What does a shoot consist of ?

Creating your virtual tour consists of the actual shoot, where I come to your business and shoot a number of 360 panoramas or "photo spheres", as Google likes to call them. These are shot using Google recommended equipment and procedures in order to ensure not only quality but also for the tour to link and integrate properly with the Google map.

As well as the photography the panoramas have to be retouched where necessary, uploaded to the Google servers, placed on the map and linked to each other as well as the map.

 

Photosphere ? ( Panorama )

A series of 4 HDR images, shot at 90 apart, ie north south east and west, with an 8mm fisheye lens.
Using dedicated stitching software, these images are then de-fished, blended and stitched together to form a single hires image that is now suitable to wrap around a sphere or globe, just like a map of the world.

If you can now imagine yourself in the centre of such a globe looking out at the image, then that’s pretty much how it works. One of these photo spheres is shot at various points within your business in order to create the feel of a walk-thru type experience for the viewer. Its the next best thing to being there.

 

HDR Photography ?

HDR or High Dynamic Range photography is just a simple method of capturing the full range of light within a scene, in practice this means taking at least 3 images of the same scene, one regular exposure, one for the brightest parts and one for the darkest parts. These 3 images are then blended together in order to show a full range of tones throughout the whole image.

 

How long does it take ?

A lot depends on the size of the business, how busy it might be on the day, weather or not its a tricky layout or lighting but generally its a pretty quick process and a small business can be done in 1-2 hrs.
For something with 20+ panoramas I would normally do a recce and have a shooting plan to estimate the actual time.

 

Preparing for your shoot

The only thing you really have to do is make sure everything is looking good at your business and is representative of how you would like your customers to see you. Remembering all the time that the shoot will capture everything in the room, from ceiling to floor and all the way around.

 

Bespoke tour vs Google tour ?

The Google system, has certain requirements and limitations that may not be suitable for your needs or you might like a tour but not want to be on Google. There are many reasons why a bespoke tour might be best for you. Check out my Bespoke page for more of the differences and further details of what a bespoke tour can offer.

 

Costs

The only costs are that which you pay for the shoot, there are no costs from Google for hosting the tour or listing your business. There are no yearly or ongoing costs, just the one off payment to Paradoks360 for producing the tour.

 

SVT and Google certified ?

Street View Trusted is Googles program for registering photographers and giving them certification as long as some minimum quality standards and rules are adhered to.

 

Call

If there is anything else you would like to know, please give me a call or email, I will be more than happy to answer any questions.