Hotel Room Photography: How to Take Pictures of Hotel Rooms
When hotels present dim, cluttered, or awkwardly angled room photos, potential guests scroll past without a second thought, leading to revenue loss. As a professional hotel photographer, I transform ordinary spaces into irresistible visual experiences. Discover expert hotel room photography tips that turn hotels into booking magnets.
Hotel Room Photography Ideas and Tips
To take hotel photos, professional photographers use strategic staging and thoughtful composition to make rooms look big, yet realistic. They also incorporate branding and the human element in spaces. They utilize proper equipment with optimized camera settings to capture a room’s amenities across different seasons and times of day.
One of the things I love about hotel photography is that my photo shoot projects for local hotels in Dallas and beyond continue to contribute to business revenues and tourism. Whether you have a new boutique or a 5-star hotel, my tips and expert hospitality photography services can produce revenue-generating pictures to attract visitors who will secure your rooms right away.
Overview of Professional Hotel Photography
Hotel photography is a specialized form of commercial business photography focused on visually documenting hotels as a whole. It involves capturing stunning photographs of rooms, detailing the aspects that convey comfort and aesthetic appeal.
A professional hotel photographer also highlights hotel amenities and the vibe of the destination. These visuals stand out to create a strong first impression and to showcase the property to the world as a warm and inviting place to stay.
Benefits of Hospitality Photography
High-quality images are among the factors that influence a guest's decision to book, acting as a silent salesperson for hotels. Discover how professional hospitality photography allows properties to create an immediate, positive emotional response and maintain a cohesive, appealing presence across different marketing channels.
Professional hotel and lifestyle resort photography lets businesses showcase their properties from the best perspective.
High-quality photos are versatile for content on hotel websites, brochures, and online travel agent (OTA) listings.
Engaging visual content leads to an increase in direct bookings by establishing trust and desirability.
Images optimized for web and mobile are easier for potential guests to view, as approximately 50% of hotel bookings happen on mobile.
Exceptional visuals encourage guests to create and share user-generated content, extending your marketing reach.
Great images can attract high-value opportunities, like using certain parts of the hotel as strategic locations for music video productions or in high-profile travel articles.
In-Room Amenities That Guests Look for in Hotels
Hotel photography highlights a property’s best features to potential guests. Effectively taking photographs of key elements helps travelers envision their comfortable stay and influences booking decisions.
These are the most desired in-room amenities among American travelers. I can use them as a starting point when taking photographs for your hotel’s desired photo shoot concept.
| Amenity | Hotel Photography Technique |
|---|---|
| Air Conditioning | Close-up of thermostat, wall unit detail, remote control |
| Power outlet (near the bed) | Nightstand angle, charging phone mockup, outlet accessibility |
| Shampoo/conditioner included | Bathroom shelf styling, product arrangement, brand close-up | Nice view | Window frame shot, balcony perspective, golden hour lighting | Coffee machine | Countertop setup, brewing action, cup placement styling |
Hotel Photography Tips
Even if you’re going to hire a professional, knowing these key hospitality photography tips can guide your team or management to prepare for the shoot. These fundamentals can also help you collaborate with your photographer and appreciate the technical work being done.
1. Stage the Scene and Showcase Hotel Branding
Imagine how guests will want the room to welcome them, neat and fresh. Among the first things a photography team does in a shoot is to style and stage the scene to what the hotel needs. This way, you won't waste time adjusting furniture or placing props during the shoot.
Turn off electronics, empty trash bins, hide wiring, and put a vase of fresh flowers or a welcome basket to make the room feel homey.
Show how guests can feel relaxed by staying in bed, ordering room service, and watching movies.
Highlight personalized welcome gifts, in-room entertainment, complimentary drinks, and other in-demand hotel amenities that motivate guests to book.
Show a hotel's personality by including brand elements such as the logo on pillows or the name on pens.
Decorate using high-quality fine art, picture frames, or curated local pieces to improve the room's aesthetic and cultural appeal.
2. Use Proper Photography Equipment
Hotels can use images on a variety of platforms, so the visuals should have the best quality for each platform. I use professional gear to produce photos in high resolution.
Camera: The most important thing here is to use a camera body with a quality sensor to shoot in various lighting conditions.
Lens: It's best to shoot a wide angle to capture the whole scene. Lenses with 16-35mm and 14-24mm focal ranges are my favorite since they usually have wide apertures that get more light. The wide perspective enables me to show as many details as possible without too much distortion.
External lighting: Some rooms won't have sufficient lighting. Flash and softbox lighting can set the mood while creating an even image exposure.
Tripod: Longer shutter speeds keep the shutter open longer and let in more light. A reliable tripod makes it easy to adjust the height and manipulate the legs for better positioning while avoiding camera shake.
3. Set the Correct Camera Settings
Using a high-end camera or the most recent models of wide-angle lenses is not enough. I use the right camera settings to guarantee even exposure and excellent image quality.
Aperture: An aperture of around f/8 or smaller lets in as much light as possible to enable sharp focusing.
Shutter speed: A shutter speed of around 1/100 keeps visuals sharp.
ISO: The ISO level should be as low as possible, like 100, to avoid image noise.
4. Combine External and Natural Light
Lighting determines the mood and realism of the space. Properly setting the light eliminates distracting, harsh shadows and creates a balanced exposure that highlights textures on the walls and furniture. I utilize both the room's available lighting and external lights to make the lighting feel warm and attractive.
Use off-camera flash to subtly fill in dark areas without overpowering the natural light coming through the windows.
Bounce the flash off ceilings or nearby walls to diffuse the light, preventing deep, harsh shadows.
Shoot images in different exposure settings and use lighting combinations to stitch an HDR image to balance the exposure.
Employ the fastest lens and specific camera settings to balance the bright exterior light with the darker interior light seamlessly.
Adjust equipment usage or settings based on new ideas to make sure the room looks bright, accurate, and alluring.
5. Maximize Spatial Awareness to Highlight Room Interiors
Hotels benefit from spatial awareness because it transforms ordinary rooms into spacious and attractive scenes, which can ultimately drive positive guest reviews. By showcasing stand-out interiors and conveying the scale of the hotel, the pictures make a powerful first impression that matches what guests expect to find inside.
Decide on the best angle to shoot the bed and other focal points to emphasize the true size of the room.
Use a wide-angle lens to make the rooms look bigger and more expansive.
Arrange the furniture and style the hotel bed so the room's main features are immediately enticing.
Frame the shot to include elements like textured walls or decorative corners without placing the camera right in the middle of the room.
Control the lighting to minimize harsh shadows and highlight the architectural elements of a modern, contemporary, or luxury hotel lifestyle.
6. Try Various Angles and Compositions
A study shows a 225% increase in hotel bookings even if you only use the best shot of a room. Here’s how I take sample photos by experimenting with angles and shooting heights.
Shooting from every corner is one of the best ways to showcase a room and make it appear bigger while providing context.
Use a 24mm wide-angle lens for small areas and reflective surfaces to highlight important details, like sockets, towels, robes, and decorations.
Keep the perspective straight and at eye level, especially for detailed shots.
Shoot from a lower angle to create a dominant effect to highlight an amenity.
Shoot an equal amount of floor and ceiling to create symmetry and give guests a better idea.
Use leading lines, such as the hallway or doorframe, to guide a guest's attention to the room's main feature, like the king-sized bed.
7. Consider the Time of the Day and Season
Capturing the ideal mood and vibe of a location requires careful consideration of the time of day. For example, natural lighting drastically changes how a room appears. Seasonal differences, from bright blue skies in the summer to cozy winter interiors, help highlight the property's appeal during its peak tourist season and beyond. Here’s how I take advantage of these photo shoot times and seasons.
Shoot exterior shots early in the morning or late afternoon to avoid harsh midday sun and long, unflattering shadows.
Capture areas like the rooftop bar during the golden hour to emphasize a relaxing evening mood and its appeal as a popular spot.
Use long exposures or a subtle flash to illuminate interiors during darker periods, achieving a warm, inviting feel, especially in winter.
Prioritize shots with bright blue skies taken just before or after the intense sun in the middle of the day, especially for beach resorts.
Plan diverse ideas for the shoot to capture the full guest experience, especially what it’s like during the most appealing tourist season.
8. Incorporate Human Presence
Hotel photo shoots can include real people when shooting to show how guests can live the best life. Among the tips I share with my clients is to strategically add a human element, helping hotels create an immediate emotional connection with potential guests.
Subtly place models in the frame to show scale and use the space, such as relaxing on the bed.
Direct models to casually interact with the environment, offering visual tips on how to enjoy the destination.
Take photos of a family engaging with services, like ordering room service or having breakfast, to illustrate the hotel experience.
Capture models enjoying hot spots around the room, like showing how a couple can use the room to prepare for their ballroom wedding, or kids trying out the room's entertainment.
Use recognizable talent, like vloggers or influencers, to make the scenes feel current and suitable for social media posts or even an album cover for a local artist.
Related Questions
How to Photograph Hotel Rooms?
For a successful photo shoot, photographers will carefully frame the shot to highlight key features. This often involves utilizing an external flash or ample natural light to illuminate the frame and the carefully styled hotel bed. A wide-angle lens can help capture the entire room, but be sure to maintain a natural look rather than distorting the scene.
How to Achieve Instagrammable Hotel Room Photos?
Focus on clean and engaging angles during your photo shoot to get the best photos, incorporating modern styling ideas and unique aspects that make the space visually appealing. Great social media shots are usually bright, high-contrast, and tell a story that invites viewers.
How Can I Choose the Right Professional Hotel Photographer?
To pick the best hotel photographer, review a professional photographer’s portfolio to see if their creative style aligns with your brand. Check client reviews to confirm their consistency in delivering the best shots from a photo shoot. Look for a proven track record of creating images that successfully drive hotel bookings and guest engagement.
How Do Photographers Post-Process Hotel Photos?
Photographers primarily use programs like Adobe Lightroom and Adobe Photoshop to polish images, focusing on making precise adjustments. Key steps involve using these programs to adjust brightness and contrast and carefully correct colors to achieve a realistic and inviting representation of the room.
Can Hotels Legally Have Cameras in Your Room?
Hotels are legally prohibited from placing cameras inside your room or in any area, such as a bathroom, where you have a reasonable expectation of privacy. While security cameras are permitted in common and shared areas, like lobbies, hallways, and parking lots, hotels must disclose their use in these shared spaces.
Why Do People Put Tape Over Plugs in Hotel Bedrooms?
People commonly put tape over plugs to block indicator lights on electronic devices that might be too bright and disrupt sleep in an unfamiliar dark room. Aside from that, a visitor with young children might use the tape as a quick way to child- or baby-proof a room by covering electrical outlets.
Conclusion
Ready to create stunning imagery that will generate buzz and get more hotel bookings? Let’s get started on conceptualizing ideas and preparing for the photo shoot. As a Dallas hotel photographer, I follow these hotel photography tips and techniques to produce professionally-photographed rooms that will sell experience and encourage guests to stay at your hotel.