"Capturing the Beauty of Your Hotel: The Importance of Professional Hotel Photography"

December 12, 2022

As a hotel owner or manager, you know that first impressions are crucial. When potential guests are looking for a place to stay, they will often do some research online before making a decision. One of the first things they will see is the photos of your hotel.

High-quality, professional hotel photography is essential for showcasing the beauty and unique features of your property. It can make all the difference in attracting guests and convincing them to book a stay at your hotel.

Professional hotel photographers have the expertise and equipment necessary to capture the best possible images of your hotel. They know how to use lighting and composition to highlight the features that make your hotel stand out, such as its stunning architecture, luxurious guest rooms, and beautiful grounds.

In addition to showcasing the exterior and interior of your hotel, professional hotel photographers can also capture images of your amenities, such as your restaurant, spa, and fitness center. These images can give potential guests a sense of what it would be like to experience your hotel for themselves.

Investing in professional hotel photography is an investment in the success of your business. High-quality images of your hotel can help you stand out from the competition and attract more guests. They can also be used in your marketing and advertising efforts, giving potential guests a glimpse of the experience they can expect at your hotel.

So, if you want to showcase the beauty of your hotel and attract more guests, consider hiring a professional hotel photographer. They can help you capture stunning images that will make your hotel stand out and drive bookings.

I recently had a client up at Cabeza de Toro stating to me that "now a days everyone could be a photographer". Totally surprised, I said  back at him "Just because everyone has a camera doesn't make them professional photographers."I had t… — I recently had a client up at Cabeza de Toro stating to me that "now a days everyone could be a photographer". Totally surprised, I said back at him "Just because everyone has a camera doesn't make them professional photographers."
I had to shoot some life style images for his hotel (he came all the way from Spain) and knew I was planning on staying for 3 days. This hotel photoshoot was a special one because my client needed some images right away before we both left. That is something I don't do because post production for spaces such as hotel rooms, restaurants, lobbies, etc. all need time. He was going back to Spain and I to Santo Domingo for a quick stop. So I knew I was going to see him again during these few days.

Visual Marketing for the Hospitality Industry

October 06, 2016

During those couple of days, I slowly began to fill his mind on how the images were done, on how photographers today have to use many different softwares to make hotels and spaces in general look great. I also told him that what he was seeing (me sh… — During those couple of days, I slowly began to fill his mind on how the images were done, on how photographers today have to use many different softwares to make hotels and spaces in general look great. I also told him that what he was seeing (me shooting on location) was only about 40% - 50% of ALL that he was paying for. That most of the work was done back in studio (retouching and editing) and he would not see this. Also that a good hotel photographer should be thinking on how his images could be used by the hotel's marketing department. This of course, amazed him.
So this mind changing went on. The last day, during out meeting to select the images, I kindly ask him if he still felt, after seeing my images, that any one could be a photographer. "At this level, of course not" he answered back in Spanish. Even though I was expecting a more exited response, my point came across. Being a profesional photographer is not for everyone that has a camera. And it is not all about knowing how to light a space, it's also about making money, making business, paying taxes and all other matters that a proper business has. And mostly, it's about knowing how important this visual space is to hotels and their marketing needs. Only after combining and being very familiar with all of this is when a photographer can be called a hotel photographer.

Why Having Talents in Hotel and Real Estate Imagery is Important

June 03, 2015 in hotel, tourism, travel and leisure

Once upon a time it was considered a no no to have humans in architectural and real estate photography. It was important to show exclusively the space photographed. Fewer elements in the image, the better the space will look and feel.The purpose of the job was to show the space after all, right? I actually did not use talents for a long time because it automatically became the point of attention in the photo, not just because of the person itself but also because of the way they where dressed.

But in many images the sense of scale was missing no matter how good the angle and the illumination was. It could be difficult to really know how big or small the space was. Having talents in my hotel and real estate images really has made this problem disappear. People somehow know automatically the approximate height of a human and can pretty much figure out the sense of space in the image. And, as far as being the point of attention, it can be easily taken care of by having the talent showing up moving. This can be achieved by either using slower shutter speeds in camera or having a blurring effect in post production.

http://thiagodacunhaphotography.com/

Should my hotel hire a professional photographer for new imagery?

April 30, 2014

Every now and then I get asked this question. And, of course, being a professional photographer, the answer is YES! A hotel should get great images from a photographer that is specialized in such imagery. Good images sell more and faster. It is just the way it is. Of course, even logical.

As a hospitality photographer, I , as well of most of you, have seen great looking and luxurious hotels, resorts and restaurants with crappy images. Hiring the right specialized photographer for a hotel shoot in witch millions were spent makes sense. Hiring the right photographer to show a hotel renovation in witch millions were spent just makes sense also. I hire a professional plumber or electrician for my home when ever they are in need, not a friend of a family member who "knows about that".

Looking into the photographer's website should give an idea of the photographer's work.

Beautiful architecture and beautiful decoration should be photographed by a photographer that understands it and that knows about it. Hire a professional.

Interior Design photography

April 07, 2014

It is incredible how one thing leads to another. Hotel photography took me to real estate photography and now to interior design photography. All of witch I love doing. I have been specializing in hotel and real estate photography for quite a white now. Because of my hotel management background, architectural and hotel photography just seemed a very logical step at this time in my career. But now, adding to this, I have been doing quiet a lot of interior design photography also. I can clearly see how these 3 types of specialized photography are related.

I have been using a technique I invented and call "points of light". It was just meant to be. This technique allows me to actually work alone when I have to travel and can't take my assistants. It is lightweight, fast and affordable for my clients. I don't know if I'm the only one using this technique, but it is a time saver. The best part of this technique is that I can use it very effectively in all of these 3 types of photography: hotel, real estate and interior design photography.

Here are some examples of "points of light":

You can see the points of light in the pillows, bed, curtains and wall next to the curtains. This allows for better depth of view on my images.

In this image, I made the points of light more obvious so you can see what the effect will be in the end after processing the image. Each flower has a point of light, the bottom of the small fridge, the wooden closet and on both beds.

Hospitality Mag by hotel photographer Thiago da Cunha

February 04, 2014

Every week I take time to gather all new and relevant news about the hospitality industry at large. I try to divide the articles in hotel trends, new hotels, resorts, luxury hotels, travel, cruising industry, restaurants, etc., etc.

Because I'm a hotel and hospitality photographer, I take great care of the imagery in the magazine. Always when possible, the images have to create certain impact and help the text come to live.

Great photography sells in all industries. Its part of the brand, the company.

Please take a look at the "Hospitality Mag" by hotel photographer Thiago da Cunha here

https://flipboard.com/section/hospitality-mag-by-www.thiagodacunhaphotography.com-bygTd4

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Having the right photographer for your hotel imagery.

December 02, 2013

Here is a list of points to take into consideration when searching for a professional hospitality photographer.

Firs of all, please search for a professional. Your hotel deserves it.

- Website

-Does it look professional?

-Is it organized and clean?

-Does it look like the photographer is a specialist on what he does by the kind of images on the website?

-Many hats. If the photographer has many job titles in his website (fashion photographer, wedding photographer, commercial photographer, food photographer, children photographer) it just means he is not a specialist in the hospitality imagery. Keep looking

-When searching for a photographer, do not take in consideration ONLY the price. I specially enjoy the negotiation part of my business. So if the price isn’t right for you, negotiate. This is a business. You have to negotiate.

-Don’t just use email. Try to talk to the photographer via Skype or phone. A photographer may have great prices for his work, but if he is a pain in the ass to work with, you will notice this right away and maybe not worth working with. Talking person to person really helps both parties know each other.

-What is his background in the hospitality industry. I have still to find another photographer that actually studied hotel management and fully understands how a hotel works. This is very important because many errors I have avoided just because I know how to make a bed or set a table within hotel standards.

-Languages. Speaking different languages is definitely a plus in the hospitality industry. My job gets done faster when I have to talk to people of different nationalities, languages, something very common inside a hotel or resort.

For more information and tips on this matter, please leave a comment or write to thiagodacunhaphotography@gmail.com

Take a moment to flip my online hospitality magazine at

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https://flipboard.com/section/hospitality-mag-by-www.thiagodacunhaphotography.com-bygTd4

Interior photographer and hospitality photographer, what is the difference?

October 07, 2013

I sometimes get so confused about given names to photographers. I started out to call my hospitality work as "hotel photography" or "hotel photographer". Witch I still don't know if it is right or not. I mean, some people might think that a hotel photographer is the guy on the beach taking photos of the tourists for souvenirs (a great business in resorts around the world). And that I'm not. At least not any more but I did started that way.

On a call with friend Selina Maitreya (from http://www.selinamaitreya.com/) back when I had the live radio show about photography here in the Dominican Republic, she asked me what was the one thing that I most loved doing in photography. I replied "hotel photography". She than corrected me. "Hospitality" is the word she used in order for people to understand what is it I photography. So now I say I photography the hospitality industry.

But, to photography the hospitality industry, hotels or resorts, I also have to know many other kinds of photography. Yes. Think about it. I have to know aerial photography because it is a must to photography the hotel's premises (buildings, golf courses, pools, beaches, etc.) from above.

I also have to know "interior photography". In the hospitality industry, I have to photograph the rooms, restaurants, spas, convention centers, gyms, etc. These are all know as interior photography work. Witch, by the way, is where I get confused with "architectural photography" and "interior photography". Both are basically the same except the interior I suppose is just for interiors. But, "architectural photography" to me can too be "interior photography".

Next comes food photography. I often have to photography food for not only the hotels, but also for the resorts and restaurants.

And finally comes the "real estate photography" or my personal one, "luxury homes photography". This too is such a big part of my photography in the hospitality industry. Many hotels and resorts offer or sell part off their rooms, houses or villas. All of witch have to be photographed in a very particular and professional way in order to "sell". Using the images of a professional real estate photographer makes the work of the seller much more easier.

So, I only understand that in order to do the hospitality industry photography well, I also have to do the interior photography well. And the food. And the aerial. And the real estate. And the luxury homes.

I would love to know from other points of view on this matter. Please leave a comment if you think it can contribute to the subject matter.

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Thiago

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El fotógrafo Thiago da Cunha conversa con Hilda Pellerano sobre la fotografía de música.

August 17, 2013

Why Is A Hotel Photographer Important?

March 13, 2013

"Hotel photography" as I call it, could actually be what moves more people in the hospitality industry. The word of mouth still does the job in a personal way. People still believe and tend to feel more secure when someone (even though they don't know them) say something great about a place they visited. The internet changed this a lot in the last few years.

Images is what it is all about. Particularly good images. Good images sell. They sell food, they sell cars, they sell houses, trips and vacations. Good images move people from one point to another. This "moving" generates many businesses. Air tickets, cabs, airports, food courts, cruises, wedding venues, hotels, resorts, restaurants, etc., etc., all generate money from this moving action.

A hotel image is the first thing people see of their destination before arriving. The clear clean blue water of the beach they are going to stay really does create a sense of wanting to be there. The sunset overlooking your room terrace. The clean and perfectly made bed with a great view of a lonely ocean. All of these images do make someone what to be there.

A hotel photographer, specially one who has actually studied hotel management, is probably the best professional for this unique kind of photography.

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fotografos de hoteles y resorts en el caribe thiago da cunha

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fotografo de hoteles de thiagodacunhaphotography.com

fotografo de hoteles y restaurantes thiago da cunha

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fotografo de hoteles en punta cana y bavaro

Bohio News shoots photographers

March 06, 2013

It sure has been a long time since I made a magazine cover! 13 years have past from cover to cover! I can only thank Reynaldo Caminero, Bohio News chief director, Rosa Veras from sales, the lovely make-up artist Wendy Montero and my fellow photographers for such a compilation of great work of art.