How to Take Great Hotel Photos

TravelPost.com Hotel Photo Guidelines, Tips & Tricks

We help travelers get a perspective beyond the marketing blitz of professionally-produced hotel photos. Not that these photos are bad in their own right, but we feel they should be balanced with "amateur" or "semi-pro" photos taken by real travelers, like you!

So, we need your help in taking and posting great hotel photos! But, before you let your inner Ansel Adams run wild, take a look at our photo guide to help you through the photo-taking and uploading process.

What to Photograph When Staying at a Hotel

Based on our observations, here's what makes a great set of hotel photos, one that can help other travelers make an informed decision. After all, a photo is worth 1000 words!

• A couple of long-distance shots, to get a sense of how the hotel fits into its surroundings. For example is a Vegas hotel right on the strip, or in the middle of the desert? Does the area around the hotel look safe, bright, and welcoming? Or does it look foreboding? Context is the key here.
• A couple of shots of the entrance and valet area. A traveler's first impression of a hotel is the entrance, so here's a chance to share that first impression with travelers all over the world.
• A couple of shots of the front desk and main lobby. Show eager travelers what to expect at check-in and at other key public areas.
• Restaurants and Bars: try to get a shot at each, if you can. You don't have to go all Anne Liebowitz on us, but if you can have some people in the photos showing what it really looks like, all the better.
• Once you're in the room, and before it gets too messy, take a shot of the bed(s), bathroom, the closet space, carpets (are they clean?), TV, desks and sofas as well.
• The amenities and extras in a hotel - the pool, the fitness center, business center, etc. - often play a huge role in choosing a hotel. With your camera, you get to tell other Travelposters, Is there a huge modern gym, or a single Stairmaster from the 1980's? Is there a pool with lounge chairs and a hot-tub, or a moldy, leaf-covered pool reeking of chlorine? Is there a series of powerful desktops in front of ergonomic chairs, or a single computer that even your grandma would say is too slow?
• A few miscellaneous shots: take photos of what is unique and interesting about the hotel. For example, you might photograph an interesting chandelier, a view from the bar on the 18th floor, or a flower arrangement that catches your eye. Be creative and remember - if you find it interesting, chances are that other travelers will too.

Now you've taken great photos; here's how to upload them for all to see:

• Once you have the photos on your computer, take a look and see how big the files are. To save uploading time, resize your photos to less than 2mb each.
• Go to the TravelPost.com listing for the hotel you photographed. On the right side of the page, in a yellow box, you'll see a link to upload photos. Click this link to get to the photo upload page where you can upload six photos at once. For each photo you upload, provide a brief caption to describe your photo.
• Click the Submit button at the bottom of the page, and your photos will soon appear for all to see!

Examples: great photos of the hotel exterior and surroundings

Hilton San Diego Gaslamp Quarter	Hotel Monaco Chicago	The Westin Seattle
Why we like these photos: They give the traveler a sense of how the hotel appears from the outside, and how it fits in with its surroundings. The shots at street level showing the entrance shows how built into the neighborhood that hotel is, while the skyline shot show how a different hotel stands out more.

Examples: great photos of public areas

Disney's All Star Movie Resort	Disney's Grand Floridian	Sofitel San Francisco Bay
Why we like these photos: They give a sense of the quality of the property; the gym in the photo looks modern and bright, suggesting other amenities are equally high quality; the photos of the check-in desk and lobby give the traveler a first-impression before their own "first-impression" upon arrival.

Examples: great photos of hotel rooms

Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort	Embassy Suites Orlando	MGM Grand
Why we like these photos: Lots of detail in each photo; photos of both the rooms and bathrooms give the traveler a great idea of what to expect when they arrive.

Ready to take photos of your next hotel stay?

Here's a checklist that will help you if you want to make sure you cover everything that travelers need. On behalf of the thousands of travelers that will benefit from your work, Thank you!

Outside of the hotel:
• 2 photos of the exterior of the hotel - one up close, one farther out.
• 1 photo of the valet/taxi/unloading area
• 1 photo of the front entrance
Public Areas in the hotel:
• 1 photo of the front desk
• 1-2 photos of the lobby and sitting areas
• 1 photo of each restaurant and each bar (if the hotel has them)
• 1-2 photos of the fitness center (if it has one)
• 1-2 photos of the pool (if it has one)
• 1 photo of the business center (if it has one)
• 1-3 photos of miscellaneous common areas such as the gift shop, gardens, etc.
In the Room:
• 1 photo of the bed
• 1 photo of the bathroom
• 1 photo of the TV
• 1 photo of the desk
• 1-2 more photos of anything else unique in the room (if anything!)
Miscellaneous:
• 1-5 photos of anything else that would help travelers determine if they'd like to stay at this hotel, such as artwork, a great view, the beach, or the parking area.

In only 10-20 photos, you can share your experiences at a hotel and help millions of TravelPosters like you. One good turn deserves another, so get started by browsing the Hotel Directory for hotels you've visited or to get ideas for your next trip!