Ever wonder how the pillows and drapes in hotel room photos always look perfectly smooth—or how hospitality photographers manage to shoot some of the most famous hotel lobbies and pools without a soul in sight? Here is your chance to come behind the scenes and learn some of my top secrets—tips I wish I’d had when I was starting out.
5 Secrets of a Hospitality Photographer
Secret 1: It takes a team
Taking a stellar photograph lasts just a few minutes. Getting the room staged for that moment? Well, that can take hours and many hands. I learned early on that behind every great hotel photographer is a great assistant—and a great stylist.
Long before we arrive at a hotel or resort for a shoot, my stylist reviews the hotel’s brand guidelines. Some are nearly 100 pages about what can be and can’t be in photos. My stylist knows well in advance if we can bring in flowers or different art, or if that tchotchke can be used on tables and nightstands.
Well ahead of a shoot, my stylist and I will meet with the client to discuss the tone we’re going for and how we’re going to stage the room to get the mood just right.
Once we’re there and we’ve opened the door to the room we’re about to shoot, I need to nail the composition. Once that’s locked in and I know where the camera will be positioned to perfectly capture the room, it’s time for staging.
Here are some of the surprising and interesting details about this step:
- My stylist spends 30 to 45 minutes just making a perfect bed
- The duvet fold is often filled with polyester batting so it’s plush and completely smooth
- Pillowcases are stretched smooth over brand new pillows with clips and tape at the back
- Window drapes are often steamed and taped to the floor by yours truly
- Some hotel and resort brands fill conference rooms with props like plants, pillows and tchotchkes for us to choose from and place within the various spaces
You might be surprised to know there are many kinds of stylists, including hospitality stylists, wardrobe stylists and bed stylists. With hotel room shots, it’s really all about the bed. Lighting gives it shape and retouching makes it perfect but it’s got to be 90% of the way there before you take the picture.
Secret 2: Shooting the most popular lobbies without closing
The kinds of hotels and resorts I tend to shoot need to keep lobbies and restaurants open for guests. So, how can I possibly photograph that space with no one in it?
The secret here is timing. When can I shoot so that no one will be there? Before I explore options for the wee hours, I also have to ask, what is the vibe?
If it’s a late-night steak house or a bright and airy beachfront lobby, that’s going to dictate whether I’m leaning toward shooting in the middle of the night or during the day.
For example, when I photographed the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, we had to shoot the nearly all-hours restaurant from 3am to 6am for two days in a row to get all four shots.
In that same shoot, when we did the lobby, we cordoned off just half of the front desk, got that shot, then did the same for the other half. The image we used was a composite of several photos with no guests in view.
Secret 3: Pack and transport your gear smarter and rougher
What happens if you arrive and your gear doesn’t? Your hotel, resort or restaurant client will still expect you to meet a strict timeline and carry out the shoot. So, I learned early on to pack my essential gear in my carry-on so that if the other gear that’s been checked doesn’t make it, I can still do the shoot.
Gear I pack in a carry-on bag:
- Cameras
- Lenses
- Tripods
- Batteries
- Laptop
Gear I pack in a pelican case:
- Lights and light modifiers
- Stands
- Tape, clamps, cables and miscellaneous electronics and fabrics
A tip for checked gear cases:
Often, some of the most luxurious hotels and resorts I photograph are located in developing countries. To help ensure my gear is less likely to get stolen, I really beat up the large, expensive-looking pelican cases with tape, stickers, dents and scratches so they appear worthless.
A tip so you’re not charged import fees on goods
Be careful about what you’re bringing in to a country and make sure you’ve filled out all paperwork properly. I always take time to ensure I file the manifest with local customs so I’m not charged an import fee – a concern that countries have if they suspect the items you are bringing in could be resold.
Also, be sure to have a document reporting your equipment with all serial numbers stamped by your own country’s customs officials (in Canada, this document is often referred to as the CBSA “green card”). It ensures that your home country does not charge you tax on the goods that are returning to your country.
Secret 4: Managing drone permits
For many resorts and hotels at beach locales, drone photos are a must-have. It’s the only way to show the scale and the expanse of sand and ocean. In the Caribbean, you need some height above the water to capture the crystal clear blue water and the white sand below it.
A lot of Sandals hotels have heart-shaped pools, and you can only see that perspective from the air.
Taking drone photos in certain countries, however, takes careful planning. Several countries do not permit drone photography whatsoever. Several countries require letters with the signature of the Prime Minister or President. More than once, I’ve been through customs and when they get to the drone, I’ve had the strange opportunity of presenting a letter stating permission I’ve been given by the Prime Minister himself.
Do your research about drone permits months in advance, and have that permit letter handy!
Secret 5: Preparation is everything
I know there are some hospitality photographers who wing it —but I’ve found the more you plan, the more you leave nothing to chance and the smoother the shoot goes. So much could get overlooked or go sideways or take too long—and you have this tiny, very valuable window in which to do your best work and get the perfect shot.
One of my not-so-secret strategies is planning and preparation.
Here’s a typical workback for me for a hotel photography shoot:
1-2 months ahead
- Research the location and brand style guidelines
- Determine the tone
- Define a shot list
- Work with my stylist to build a props and floral list
2 weeks ahead
- Prep florals and knickknacks going on tables, linens and pillows for beds
- Finalize all travel arrangements
- Look at the weather and the positioning of the sun relative to the various spaces we are shooting at different times of day
- Confirm the detailed schedule with the client or producer
2-3 days ahead
- Shift plans according to weather and how to take advantage of sunrises and sunsets (you can always nap in the middle of the day!)
Now my team and I are all set to let those stunning images reveal themselves.
Thinking about one-of-a-kind photos that capture what makes your hotel or restaurant special?
I love sharing my ideas and my years of experience as a hospitality photographer for some of North America’s most luxurious hotels.