The short answer
Add real, recent photos that help a patient recognize and trust your office: a logo, a cover photo, the outside entrance and signage, reception, a treatment room and your team. Follow Google's specs (JPG or PNG, 10 KB to 5 MB, 720 by 720 pixels recommended), keep them in focus, well lit and unfiltered, and replace photos when the office or team changes. Photos only show after the profile is verified and Google has reviewed them, which can take 24 to 48 hours.
What photos do for a practice profile
Someone comparing practices in Google Maps sees your name, rating, distance and photos side by side with other offices. Photos answer questions the listing text cannot: what the building looks like, whether the office feels clean and calm, and who will greet them. Google itself notes that an exterior photo helps customers recognize the business when they arrive.
Photos work together with the rest of the profile. Accurate hours, categories, services and a steady flow of reviews still matter, and our guide to setting up a Google Business Profile covers those.
Which photos to add
- •Logo. Google highlights it on profiles that have basic information such as phone number and hours filled in.
- •Cover photo. One clear image that represents the practice, often the entrance or reception.
- •Exterior. The building, the entrance, your sign and, if it helps, where to park. Take them from the angles a first-time visitor sees.
- •Interior. Reception, a treatment room, accessible features such as a ramp or elevator.
- •Team. A group photo and the people patients meet most, with their agreement to be shown.
- •Short videos. A walk from the door to reception can be useful. Google accepts videos up to 30 seconds and 75 MB at 720p or higher.
Use your own photos. Stock images do not show your office, and Google's guidance is that photos should represent reality.
Google's specs and quality rules
- •Format JPG or PNG.
- •File size between 10 KB and 5 MB.
- •Recommended resolution 720 by 720 pixels; minimum 250 by 250 pixels.
- •In focus and well lit, with no significant alterations or heavy filters.
A recent phone camera is enough. Shoot in daylight or with the office lights on, clean the lens, hold the phone level and check the background for anything you would not want public, such as schedules, screens or paperwork. Our office photography guide has more tips.
Uploading, review and cover photos
You add photos by searching for your practice on Google Search or Maps while signed in as a profile manager and choosing the option to add photos. Each upload is checked against Google's policies and shows one of three statuses:
- •Pending: still uploading or processing, or the profile is not verified yet. Not visible to patients.
- •Not approved: flagged for a policy issue and not shown.
- •Live: visible on Search and Maps. Google says this can take 24 to 48 hours.
Setting a cover photo does not guarantee it shows first. If your choice is low quality, Google may show a different image, including one a customer added. A sharp, recent, well lit cover photo gives yours the best chance.
Customer photos and privacy
Patients and visitors can add photos to your profile too. You cannot delete those yourself, but you can ask Google to remove ones that break its content policies. For photos that are accurate but unflattering, the practical answer is more good photos of your own.
Keep your own uploads to the building, the office and your team. If you ever want to show a patient, get written permission through a process your own attorney has reviewed. If you show treatment results on your website, our before and after photos guide covers permission and honest captions.
Keep photos current and measure results
- •Replace photos when the office is remodeled, the sign changes or team members leave.
- •Add new photos when something real changes, such as a new treatment room or extended hours, rather than on a fixed quota.
- •Google shows the source and total views on each photo on your profile, so you can see which images people open.
- •Judge the profile on calls, direction requests, website clicks and booked appointments over time. Call tracking helps connect profile calls to appointments.
Photos are one part of local visibility. Our local SEO and review management services cover the rest of the profile.
Sources
Google updates Business Profile features often, so check them for current wording.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size should Google Business Profile photos be?
Google recommends JPG or PNG files between 10 KB and 5 MB, with a recommended resolution of 720 by 720 pixels and a minimum of 250 by 250 pixels. Photos should be in focus, well lit and not heavily edited or filtered.
Which photos should a dental practice add first?
Your logo, a cover photo, and an exterior shot of the entrance and signage so patients recognize the building when they arrive. Then add the reception area, a treatment room and your team. These answer the questions people have before a first visit.
Why is Google showing a different cover photo than the one I picked?
Google says choosing a cover photo does not guarantee it shows first. If the cover photo is low quality, or other signals suggest a different image represents the business better, Google may show another photo, including one a customer uploaded. Use a clear, recent, well lit photo as your cover.
Why are my new photos not showing?
Photos only appear after the profile is verified, and each upload is reviewed against Google's policies. Google says it can take 24 to 48 hours for media to show. A photo marked Not approved was flagged for a policy issue and will not appear.
Can I remove photos that customers uploaded?
You cannot delete them yourself, but you can ask Google to remove customer photos that break its content policies. A photo that is accurate but unflattering usually stays, so the best response is adding clear, current photos of your own.
Should we post photos of patients?
We recommend keeping profile photos to the office, the building and your team. If you ever want to feature a patient, get written permission through a process your own attorney has reviewed, and never show anything that reveals treatment details in the background of any photo.