process
Hands at work, tools in use, the steps that show care. These make good social posts and service page images.
What to film
What videos are worth making?
A short introduction to the business is the most useful first video. Who you are, what you do, where you work and how to reach you. It belongs on your homepage and About page.
After that, make one short video per service or per common customer question. Each one answers a single question well.
Short vertical clips are worth planning for. YouTube says videos uploaded on or after October 15, 2024 with a square or vertical aspect ratio and up to three minutes long are categorized as Shorts.
Google Business Profile accepts video too. Google's guidelines call for videos up to 30 seconds long, up to 75 MB, at 720p or higher.
Commercials for TV, streaming and social ads take more planning, but with good planning they can often be filmed on the same day as your other content.
Before the shoot
How should you prepare?
A good shoot is mostly preparation. These six steps make the day go faster and the results look better.
Make a shot list
Write down every photo and clip you need and where each one will be used. Put the must-haves at the top.
Pick the time
Choose a day and time when the space looks its best and the right people are there. Decide if you want it busy or quiet.
Clean and clear
Clear counters, hide cords, wash trucks and put away anything you would not want in a photo for the next few years.
Plan what to wear
Solid colors or branded shirts work best. Avoid busy patterns and other companies' logos. Keep the look consistent across the team.
Get permission
Ask employees and customers before they appear in photos or video, and get it in writing. Let customers know if you will be filming during business hours.
Think about shape
Website headers need wide images. Social stories and Shorts need vertical ones. Tell your photographer which you need so both get captured.
On your website
How should you use them on your website?
Put real photos where customers decide whether to trust you: the top of the homepage, each service page, the About page and the Contact page. Replace stock photos there first.
Name image files so they describe the picture, and write alt text that says what is in it. Google recommends filenames that are short but descriptive, and alt text that is useful and in context without stuffing in keywords.
Place each image near the text it relates to. Google says images should be placed near relevant text and on pages relevant to the image.
Keep files small. Google notes that images are often the largest contributor to page size. Resize photos to the size they are shown and use a modern format such as WebP, which Google Search supports.
Design for phones first. 86.9% of Eddy County households and 89.6% of Lea County households have a smartphone, according to the Census Bureau.
If you want a video to appear in Google's video results, Google says to create a dedicated page for each video, with its own title and description.
On Google
What photos go on Google Business Profile?
Google lists three types of photos for a Business Profile: a logo, a cover photo and business photos. Business photos are where your building, team, work and products go.
Google's photo guidelines: JPG or PNG, between 10 KB and 5 MB, a recommended 720 by 720 pixels and at least 250 by 250 pixels.
Google also says photos should be in focus, well lit and free of significant alterations or heavy filters. In its words, the image should represent reality.
Add new photos as things change: a finished job, a new truck, a new hire, a seasonal menu. It keeps your profile accurate and gives customers a reason to look.
On social media
How should you use them on social?
One well-planned shoot can supply weeks of posts. Ask for a mix of wide shots, close-ups, people and behind-the-scenes moments so you are not posting the same picture twice.
Capture vertical video as well as horizontal. Vertical clips fit Shorts, Reels and stories without awkward cropping.
Add captions or on-screen text so the message still works with the sound off.
Post real work over polished graphics when you can. People follow local businesses to see what is actually happening there.
Keep it current
How often should you update photos?
There is no official rule. Update whenever something customers see changes: a new location, sign, team member, service, menu or product.
A once-a-year review is a good habit. Look at your website and profile the way a new customer would, and replace anything that no longer matches what they will find when they arrive.
Phone or professional
Should you hire a pro or use your phone?
Both have a place. A modern phone is fine for quick social posts, day-to-day profile updates and behind-the-scenes clips.
Hire a professional for the images you will use for years: the homepage, service pages, team portraits and commercials. Lighting, composition and editing are what make a business look established.
If you hire someone, share your shot list early, agree on how many final images or edits you will receive, and confirm you can use the files on your website, ads and social media.
Quick answers
Common questions.
Can I use stock photos on my website?
You can, but stock photos cannot show your team, your work or your location. Use them sparingly and replace them with real photos where customers decide whether to trust you.
What size should Google Business Profile photos be?
Google recommends 720 by 720 pixels, with a minimum of 250 by 250, in JPG or PNG format between 10 KB and 5 MB.
How long can a Google Business Profile video be?
Up to 30 seconds, up to 75 MB and at 720p or higher, according to Google's guidelines.
Do I need permission to post photos of employees or customers?
Ask first and get it in writing. It is respectful, and it avoids problems if someone leaves or changes their mind. For legal questions, talk to an attorney.
What should we wear for team photos?
Solid colors or branded shirts. Avoid busy patterns and other brands' logos, and keep the look consistent across the team.
Sources
Where the facts come from.
Platform rules change. We checked each source below on October 5, 2026. Local household figures come from our Southeast New Mexico statistics page.
Google Business Profile
Google Business Profile Help: photo and video guidelines and the types of photos you can add.
Google Images
Google Search Central: image SEO best practices, including filenames, alt text, placement and file size.
Google video
Google Search Central: video SEO best practices, including dedicated watch pages.
YouTube Shorts
YouTube Help: which uploads are categorized as Shorts.
Ready to plan a shoot?
Photography and video for businesses across Carlsbad, Southeast New Mexico and the Permian Basin.