One of the most interesting, fun, and yet very complex nitch is Hotel Photography.
So many tools, creativity, and experience combined to showcase the ultimate hospitality experience.
So here are all the things you must know.
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While you might want one professional to handle all the architecture, interior design, lifestyle, food, portraits, and events, this won’t serve the best interest of your hotel.
The marketing director won’t manage the food and beverage the same applies to hospitality photography, it does not mean one can’t do it, but it also doesn’t mean they are specializing in it.
The industry usually splits into 2 main sections:
Architecture & Design and Lifestyle & Advertising
Hotel Architectural Photographer
So when it comes to the exterior, the interior and amenities architectural photographer that specializes in hospitality would be the best fit for you.
Capabilities:
Capturing the exterior requires much expertise and it takes a lot of time as you can’t control lighting and must wait for the right time.
Rooms and Suites must be appealing and at the top of their game as it’s the first thing people look at before choosing the hotel
Amenities: The lobby, elevators, public spaces, and many more elements are a part of your guest stay, make sure you highlight them as you can.
Restaurants and Retail: Who doesn’t like to shop and fine dine when they are on vacation? It is also a great revenue maker for the property as well. Make sure you share those designed spaces with images to enhance your guest experience that starting by planning their day even months before
In Conclusion: Make sure your professional has the proper experience in all elements of hospitality.
Architecture and Design, Retail and Restaurants, and even lifestyle.
Hotel Lifestyle Photographer
You have many advertising needs involving lifestyle imagery, from advertising restaurants, hotels, casinos, spas, pools, and other entertainment features to any other visuals that would go to billboards and national and international campaigns.
Having a professional that can both incorporate use with lifestyle including talents and the design and architecture elements would be ideal to showcase both the experience and also the usage of the space.
It’s important that you choose a vendor that can keep the focus both on the experience and the design at the same time.
Food and Culinary
They will be specializing in all your food and beverage, They are masters in their own world and unless you need a few food shoots accompanying the campaign I recommend working with a dedicated food photographer on dish shoots.
It’s important to make this key separation between your food dishes and cocktail shoots to the architecture, design, and lifestyle.
Can they specialize in both?
While every professional specialise in his own niche, I would think that an architectural photographer that specializes in hospitality would serve best.
As one will have the qualification of architecture, design, and lifestyle \ that ultimately is the main goal of hospitality (lifestyle and design)
While it is self-serving, I do believe that most of the spaces in a hotel will be captured in booths stand-alone and with models and actors.
Lifestyle professionals are not specializing in architecture or interiors they still need to incorporate the objects, models, and actors in a space leaving.
But one thing is clear your food and beverage in essence should be captured by a dedicated vendor that specializes in F&B.
How much Hotel Photographer Charge?
Pricing typically splits into two and depends on the complexity of the project and the number of images needed.
Before we can even speak about per image or per day pricing it is important to understand that licensing is a key factor in the pricing.
Hotel Photo Licensing
Most properties work based on 2 types of licenses.
Limited – The most common is the 3/5 year with national or international usage without being able to transfer the right to a 3rd party, this is the most cost-efficient license.
Buy-Out: While it is the most expensive option, this is a one-time fee that does not limit the time, usage or transfer, or use of the right to 3rd party vendors.
Regardless of which one works best for you when you divide the usage, time, and amount of spaces one photo can sell it is the best investment you can do for your property.
Pricing Per Day or Per Image
Per Image: The room, suites, and luxury suites are priced based on per image, this also fits a small-scale project or when a creating small amount of visuals in many different locations. (prices varies from €450 / $500 – €1,100 / $1,300 per image) depending on if it’s a limited-time usage or buy-out license.
The benefit for you using the per-images pricing is that it does not matter how much time it takes the professional to accomplish the image you are still paying one fee.
Exterior takes a lot of time to complete, and you might need just one room to capture as it’s time to update the room visuals, going per day would make you pay for the entire time no matter the results.
Per Day: When you need many visuals or you are doing a full day photoshoot going per day rate would fit you best, the benefit is that you have the entire day for you and can mobilize and capture in different locations without limitation of images but you must be sure you give him all the tools and availability for you to enjoy his time. (prices varies from €2,500 / $3,000 – €5,000 / $6,000 per day) again, it depends on the type of license you need.
Choosing the right Professional for the task
Seniors marketing hoteliers already know Budget is definitely not a subject, others might look based on that criteria only.
Start with viewing their portfolio, go through all his galleries, and see if you like the style and if it’s consistent throughout all his work.
Look if small projects look amazing as the big ones, read about his or her experience and what makes them the best for your project and property.
Can they handle the task? Are they insured? Do they have prior experience and do they understand the task and can offer how to tackle the project?
Remember: working on an active or time-sensitive project requires much more than photography skills, it requires experience, know-how, and technical knowledge.
Can they provide added value? advising on the number of images needed, how to approach complex spaces, and how to better manage your timetable. You could expect the most experienced photographers to provide those added value for your successful project documentation.
