Hotel Photography Shot List – Working With an Interior Photographer

What Is A Hotel Photography Shot List?

​What is one way to tell if you are working with an experienced hotel photographer? Any experienced hospitality photographer will help you put together a comprehensive hotel photoshoot shot list. What Is A Hotel Photoshoot Run Sheet?

A hotel photography shot list, call sheet, or run sheet is a document primarily lists out the time and date for the hotel pictures to be taken. But it also includes all important information related to each hospitality picture. Such as hotel room number, notes for housekeeping and maintenance, notes on styling and props, as well as contact details for photographer crew, marketing, and housekeeping. A well planned and thought out hotel photography shot list is vital for any resort and hotel photoshoot. It ensures everyone is one the same page, photos and schedules run smoothly. All making sure you get the best photos possible that return the most value.

A professional interior photographer will work with you to create the best photography shot list and schedule. They will give their recommendations on the best hotel photo timing to het the best natural light for interior photographs, as well as staging and styling advise and any foreseeable issue that need to be taken care of before the hotel room photoshoot. As experienced and easy to work with hotel photographers we can provide valuable insights on this process.

This is a good time to tell how easy your hotel photographer is going to be to work. From our side we ask for and welcome the input from hotel marketing, not because we do not know what we are doing, but they no the ins and out of their hotels, so they will know things that we would never know. Such as the time for the best play between light and shadows and things which they would like to showcase.

A well-prepared hotel photography shot list will give everyone involved a clear understanding of what hospitality image will take place and when. It will keep everyone on track to complete all the hotel pictures that are planned for the day.

What You Should Include In A Hotel Photography Shot List And Run Sheet

Contact Details

Include the names and phone numbers [Telegram/WhatsApp/Line] of everyone involved in the shoot. The details of the hotel or resort manager, photographer, assistants and stylists should all be included.

Start Time

The agreed upon start time should be included. The hotel photoshoot schedule should allow delays so schedule everyone to arrive 30 minutes before shooting is to begin.

Schedule breaks throughout the day. This will give the photographer time to charge batteries, plan for the next location and download and backup images.

Photography Shot List

​A detailed photography shot list should include details of each luxury hotel location including hotel room number, directions and a list of props needed. If any staff are required for the photos then their names should be listed here. You should plan for 30 minutes to 1 hour for each hotel location which will allow time for staging and moving between locations.

How To Ensure Your Hotel Photo Shoot Runs Smoothly

Planning

When you are planning the order of hotel spaces, schedule them sequentially as this will allow the photographer and crew to move about quickly.

The Guests Come First

Keep in mind guest traffic during the shoot as we want to cause the minimum amount of inconvenience for your hotel guests. Avoid shooting the lobby/reception at busy check-in/check-out times. Some locations may need to be closed for shooting so advise your guests well in advance. We are very well experienced in photographing hotels and know how to minimize the impact on the guests experience.

Props

Make sure all props listed on the run sheet are for the shoot.

Housekeeping

​It is a good idea to have one or two housekeeping staff on hand to go over any items that may have been missed in the preparation of the hotel shoot.

​Summary

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You need to be using a hotel photography shot list and your hospitality photographer should be providing input on this. It should include full details on the shoot, scheduled breaks, and a complete list of the required photographs and how the shoot will be managed around the guests and housekeeping.​