If you’ve searched for “Google Trusted Photographer” lately, you’ll have noticed something odd: the official Google programme page redirects somewhere else, the badge no longer appears, and reputable UK virtual tour agencies have quietly stopped using the term in their marketing. Here’s what happened, why it matters, and how 360° virtual tours still reach Google Maps today.
What was the Google Trusted Photographer Programme?
The Google Trusted Photographer Programme (sometimes called Street View Trusted or Google Trusted Pro) ran for over a decade. Photographers who passed Google’s certification could publish 360° virtual tours directly to Google Maps and Google Business Profiles, and were issued a badge for their websites and a listing in Google’s “find a photographer” directory.
The programme had three goals:
- Build a worldwide network of qualified 360° photographers
- Maintain image quality on Google Maps as Street View expanded indoors
- Help businesses discover trusted local providers
At its peak, hundreds of thousands of businesses worldwide had Google-published indoor virtual tours — including thousands of UK businesses captured by certified UK agencies like Trusted Photography, which has been publishing to Google Maps since 2012.
Why did Google close the programme?
Google formally wound down the Trusted Photographer Programme through 2023–2024. Google didn’t publish a long explanation but the practical reasons were clear:
- Street View Studio — Google’s new self-publish app made certification redundant. Any photographer (or business) can now publish 360° imagery to Maps directly
- Quality controls moved upstream — algorithmic checks at upload now do most of the filtering the certification used to do
- Resourcing — maintaining a global accreditation programme is operationally expensive for relatively niche output
The badge has been retired. The certification path is closed. The “find a photographer” directory has been removed.
What replaced the Google Trusted Photographer Programme?
Two things took its place:
- Google Street View Studio — a free Google app any photographer can use to upload connected 360° imagery to Google Maps. Tours appear on your Google Business Profile and in Google Maps exactly as they did under the old programme.
- The provider’s own track record — without a Google-issued badge to point to, businesses now choose providers based on experience, named brand clients, company registration, and the quality of their portfolio.
Can UK businesses still get 360° virtual tours on Google Maps?
Yes — and the publishing workflow hasn’t fundamentally changed. A good provider will:
- Capture your premises with professional 360° camera equipment
- Process and stitch the imagery
- Publish the tour to your Google Business Profile and Google Maps via Street View Studio
- Hand over ownership so you can refresh the tour when you refurbish
The end result is identical to what the Trusted Photographer Programme delivered — visitors browse your tour on Google Maps, your Business Profile gets more engagement, and the imagery is hosted free indefinitely.
Does this affect existing virtual tours?
No. Tours captured and published under the old programme are still live on Google Maps. They look identical, behave identically, and continue to drive Google Business Profile views. The only change is administrative — the badge no longer appears, and the original photographers’ certification listings are gone.
How to choose a reliable UK virtual tour provider now
Without the Google badge as a shortcut, businesses should now check:
- How long they’ve been publishing to Google Maps — providers active before 2024 lived through the transition and know the new Street View Studio workflow
- Companies House registration — a real, registered UK limited company is more accountable than a freelancer (Trusted Photography Ltd is Companies House No. 11622668)
- Named brand clients — multi-site rollouts for recognised brands are hard to fake
- UK coverage — providers who cover your county without travel surcharges
- Range of services — Google Street View, Matterport, custom-hosted tours, Google Business Profile management all under one roof reduces coordination overhead
How Trusted Photography fits in
Trusted Photography has been publishing 360° virtual tours to Google Maps and Street View since 2012. We worked through the Trusted Photographer Programme era and transitioned cleanly to Street View Studio when Google moved the goalposts. We cover all 51 English counties, plus Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and have delivered tours for LEGO, BMW, Currys, Hamleys, Halfords, Wren Kitchens, Marco Pierre White and the Universities of Nottingham and Salford.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Google Trusted Photographer badge still valid?
No — the badge has been retired. Providers still displaying it should be politely asked when their last Google certification was issued.
Can I still find a photographer through Google’s directory?
No — that directory has been removed. Search for UK virtual tour providers via standard Google search, Google Maps reviews, or by asking for references.
If the badge is gone, why is the name “Trusted Photography” still around?
Trusted Photography Ltd is the trading name of the company. The brand predates the badge by a wide margin and reflects the company’s general reputation, not a Google certification.
Need a 360° virtual tour for your UK business? Get a free quote from Trusted Photography — UK-wide service from a 12+ year provider.