What Is Hotel Photography?

Table Of Contents

Introduction
So What Is Hospitality Photography?
The Different Forms of Hotel Photography
Interior & Architectural Photography
Lifestyle Photography
Food & Beverage Photography
Environmental Portrait Photography
Destination Photography
Aerial Photography
Basic Video Production
Conclusion

Introduction

When we think of hotel or hospitality photography, the first hotel photos that come to our mind are the actual hotel room pictures and hotel photos of the hotel amenities and outlets. The photos of the hotel and resort spaces are our main focus and speciality for our luxury hotel brand clients. And these are the hotel images that we will showcase on our hotel photography websites.

However, when we need to answer the question – “What is hotel photography?” other forms of photography and content creation come to mind. These additional services can be thought of as “value-added services”, which help our luxury resort and hotel clients stay within their marketing budgets and enable us to provide higher value to our clients.

So What Is Hospitality Photography?

A hotel or hospitality photographer must also be able to provide the following genres of photography. Even though they may not be our speciality, our results should be of a high quality. We cannot just be known as “architecture and interior hotel photographers”, with a diminished value in our prospective client’s eyes.

So, what else should a hotel photographer be comfortable in providing during a hotel photoshoot?

The Different Forms of Hotel Photography

Our Main Core Focus and Specialties

Interior photography
Architectural photography

Other Services We Should Be Able To Provide

Lifestyle Photography
Food and Beverage Photography
Environmental Portrait Photography
Destination Photography
Aerial Photography
Basic Video Production

Interior & Architectural Photography

Our interior and architectural photos are what we are well known for and we have a huge amount of technical expertise and experience with. Our careers are built up around these hotel photos and for most of us, this is our true passion. Being a high-end interior and architecture hotel photographer entails creating high-quality, eye-catching hotel images of all interior and exterior spaces.

This is what we are most comfortable with. We know the best compositions for hotel rooms. We know the optimal lighting conditions for interior photos. We know how to stage and style a space to guide the viewer where we want their eye to go. We know what potential issues to look out for and correct them or get the correct exposures to be able to rectify them in post-production.

To put it simply we are experts in interior and architectural photography.

Lifestyle Photography

After interiors and architecture photography, lifestyle photography is one of the most important and requested from of hospitality photography. Lifestyle photography in this sense is capturing the essence of the hotel and the guest experience, with the ultimate goal being to get an emotional connection with the potential guest and have them imagine themselves experiencing the scene in the photo.

It is all about showing people the experience and emotions they can have while staying at the hotel and getting them to book. While the architecture and interior photos are used on the Website, OTAs, and news releases, lifestyle photos have their place on social media and editorial uses.

Food & Beverage Photography

The next form of photography in line is food & beverage photography. Highlighting and showcasing the hotel’s menu items and signature cocktails in an appealing way. From invoking a mouth-watering reaction from a steak or signature gourmet burger to a glass of thirst-quenching craft beer on a hot day.

These photos need to sell the food and beverage items.

Environmental Portrait Photography

Very similar to lifestyle photography, here we capture team members in their work environments. Most of the time this will involve photographing world-class chefs and mixologists. But depending on the concept and intended usage this can extended to a team member from each department.

On one cruise ship that I photographed, we shot one crew member in their surroundings, from the deck hands all the way to the Captain. These series of photos make for a friendly and welcoming overview on websites and social media.

Destination Photography

Depending on the type of hotel or resort and the location, hotel destination photos of the surrounding area and landmarks can help showcase the hotel’s proximity to certain sights and landmarks. As well as show potential hotel guests what activities can be enjoyed while staying at the hotel.

Aerial Photography

Since the advent of drones with bigger sensors and higher image quality, drone photos have become very popular in hotel photography, enabling us to show the viewer unique, and never-before-seen views. These hotel images are perfect for swimming pools, and beaches, as well as showing the proximity of the resort to a landmark or feature.

These hotel pictures are now getting to be a little bit overdone, but if taken creatively and sparingly they make a good addition to a hotel marketing content toolbox.

Basic Video Production

I don’t think any of our clients expect us to be able to produce a 3-minute promotional video during a hotel photoshoot. But, time permitting, we should have the photography gear and technical know-how to capture short walk-through videos and b-roll for inclusion in longer video production as well as social media reals.

This, I feel, provides the biggest value to our clients of all the additional services we provide. If the client only requires some b-roll then this will save them the hassle and expense of bringing in a full video production team.

Conclusion

So back to the original questions – “What is hotel photography?”

It is being able to provide our luxury hotel clients with a full range of high-quality hotel and resort photos and video footage that will provide high value to the hotel marketing teams and help them achieve their goals.

All this as well as making your life as easy as possible before, during, and after a hotel photoshoot. We want you to enjoy working with us as much as we enjoy working with you.