Best Hotel Photography Styles to Create Stunning Visuals

As the old saying goes, “a picture is worth a thousand words,” and in the hospitality industry, this couldn’t be truer. Hotel photography is essential for a hotel’s success, as it is the first impression a guest has of the property.

It can make or break a hotel’s online presence, and as such, hoteliers need to pay close attention to the type of photography they use.

This article aims to provide a comprehensive guide on hotel photography styles, how to choose the right style for your hotel, and tips for great hotel photography.

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The Different Hotel Photography Styles

There are different styles of hotel photography, and each has its own unique qualities. Below are some of the most popular styles:

Traditional Style

This style of hotel photography is the most common, and it aims to showcase the hotel’s features in a straightforward, clean, and bright way. Traditional hotel photography typically features shots of the hotel’s exterior, rooms, and amenities such as the pool, gym, and restaurants. These photos are taken from a high angle, giving the viewer a bird’s eye view of the property.

Lifestyle Style

This style of hotel photography showcases the guest experience and aims to tell a story. Lifestyle photography captures the guests’ emotions, interactions, and activities, highlighting the hotel’s unique features and amenities. These photos are taken in a candid and relaxed way, creating a sense of authenticity.

Architectural Style

This style of hotel photography emphasizes the hotel’s design and structure, showcasing the architecture and the interior design. Architectural photography is taken from a variety of angles and often includes close-up shots of the building’s unique features.

Artistic Style

This style of hotel photography is the most creative and experimental, using artistic techniques to showcase the hotel’s features. Artistic photography plays with light, shadows, and colors to create a unique and memorable visual experience.

Do you like to dive deeper into the types of hospitality photography? Read our guide about the different types of hotel photography here.

Choosing the Right Style for your Hotel

Choosing the right style of hotel photography depends on several factors, including the hotel’s branding, target audience, and the message you want to convey. Before choosing a style, you need to consider the following factors:

Hotel’s Branding

Your hotel’s branding should guide your photography choices. If you have a luxury hotel, you should opt for traditional or architectural photography to showcase the elegance and sophistication of the property. On the other hand, if you have a boutique hotel, lifestyle photography would be a better fit.

Target Audience

Your target audience plays a crucial role in determining the type of photography you use. For example, if your target audience is families, you should opt for lifestyle photography that showcases the hotel’s family-friendly amenities.

Message

The message you want to convey through your hotel photography should also guide your style choices. If you want to emphasize the hotel’s modern design, you should opt for architectural photography. If you want to highlight the hotel’s unique features, lifestyle photography would be a better fit.

Tips for Great Hotel Photography

Once you’ve chosen the right style for your hotel, it’s essential to ensure that your photos are of high quality. Here are some tips to ensure that you get great hotel photography:

• Lighting and Equipment
  Lighting is crucial for great hotel photography. Natural light is best, but if you’re shooting indoors, make sure to use the right lighting equipment to create a bright and inviting atmosphere.
• Composition and Angles
  Composition is critical for creating visually appealing photos. Make sure to use the right angles to showcase the hotel’s best features, and ensure that your photos are well-framed.
• Styling and Staging
  Styling and staging can make a big difference in the quality of your photos. Make sure to declutter the scene, add props and accessories that complement the hotel’s theme and branding, and ensure that the room is clean and tidy.
• Editing and Post-processing
  Editing and post-processing are essential for creating high-quality hotel photography. Make sure to edit your photos to correct any color issues, crop them to the right size, and remove any unwanted elements from the scene.

Examples of Hotels with Great Photography

There are many hotels with excellent photography that stands out in the crowded hospitality industry. Below are some examples of hotels with great photography, and what sets them apart:

The Parker, Palm Springs

The Parker Hotel in Palm Springs is a great example of a hotel that uses lifestyle photography to create an emotional connection with its guests. The hotel’s photos showcase the unique experience of staying at the property, from lounging by the pool to enjoying the hotel’s retro-chic interiors.

The Beverly Hills Hotel

The Beverly Hills Hotel is an example of a hotel that uses traditional photography to showcase its timeless elegance and sophistication. The hotel’s photos feature shots of the hotel’s exterior, interior, and amenities, highlighting its glamorous Hollywood history.

The Ace Hotel, New York

The Ace Hotel in New York is an example of a hotel that uses artistic photography to create a unique and memorable visual experience. The hotel’s photos feature experimental and creative shots that play with light, shadows, and color, creating a sense of creativity and playfulness.

Common Mistakes in Hotel Photography

There are common mistakes that hoteliers make when it comes to hotel photography. Below are some examples:

• Poor Lighting
  Poor lighting is a common issue in hotel photography. To avoid this, ensure that you use natural light whenever possible and invest in the right lighting equipment for indoor photography.
• Lack of Composition
  Lack of composition can make your photos look amateurish and unprofessional. Ensure that you use the right angles and framing to showcase the hotel’s best features.
• Cluttered Scenes
  Cluttered scenes can make your photos look uninviting and unappealing. Ensure that you declutter the scene, add props and accessories that complement the hotel’s branding, and ensure that the room is clean and tidy.

Hiring a Professional Photographer vs. DIY Photography

When it comes to hotel photography, there are pros and cons to hiring a professional photographer versus doing it yourself. Below are some examples:

Hiring a Professional photographer

Hiring a professional photographer ensures that you get high-quality photos that are well-composed, well-lit, and showcase the hotel’s best features. However, it can be expensive, and you may have to coordinate with the photographer to ensure that they capture the right shots.

DIY photography

DIY photography is a cost-effective option that allows you to have more control over the photos you take. However, it requires knowledge of photography techniques and equipment, and may not produce the same quality of photos as a professional photographer.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the choice of hotel photography style affect a hotel’s branding and target audience?

Well, let me tell you, the right photography style can make all the difference in how a hotel is perceived by potential guests. Choosing the right style that aligns with your branding and target audience can create an emotional connection that leads to bookings and repeat visits.

What are some creative ways hotels can use photography to showcase their unique features?

Hotels can use photography in creative ways to showcase their unique features, from lifestyle photography that captures the experience of staying at the property to artistic photography that plays with light, shadows, and color to create a unique visual experience.

How can hotels avoid common mistakes in hotel photography, such as poor lighting or cluttered scenes?

Avoiding common mistakes in hotel photography requires attention to detail, such as using natural light whenever possible, investing in the right lighting equipment, and ensuring that the scene is decluttered and well-staged.

Is it worth the cost to hire a professional photographer for hotel photography, or can hotels do it themselves?

It really depends on the hotel’s budget and level of expertise. Hiring a professional photographer can ensure high-quality photos that showcase the hotel’s best features, but it can be expensive. DIY photography is a cost-effective option, but it requires knowledge of photography techniques and equipment.

How can hotels use photography to stand out in a crowded hospitality industry?

Hotels can use photography to stand out in a crowded hospitality industry by choosing a photography style that aligns with their branding and target audience, showcasing their unique features, and avoiding common mistakes such as poor lighting or cluttered scenes.

By creating high-quality hotel photography, hotels can set themselves apart and attract more guests. Read also our article what is hotel photography here.

Conclusion

In conclusion, hotel photography is essential for a hotel’s success, and choosing the right style of photography is crucial for creating the right first impression.

By considering the hotel’s branding, target audience, and message, you can choose the right style of photography to showcase the hotel’s unique features and amenities.

By following the tips and examples outlined in this article, you can create high-quality hotel photography that sets your property apart in a crowded industry