Photography Shot List for an Independent Hotel

The main thing that independent hotels forget to remember is that they are not a branded hotel! While it is necessary to capture images of the hotel rooms, bathrooms, meeting space, and hotel amenities, the most important photography shots for an independent hotel are lifestyle and neighborhood shots.

Too many hoteliers shy away from lifestyle photography, claiming it's too expensive and that the photographs can't be used for years in a row, because clothing ages them. But it is incredibly important for independent hotels to have lifestyle photography that display their brand identity. After all, these are the photographs that evoke emotion and human connection - critical to selling a service experience!

So if your hotel has a bar, take photographs of the bartender mixing a drink and guests enjoying a cocktail. You can choose clothes that are timeless too, such as black dresses and dark suits if the bar is fancy or silky blouses and polo shirts if the bar is casual. While your hotel bar may have beautiful architecture and be pretty on its own, having people in your images is what will sell your hotel.

The other thing that independent hotels often forget to photograph is the hotel's neighborhood! A hotel's location is usually a primary factor in a guest's decision to stay at the hotel. Too many hoteliers rely on stock photography to show off their location, without realizing that the hotel down the street is using the same exact photographs!

So remember to take photographs of the neighborhood and don't forget to feature your hotel's brand in these images. For example, take a photograph of a couple kissing underneath your hotel's branded umbrella in the streets of the city or take a photograph of your hotel's branded bicycle parked on the beach. You won't have any regrets, these images of the neighborhood are not only great for displaying your hotel's location, but are also perfect for social media.

Inntegrated Consulting is a boutique marketing firm rooted in the hotel industry. For more recommendations on displaying your brand identity through photographs or a full shot list, contact us today!