Your Google listing may be well filled out... but your visuals are holding you back !

You have taken care of your Google listing: complete description, up-to-date hours, detailed menu, and even some regular posts. That's excellent – but have you looked at your photos recently?

In 2025, Google uses AI (Vision AI) to analyze the content and quality of photos on your listing. Meanwhile, internet users increasingly favor visual searches: they browse photos of businesses as a criterion for choice, or use Google Lens to find dishes visually.

Result : if your visuals are not up to par, the overall quality of your listing could be overshadowed.

Fortunately, there are simple actions to optimize your visuals and transform your photos into a competitive advantage. Here are 7 practical tips to implement starting today so that your photos boost – and no longer hinder – the visibility of your restaurant.

Google Maps : a visual search engine influenced by your photos

Before diving into the tips, let's understand the impact of visuals on local search. Some key figures and facts :

• 32% more clicks : According to Google, people are 32% more likely to click on a menu item accompanied by a photo.

• A better ranking thanks to images : Business listings with at least 5 high-quality photos tend to rank better in local results and generate more interactions (clicks for directions, calls, etc.). Google interprets these positive interactions as a sign of relevance.

• AI evaluates your photos : When a photo is uploaded, Google assigns it a quality score via its AI algorithm. A blurry, dark, or low-resolution image receives a lower score than a sharp and well-lit photo. Additionally, Google Vision identifies what is in the image (restaurant interior, dish, logo, people…) and uses this information to enrich your listing and even to choose which photo to display as the cover.

• Users visually search for dishes : The “Popular Dishes” feature on Google Maps shows popular dishes from a restaurant by associating dish names and photos submitted by users. If you don't have beautiful photos of your best dishes, less flattering shots taken by customers might appear in your place. Conversely, encouraging stunning photos of your must-haves can entice undecided customers.

In short, your visuals are now as important as your average rating for attracting online customers. Let's see how to put all the odds in your favor.

7 concrete actions to optimize your restaurant's photos

1. Showcase your star dishes with tempting photos

Highlight what makes your restaurant famous : your signature dishes. Make sure that each bestseller is pictured in your gallery. Pay attention to the shooting : good lighting (preferably natural light), a close-up framing that showcases the details of the dish, and impeccable plating.

Don't hesitate to hire a professional food photographer to enhance 4 or 5 of your highlight plates – it’s an investment that can significantly increase the conversion rate of internet users into customers, and some clients at Sorbey ask us for this.

Tip : Add captions or titles to your photos (via the Google Business Profile interface) mentioning the dish name. This helps not only users but possibly also Google to relate with specific dish searches.

A very concrete example of a restaurant we work with, which invested in quality photos:

2. Illustrate the seasonality and renewal of your offer

Nothing worse than a listing cluttered with dated photos from several years ago. Show that your restaurant lives in rhythm with the seasons and events. Change your visuals throughout the year : sunny terrace in summer, enticing dish of the day in autumn, festive decorations and menu during holidays… These seasonal touches make your gallery more dynamic and relevant. For example, if a user looks for a place to dine in December, seeing recent photos of your Christmas decor creates an immediate connection.

Moreover, Google favors the freshness of content. Adding new photos every month is an excellent practice. This shows the algorithm that your establishment is active. Each new photo is a signal of currency that can improve your ranking and attract the attention of customers (a “New” badge sometimes appears on recent images).

In summary, keep your listing vibrant with the current affairs of your restaurant : Valentine’s Day menu, new summer cocktail, themed evening, everything is an excuse to post fresh visuals.

3. Highlight the ambiance and setting of your establishment

Customers don't come just for the plate but also for the overall experience. Use your photos to immerse the visitor in the ambiance of your restaurant. Publish snapshots of your cozy dining room, the beautiful shaded terrace, the stylish bar, or the breathtaking view if you have one.

Exterior photos are equally crucial. Often, Google Maps will display a façade or storefront photo first so that one can identify your establishment from the outside. So make sure to upload a nice photo of the façade or signage, taken in good weather, and without a car or trash bin in front. These images reassure customers (they will recognize the entrance more easily upon arrival) and contribute to your online attractiveness.

Also, think about showcasing the human atmosphere : seated customers (if you have their permission), the atmosphere on a busy service night, etc. The goal is for the internet user to imagine themselves at your place while browsing the photos.

Here’s an example with an atmosphere many Parisians love in the evening: a glass of wine, friends, and sharing dishes!

4. Showcase your team and expertise

Nothing does better to humanize your restaurant than to showcase those who keep it alive. Publish photos of your focused chef plating a dish, the smiling team ready to welcome guests, or a convivial moment in the kitchen (for example, the team raising their glasses at the end of the night). These visuals build trust and create an emotional connection with potential customers – people prefer going to friendly and personal places rather than an anonymous address.

Furthermore, it shows the pride of your staff and your transparency. A visitor who sees your brigade in a photo will subconsciously think “They have nothing to hide; they are proud of what they do”. This is very positive for your brand image.

Tip : You can also highlight aspects such as your local commitment or the quality of your products through photos. For example, the chef choosing vegetables at the market, or your partnership with a local winemaker during a tasting.

5. Encourage and use photos from your customers

Your customers are often your best visual ambassadors. Many love to take photos of their dish or cocktail when it looks good – encourage this practice and urge them to share on Google Maps or social media. Google reviews allow adding photos, as do Instagram posts with your geolocation.

Why is this important ? Because these photos appear on your listing and are perceived as more authentic. A series of 5★ photos posted by delighted customers is a huge positive point to convince newcomers. Additionally, Google appreciates user-generated content, which enriches your profile without effort on your part.

Still, keep an eye on what your customers post. Most of the time, it will be flattering, but if a low-quality customer photo becomes the main photo, don’t hesitate to upload better ones to take back the lead. You can also report an inappropriate photo if it does not represent your establishment.

Finally, remember to reshare the best photos taken by customers on your social media (with their permission) : this values the photographing customer and encourages others to do the same.

6. Ensure impeccable technical quality

This might seem obvious, but it is worth mentioning: only publish high-quality photos. No blurriness, no pixelation, no backlighting that darkens the entire scene. Use a good camera (a recent smartphone might suffice) and clean the lens before taking the shot. Take multiple shots of the same subject and keep only the best.

Why so many requirements ? Because Google judges your photos based on technical quality. A blurry or poorly lit photo will have a low score in their algorithm and will be less promoted, even relegated far down in the gallery. Conversely, a beautiful sharp image is more likely to appear as the top visual result for your establishment. As observed, Google also collects data on user engagement with the photos (how many times a particular photo is clicked, viewed in full, etc.). A lovely shot will naturally be more successful, thereby improving its importance on your listing.

Don’t hesitate to use photo editing tools to enhance the shots : slight cropping, brightness and contrast adjustments, color corrections to make everything more appetizing. But stay realistic – it’s not about misleading about the product, just about showing your restaurant in its best light.

7. Regularly renew your photo gallery

Recency is a factor of trust, both for users and the algorithm. An establishment that publishes regular photos shows that it is active and always current. Try to add new images each month (or even each week if possible). This could be, for example : the photo of a dish of the day, a special event (restaurant anniversary, musical evening), new decor, or simply a crowded dining room on a Saturday night to illustrate the atmosphere.

By continuously publishing, you also “push” older photos down. Thus, if you had old less flattering visuals, they will become less visible in favor of the new ones.

Tip : Google will display in the feed of local users a notification like “X has published new photos of [your restaurant]”. That’s free visibility in the news feed of your followers or Local Guides in your area. Another reason not to let your gallery stagnate.

In conclusion : visuals in service of your success

A restaurant can offer the best cuisine and impeccable service, but it will not convince online customers if its visuals do not reflect that. In the age of Google Maps and social networks, aesthetics matter : internet users judge with their eyes before reading the words. Quality, recent, and engaging photos will not only attract more clicks (and thus more potential customers) but will also support your local SEO by sending positive signals to Google.

Don’t let neglected visuals penalize your establishment. Audit your photos today by applying the above actions. Highlight what makes you unique and entice food lovers to cross your threshold.

Want to go further ? We offer to take an expert look at your online presence. Contact us for a free visibility audit of your restaurant – we will assess your visuals, reviews, and entire Google listing together to identify concrete areas for improvement. An attractive restaurant in photos means more clicks, more trust, and ultimately more covers !