📅 Timeline of Google Trusted Photographer Program:
- Initial launch in 2011: Focused on the U.S. with limited photographer involvement.
- Global expansion in 2012: Opened to worldwide photographers who underwent rigorous training and testing.
- API shift around 2017: Google shifted to an API-based system, reducing direct Google involvement in hiring photographers.
📉 Changes in the program over the years:
- Pre-2017: Google provided a "Hire a Trusted Photographer" button on business pages, leading to direct job opportunities for listed photographers.
- Post-2017: Google removed the direct hire button, reducing visibility and direct job leads for photographers.
🔗 Transition to third-party platforms:
- Transition from a Google-managed list to using third-party platforms like GoThru to facilitate the hiring process.
📊 Impact on photographers:
- Increased competition: Led to a price war among photographers listed in the same region.
- Decreased value of being listed: Over time, being on the Google Trusted Photographer list lost its influence on getting business.
👨‍💻 Modern requirements and status:
- Post-2019: Google stopped adding photographers to the Trusted list based on new submissions of 360 images.
- Current status: The list is no longer seen as valuable by those within the industry, and it often leads to spam rather than job opportunities.
💡 Insights based on numbers:
- In the early days of the program, there were only a handful of photographers listed in major cities, but by the time of the API shift, the list had grown significantly, leading to increased competition.
🔗 Related Links:
- GoThru Web App: gothru.co
Subscribe for more tutorials on 360 photography and virtual tour creation.
#GoThru #googlestreetview #360virtualtour #360Photography #GTP