How to use Google Photo Search
Searching for someone? These days, the info you need can be as close as typing a name into a search field. Facebook is the ultimate “people search” since so many people are on it, and since Facebook includes photos, it might be the only search you need to do to find someone you’re looking for.
When Facebook alone fails, what about photo searches? Sometimes you may get lucky when using an image search engine such as Google Photo Search or Google Image Search. All of the individual photos in search results link to a website, whether personal or commercial. Social Network profile photos are often linked to photo searches, as well, so finding the person you’re seeking just got a whole lot easier.
Let’s take a look at how to use Google photo search in general. Whether you are searching for a person, place or thing, this search service gets the job done.
The easiest way to get into the Google Photo Search is to type “Google Images” into your web browser. It will immediately take you into a list of searches. The very first one that pops up should be “Google Images” (www.images.google.com).
Now that you have clicked the link, you should see a page that says “Google Images” with a search bar underneath and a few samples of photos.
After you have established that you are in the Google Photo Search page, type in the search bar what you are looking for. For example, if you type in “fruit,” the page will automatically take you to multiple pictures and pages of fruit or all types. If you are looking for a person, type in the name; for example, if you type John Smith, there will be dozens or even hundreds of results, all consisting of images of John Smiths (or images that have “John Smith” in the filename).
If you are having difficulty finding who or what you are looking for, there is a link next to the search tab titled: Advanced Search. If you click that, you will see a page that says “Advanced Image Search.” There should be a highlighted blue section that says “find results.” This is where you can be specific with your terms. Underneath that, there is a list of other options to narrow down your search. You can also select the size of your photo, coloration, and file size within the Advanced Google Photo Search.
After you have selected your details, you can click “Google Search” and it will take you to a page with the photos you have specified. If there is a very small number of photos available and none are what you seek, you may want to modify your search terms to create broader results.
If you are using Google Photo Search as a way to find something or someone for your personal interests, it’s great. If you are trying to find photos for commercial use, be sure to search for images that are in the public domain or that have terms of use that will allow you to use them under the right circumstances (such as attribution). You can also often contact the source of an image and ask for written permission to use it, and some image sites will sell you images for your commercial use.
Are you ready to try Google Photo Search? Once you get into the website, it’s all pretty self-explanatory. Happy searching!
Sources