Help a visitor picture their first Sunday
Visiting a new church takes courage. Which door do I use? Where do the children go? What will the service be like? Good photos answer those questions before anyone has to ask.
Google says exterior photos help people recognize your building as they arrive, and photos of your team show a more personal side. Anyone can add photos to your profile. Without good photos of your own, a visitor may see only what the public has uploaded, which could be a blurry photo from years ago or a picture of the parking lot in the snow.
You don't need a professional photographer. A recent smartphone, good daylight, and a clear shot list will serve you well.
Know Google's requirements
| Photos | Videos | |
|---|---|---|
| Format | JPG or PNG | |
| Size | 10 KB to 5 MB | Up to 75 MB |
| Resolution | 720 x 720 pixels recommended (250 x 250 minimum) | 720p or higher |
| Length | Up to 30 seconds | |
| Quality | In focus and well lit. Google asks that images represent reality, so no heavy filters, major edits, or AI-generated images. | |
Photos and videos only appear after your profile is verified (see Step 1).
Your photo shot list
Google suggests at least three exterior photos, three interior photos, and three photos of your team. For a church, that looks like this:
| Group | What to capture |
|---|---|
| Logo and cover | Your church logo, and one strong cover photo of your building with its sign on a clear day. Google may not always show your cover photo first, but a good one helps. |
| Outside | The building from each direction people approach it, your sign, the entrance visitors should use, and the parking lot. Try different times of day. |
| Inside | The sanctuary, the welcome area, the fellowship hall, and the nursery or children's area. Visitors with little ones look for these. |
| Worship | The congregation singing, the pastor preaching, and the church gathered together. Photos taken from the back or the side show the service without singling anyone out. |
| Leadership | Your pastor or pastors, elders and deacons, and staff. Relaxed, friendly photos help a newcomer recognize a face on their first Sunday. |
| Church life | Fellowship meals, Sunday school, Bible studies, and outreach such as VBS or an ESL class. |
Permission and reverence
- Ask before you photograph people, and explain where the photo will appear. Google profiles are public.
- Get a parent's permission for any child whose face is visible, or photograph children from behind.
- Respect the service. Agree with your pastor or elders on when photos are appropriate. Many churches avoid photographing during prayer or the Lord's Supper, and take worship photos during a hymn or the sermon instead.
- Keep sensitive things out of frame, such as prayer lists, giving records, and member directories.
Taking good photos with a phone
- Wipe the lens. A smudged lens causes most blurry photos.
- Use daylight. Shoot the outside on a bright but overcast day, or in the morning or late afternoon.
- Turn on the lights and open the blinds for inside shots.
- Hold the phone sideways for most shots.
- Don't zoom. Walk closer instead.
- Tidy up first. Clear the tables, straighten the chairs, and move the trash cans.
- Skip the filters. Show your church as it really looks.
Short videos
Videos can be up to 30 seconds long. A few simple ideas:
- "Your first Sunday": a walk from the parking lot, through the front door, to the sanctuary.
- Congregational singing: 20 to 30 seconds of a hymn, filmed from the back.
- A welcome from the pastor: who you are, when you meet, and that visitors are welcome.
Uploading and keeping it fresh
- On a computer, sign in and search Google or Google Maps for your church's name and city.
- Select Photos, then Add photos, and choose your photos or videos. You can choose several at once.
- For your cover photo or logo, select Add a cover photo or Add a logo.
Google reviews each upload. It shows as Pending until approved, then Live. It can take 24 to 48 hours to appear. To remove an old photo, open it and select Delete.
A simple photo rhythm
| When | What to add or replace |
|---|---|
| Every month | One or two new photos of church life. |
| Each season | Fresh exterior shots, especially if the old ones show snow in July. |
| Christmas and Easter | Photos from special services, uploaded afterward, ready for next year's searches. |
| After any change | A new pastor, a new sign, a renovation, or a new entrance. Delete photos that no longer match. |
Anyone can add photos to your profile. Look through them now and then. If one breaks Google's rules, or shows people who didn't agree to be photographed, you can ask Google to remove it.
Common mistakes to avoid
| Mistake | Why it causes trouble |
|---|---|
| Only an empty sanctuary | It can make a church look empty. Show your people, with permission. |
| Photos of a former pastor or the old sign | Visitors feel misled when things don't match. |
| Stock photos or heavily edited images | Google asks for photos that represent reality. |
| Children's faces without permission | It breaks trust with families. Always ask first. |
| Uploading once and never again | Newest photos show first. Fresh ones show an active church. |