Google Trusted Photographer Program

Looking for opinions of this program. Anyone out there a Google Trusted Photographer?

Someone in my area I know of is in this program. I don't know how much business he gets from it but I'm going through the study materials and will take the test in the next day or two. Before I invest in the equipment I don't have--fisheye and pano head--I wanted to get opinions from others here who may already be in the program.

Never heard of it.

NEVER, as in EVER, trust Google.

Regards,
GEWB

oh so looks like they need photographers to do virtual tours for businesses. Wonder what their cut is.

Their cut is nothing.

I appreciate all of the negativity from everyone, however, I'd really appreciate it if someone who knows something about the program were to chime in. I'm not into conspiracy theories regarding Google or anyone else.

Thanks.

I can only speak for the UK, things may be different over there.

Google have given large parts of the potential market to agencies, such as tourist attractions, churches, hotel chains etc leaving the the independant photographer with only independant businesses to market to.

My advice is to look elsewhere for your business.

Gary_Evans wrote in post #17102091
I can only speak for the UK, things may be different over there.

Google have given large parts of the potential market to agencies, such as tourist attractions, churches, hotel chains etc leaving the the independant photographer with only independant businesses to market to.

My advice is to look elsewhere for your business.

Noted .. thanks for the info.

Go to this links, search your local area for listed Google photogs, and then contact them personally and get their views. Any other advise such as from forums has a value of exactly zero.
https://www.google.com …businessview/ge​t-started/

Didereaux wrote in post #17102131
Go to this links, search your local area for listed Google photogs, and then contact them personally and get their views. Any other advise such as from forums has a value of exactly zero.
https://www.google.com …businessview/ge​t-started/

Thanks for the link.

I wasn't being negative at all. The site really isn't very informative. I was curious as to what it is. Anything that could put me in touch with potential clients is worth at least reading the fine print and seeing if it has a benefit.

mrniceguy715 wrote in post #17102190
I wasn't being negative at all. The site really isn't very informative. I was curious as to what it is. Anything that could put me in touch with potential clients is worth at least reading the fine print and seeing if it has a benefit.

That's what I'm in the process of doing. Honestly, it seems like a decent deal except Google is VERY particular on how you shoot these businesses and you MUST do 360 panos (yuck!). They say you set your own pricing and the businesses pay you directly. They say somewhere from $250 to $750 depending on how many panos it takes. If those numbers are real, it's not a horrible deal. I'm skeptical about whether businesses will spend that much on photos. My experience has been they don't want to spend anything on photos.

They provide some leads in the area but they do not promise any. They limit the number of trusted photogs in an area but I don't know how they determine how many they have in a given area. I know there are currently 3 in my area with only 1 being active (I know that person) and I don't believe he's doing a lot.

Other than that, you take a test and have to have certain equipment--I have everything except for the lens and pano head.

I thought about joining 18 months ago but then decided to focus on other projects instead.

I think it's a fine program.

There is an NDA agreement.

CAPhotog wrote in post #17102466
There is an NDA agreement.

The NDA doesn't say you can't talk about the program, just can't share the details on their system (basically).

You have not taken and passed the test yet.