What is Hotel Photography – Tips & Tricks for Perfect Photos

If you’ve ever traveled or gone on vacation, you’ve probably booked a hotel room. What you may not realize is that the photographs you see on the hotel’s website or on a booking site can have a huge impact on your decision to book a room.

This is where hotel photography comes in. In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about hotel photography, from what it is to its importance, types, and best practices.

Key Takeaways

• Professional hotel photography is essential for the hospitality industry, as it can help hotels increase bookings, create a perception of value, and establish a consistent brand image.
• When taking photos of your hotel, it’s important to showcase your hotel’s unique features and consider your target audience. Using a variety of shots and highlighting the surrounding area can also make your photos more appealing to potential guests.
• Best practices for hotel photography include hiring a professional photographer, using high-quality equipment, and providing accurate and descriptive captions and descriptions for each photo.
• By investing in high-quality hotel photography and following best practices, hotels can create a competitive advantage that will help them stand out from the competition and succeed in today’s crowded hospitality industry.

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What is Hotel Photography

Hotel photography is the art of taking high-quality, attractive pictures of the inside and outside of a hotel. It means pointing out the things that make the property special and showing what a guest can expect when they stay there.

Hotel photography is meant to be more than just a collection of images – it’s a way to tell a story and give potential guests a glimpse into what it would be like to stay at the hotel.

Why is Hotel Photography Important?

Visual content is critical in the hospitality industry, where customers rely on images to make decisions. In fact, studies show that images are the most important factor when booking a hotel room.

Professional hotel photography can help to create an emotional connection between the hotel and potential guests. It can also provide a virtual tour of the hotel, giving potential guests a sense of what to expect when they arrive.

Benefits of Hotel Photography

Increased Bookings

One of the main benefits of hotel photography is increased bookings. High-quality photos can entice potential guests to book a room at a hotel. In fact, a study by Expedia found that hotels with high-quality photos generate 150% more bookings than hotels with low-quality photos.

Perception of Value

High-quality photos can also create a perception of value. When potential guests see stunning photos of a hotel, they may be willing to pay more for a room. A study by Cornell University found that hotels with professional photos were able to charge a higher price per room than hotels without professional photos.

Consistency in Branding

Professional hotel photography can help a hotel establish a consistent brand image. When all of a hotel’s photographs have a consistent style, lighting, and composition, it creates a sense of cohesion and professionalism. This can help to build brand recognition and trust with potential guests.

Higher Online Visibility

Booking sites and search engines are more likely to show hotels that have professional photos in their search results. This is because search algorithms often prioritize listings with high-quality photographs. Because of this, hotels with professional photos are more likely to be seen by potential guests and get more bookings.

The Purpose of Hotel Photography

The main goal of hotel photography is to get people interested in staying there to book a room. It’s a form of marketing that can make or break a hotel’s success. When done well, hotel photography can:

• Create an emotional connection with potential guests
• Highlight the unique features of the property
• Convey the overall ambiance of the hotel
• Showcase the experience guests can expect when they stay there
• Set the hotel apart from the competition
• The benefits of Hotel Photography

Hotel photography is not just about getting potential guests to book a room. It also has a range of other benefits, including:

• Increasing a hotel’s online visibility
• Attracting guests who are more likely to leave positive reviews
• Encouraging guests to share photos of their stay on social media
  Helping the hotel to establish a consistent brand image
• Providing a higher return on investment than other forms of marketing

The Types of Hotel Photography

There are several types of hotel photography, each of which serves a different purpose:

Exterior Photography

Exterior photography showcases the hotel’s exterior, including its architecture, landscaping, and location. It’s meant to give potential guests an idea of what the hotel looks like from the outside and what the surrounding area is like.

Interior Photography

Interior photography captures the hotel’s interior, including its hotel rooms, common areas, and amenities. It’s meant to show potential guests what they can expect when they stay at the hotel.

Lifestyle Photography

Lifestyle photography shows how people use the hotel’s services and what it’s like to stay there as a whole. It’s meant to create an emotional connection with potential guests and show them what it would be like to stay at the hotel

Aerial Photography

Aerial photography is taken from above, usually from a drone or helicopter. Its purpose is to show where the hotel is and what’s around it, like landmarks, beaches, or other natural features.

Virtual Tours

Virtual tours let potential guests see the inside and outside of the hotel from every angle. They’re meant to give potential guests a more immersive experience and allow them to explore the hotel on their own terms.

Check out this detailed guide on how to how to take photos of the hotel lobby.

Best Practices for Hotel Photography

Now that you understand the importance of hotel photography, here are some best practices to keep in mind:

Hire a Professional Photographer

The most important thing you can do to ensure your hotel’s photos are of high quality is to hire a professional photographer. Professional photographers have the skills and tools to capture the special things about your hotel and make pictures that will make people want to stay there. Get a grip on hotel photography pricing here.

Showcase Your Hotel’s Unique Features

Your hotel has unique features that set it apart from the competition. Make sure to highlight these features in your photographs. This could be anything from a stunning view from the balcony to an on-site restaurant or spa. REad more about features at our guide about how to take pictures of Hotel’s Unique Selling Points.

Use High-Quality Equipment

To capture high-quality images, it’s important to use high-quality equipment. This includes a professional-grade camera, lighting equipment, and editing software.

Consider the Lighting

Lighting can make or break a photograph. When taking photographs of your hotel, pay attention to the lighting. Natural light is often the best choice for interior photography, while exterior photography is best taken during the “golden hour,” the hour just after sunrise or just before sunset.

Keep the Photos Up-to-Date

It’s important to keep your hotel’s photographs up-to-date. If the photos on your website or booking site are outdated, potential guests may think the hotel is not well-maintained. Make sure to update your photos regularly to showcase any updates or renovations. We also recommend to establish a branded photo library for your hotel.

Use Captions and Descriptions

Captions and descriptions can enhance the impact of your hotel photography. They can give information and context that may not be clear from the photos alone. Make sure to provide accurate and descriptive captions and descriptions for each photo. This can help potential guests understand the unique features of your hotel and what to expect during their stay.

Consider the Audience

When taking photos of your hotel, it’s important to consider your target audience. Are you targeting families, couples, or business travelers? Make sure your photos appeal to your target audience and showcase the amenities and features that are most important to them.

For example, if you’re targeting families, make sure to highlight family-friendly amenities such as a pool or playground.

Use a Variety of Shots

When taking photos of your hotel, make sure to use a variety of shots. This can include wide-angle shots that capture the entire room, as well as close-up shots that highlight specific features such as the bed or bathroom.

By taking pictures from different angles, you can create a more complete picture of your hotel and show off all of its special features. Interested in more ideas? Check our Hotel Photography Ideas here!

Highlight the Surrounding Area

In addition to showcasing your hotel, it’s also important to highlight the surrounding area. This can include well-known tourist spots, restaurants in the area, and other amenities that might be appealing to potential guests.

By highlighting the surrounding area, you can give potential guests a sense of what they can expect during their stay and help them make a more informed decision about booking your hotel.

Conclusion

Hotel photography is an essential part of the hospitality industry. High-quality photos can help hotels increase bookings, create a perception of value, establish a consistent brand image, and receive higher online visibility.

By following best practices like hiring a professional photographer, showing off unique features, using high-quality equipment, and thinking about the audience, hotels can make stunning photos that will make potential guests want to book a room.

In today’s competitive market, it’s essential for hotels to use every tool available to stand out from the competition. Professional hotel photography is one of the best ways to show off a hotel’s special features and connect with potential guests on an emotional level.

By investing in high-quality hotel photography, hotels can create a competitive advantage that will help them to succeed in today’s crowded hospitality industry.

Further readings:
History of photography timeline
Defying definition: ‘Lifestyle’ hotels – Travel Weekly
Change in the Hospitality Industry: New Paradigms, Frames, and Perspectives
Is Guest Experience the future of Hotel Marketing?