Hotel Photography Trends: What's New and What's Next in Hospitality Photography

As the hotel industry evolves, so do trends in hotel photography. With the rise of social media and the growing importance of visual storytelling, hotel and resorts are placing more emphasis on quality photography to attract and engage potential guests. Here are some of the latest hotel photography trends to watch:

    Authenticity and storytelling: One of the biggest trends in hotel photography is the emphasis on authentic, narrative-based visuals. Instead of staged, static photos, hotels are now looking for more dynamic, story-based images that capture the essence of their brand and offer insight into the guest experience. This can include shots of guests interacting with hotel amenities or candid shots of employees doing their daily work.

    Lifestyle photography: Another trend in hotel photography is the use of lifestyle images to convey the unique atmosphere and mood of the hotel. This could be shots of guests lounging by the pool, enjoying a meal in the hotel restaurant, or exploring the local area. Lifestyle photography can help hotels create a more aspirational, emotional connection with potential guests and set themselves apart from the competition.

    Aerial and drone photography: aerial and drone photography is becoming increasingly popular in hotel photography as it offers a unique perspective of the hotel and its surroundings. Aerial shots can highlight the hotel's location and proximity to local attractions, while drone shots can provide a bird's eye view of the hotel and show its size and layout.

    With the growing importance of sustainability and environmental responsibility, many hotels are looking for ways to showcase their green initiatives and environmental friendliness through photography. This can include images of the hotel's eco-friendly amenities, such as solar panels or green roofs, or photos of local conservation efforts and community involvement.

Some of the hottest trends in hospitality photography today include:

1. Minimalist compositions: less is often more when it comes to photographing hotel rooms and other spaces. Simple, clean compositions can be very effective in conveying the stylishness and sophistication of your property.

2. Short videos, not just for social media.

If you're like most hotel and resort photographers, you're always looking for new ways to differentiate yourself from the competition and attract more clients. And one way to do that is by creating short videos of your hotel or resort that can be used on social media platforms like YouTube and Instagram.

3. Bold color schemes: bright, vibrant colors are in vogue.

 If your property has any colorful elements (such as bold artwork or brightly painted walls), show them off in your photo.

4. Local landmarks: Many travelers want to see photos of local landmarks and attractions when considering a vacation destination. If your hotel or resort is located near some famous landmarks, be sure to include them in your photo gallery.

5. Aerial photos: this is a great way to show the layout and location of your facility. If you're not comfortable using a drone yourself, consider hiring a professional photographer who specializes in this type of shot.

6. People having fun: Last but not least, don't forget to take a few shots of people having fun in your facility! Guests should be able to see themselves relaxing by the pool

Since hotel photography is constantly evolving, it's important for hotels and photographers to keep up with the latest trends and techniques. By embracing these trends and experimenting with new approaches, hotels can create compelling and eye-catching visuals that help them stand out in a crowded marketplace.

Hotel photography is an important tool for creating beautiful visuals to promote your hotel and resort. By following the right trends, you can create stunning photos that capture the unique experience of your destination. When it comes to creating content that engages potential guests and encourages more bookings, there are endless possibilities - from using aerial perspectives to capturing moments of joy in a resort setting. By keeping up with the latest trends in hospitality photography, you'll be able to create compelling images for your establishment that won't be easily forgotten.

How to prepare your Hotel for a photoshoot Part 2.

In the last part, we talked about how to get inspired before taking pictures of the hotel. What to consider and what technical elements of the hotel to check.

Now let's look at the specific places of the hotel and how to prepare them for the photoshoot.

Styling rooms

Most of the time we move furniture to show everything and fill in the blank spaces in the photo. I am not a fan of moving furniture that is not in the room or completely replacing it for the photoshoot. Yes, it happens. Styling is done during the photoshoot to make the photo as perfect as possible.

Lobby, bar and common areas

Taking pictures of common areas such as a lobby, bar, restaurant or common room is logistically demanding.

Check the lights again, clean up, clean windows. And try to find out what time there are as few guests as possible in the places that need to be shot.

The restaurant and bar are usually shot when they are closed so the photoshoot does not disturb the guests.

In the restaurant, it must be set correctly, according to your wishes. Often there are several variations of the place setting, for breakfast and dinner.

The bar always looks the best when it's tidy in the photo, without coasters, drinks, etc.

Augustine, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Prague

Food as a part of the hotel

If you decide to take pictures of food, it is best to reserve a half-day or a day, it depends on how many photos you want.

Choose a space that is free of guests and plan a time when the chef will have the least work so he can concentrate on the cooking for a photoshoot, and have enough time for food styling. It is good to talk to the chef about what food looks best, which drink is suitable for the dish etc.

Brainstorm with the photographer about whether the food will be photographed with the still life of the hotel as a background or as a detail on a uniform background.

Breakfast makes the day

Breakfast is photographed before opening to guests. It is also possible to prepare an extra breakfast for the photoshoot. Most of the time we remove food labels, they don't look so good in the photos. Be sure not to change the composition of the breakfast, guests would be surprised if the photos had seafood for breakfast and they do not have it during their stay. Consider whether you want to take pictures of breakfast as a buffet or as a classic meal on the table or both.

Show the hotel from the outside

Day or night photo. Both variants are often photographed. As with the interior, check the lighting and cleaning in front of the hotel. If you are on a busy street, it is better to take pictures early in the morning when there are the least tourists and there are fewer cars in front of the hotel. If it's possible, try to make a car-free space in front of the hotel. If this is not possible, there will be cars in the photo - most of the time it is too complicated to retouch them out.

When to take pictures with a model

Photos of the hotel with the model have their place. They are great for social networks, marketing materials, additional photos on the web, as an opening photo or as an inspiration for everything you can do and experience. Shooting with a model requires more preparation. First find the model, makeup, styling, scheduled shooting site, and shooting time. But this extra work pays off.

Hotel Marriott, Prague

Be at the photoshoot

If it's possible, be at the shoot, at least at the beginning. Even if you hire a professional hotel photographer, show him what is important to you, what must be seen. You will see what can be photographed and what the technology no longer allows. You avoid an unpleasant surprise that the photographer chose different angles than you imagined.

And of course, more people see more and you can point out small things that bother you.

Kahanda Kanda, Sri Lanka

As you can see there is not much, it is rather small things that speed up shooting and allow the photographer and his team to focus on other,  more important things. If you are unsure how to prepare for a photo shoot, feel free to contact the photographer and he will certainly advise you. We wish you a beautiful and hassle-free photo shoot.

Hotel Volařík, Mikulov

How to prepare a hotel for a photo shoot. Part 1

You have chosen a photographer for your hotel and you know what places in the hotel you want to photograph. But how do you ensure the perfect result? A lot of things can be edited in photoshop, but even that has limited options and if you want the photo to look realistic, then it takes a little preparation. Yes most things can be edited on the spot, but it wastes precious time.

Inspiration is the key.

Don't be afraid to tell the photographer what you like, what works for you and what you found as inspiration and would like to implement.

For more precise communication it's better to post photos as inspiration, this way you have a concrete conversation thanks to the photos. What works best for us is an established board on pinterest where we save suggestions and then consult it together with the client.

Hotel Imperial, Praha

What do I like about the competition?

Don't even bother looking at the competition. You have a favourite hotel that you follow or hate. Because you can show the photographer what you like but also what you don't like. The photographer will have a better idea of your taste. And tailor the shoot for you. Also remember to choose a photographer based on their style - don't expect a photographer who shoots real estate photography to do the same job as a photographer who specializes in architecture and hotels.

Day vs. night shoots. What are the differences in preparation?

There are no big differences between day and night shoots for you as a client. The important thing is to decide ahead of time whether to shoot day, night or both. If you're not sure if day or night photos would suit your hotel better, don't be afraid to ask. But think about the lighting in the room, if there is only one dim light in the room, night photos won't look very good. But conversely if there are lamps and the designer has played with the lighting, why not give it a try. But for night photography, the colour temperature of the bulbs plays a big part - if there are several different coloured light sources in the room, the photo won't turn out well.

Grand Hyatt Doha, Qatar

Architecture photography versus lifestyle photography.

In lifestyle photography we are very limited by the weather. It's better to do a scout day here. When we look at locations and determine the time of the shoot. Also, model and appropriate clothing must be available. It always pays to have a makeup artist and hairstylist available. Compared to architectural photography, lifestyle photos don't get as many taken in a day. However, it all depends on preparedness.

Show the hotel from the outside too.

Day or night photos. Often both are photographed. As with the interior, check the lighting and cleaning outside the hotel. If you're on a busy street, it's better to shoot early in the morning when there are fewer tourists and also fewer cars in front of the hotel. If you can, try to make the area in front of the hotel car-free for the photo shoot. If this is not possible, expect that there will be cars in the photo.

Hotel Kings Court, Praha

When to shoot with a model.

Hotel photos with a model have their place. They're great for social media, marketing materials, additional photos for the website, as introductory photos or as inspiration for what you can do and experience. A photo shoot with a model requires more preparation. First finding the model, makeup, styling, scheduling the location and time of the shoot. But this extra work is worth it.

Hotel Volarik, Mikulov

Be there for the photo shoot.

If possible, be at the shoot, at least at the beginning. Even if you hire a professional hotel photographer, show them what is important to you, what needs to be seen. See right away what can be photographed and what technology no longer allows. You will avoid the unpleasant surprise that the photographer has chosen different angles than you had imagined.

And of course, more people see more and you can point out the little things that bother you.

As you can see it's not much, it's more the little things that speed up the shoot and allow the photographer and his team to focus on other, important things. If you are not sure what to prepare and how to prepare don't hesitate to contact the photographer and he will definitely advise you. We wish you a beautiful and hassle-free photo shoot.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.