Courtesy of the Nashville Business Journal

by Jamie McGee, Staff Writer

Kerry Woo Nashville TN horizontalPhoto courtesy: Johnathan Jones Photography

Google is taking its Street View photos concept inside companies, allowing businesses to showcase their products or spaces to clients and promote their company culture to job candidates.

Meet local hired gun photographer Kerry Woo, who as a "Google trusted photographer" is taking 360-degree images that create virtual tours of Nashville-area companies. As more consumers, business clients and potential hires research companies online, the tours provide another branding opportunity.

Woo takes a series of photos in all directions, giving viewers an interactive walking tour of a venue or office. When the companies are searched on Google, a map of their company pops up, as well as a 360-degree tour of their company. For example, a Google search of "Rustici Nashville" takes viewers to the company's kitchen area with a ping-pong table, and a search of "ModerNash Furniture Supply Corporation" showcases furniture displayed in their storeroom.

"Most businesses will appreciate the branding and 24-7 visibility," Woo said, adding that some businesses are still reluctant to post their photos or creates websites for the Internet. "Especially if you are an event space, an office space, a restaurant, a beautiful business with a lobby, it's another way to portray your business in a nice light."

Woo began taking photos through Google a year ago and has photographed CoLab, E|Spaces, the Schermerhorn Symphony Center and Fontanel Mansion, among others.

"I love being able to tell the story from a marketing standpoint via visual imagery," Woo said.

Photo: Jonathan Jones Photography