how to photograph a luxury boutique hotel

Back in 2022, I was craving for an escape and an opportunity to explore other fields of photography. Although I was pretty content with being a full-time brand photographer, my job involved minimal day to day contact with anyone else. At the same time, as tensions and outbreaks of the COVID-19 started to remain under control, I also felt a strong sense to travel again, to connect with other people and to feel a bit out of my comfort zone.

I reached out to a few hotels in cities I was curious to visit, and connected with the PR company that manages Zero George, a luxury boutique hotel located in Charleston, South Carolina. The charming architecture, friendliness of the locals, and the lure of fresh hearty cuisine drew me in to the city.

Before I knew it, I had booked a 3 day stay at Zero George in exchange for a series of photographs and short form video content.

There are several aspects to hospitality photography. Besides capturing the beautiful interior and exterior spaces of the the hotel, you have to keep in mind you are helping to sell an experience through the imagery.

For this project, that meant capturing scenes of Zero George’s complimentary wine and cheese hour, as well as their breakfast buffet.

While images that clearly show how the rooms are set up, are important to have, it also helps to show details of the hotels’ hospitality details. Potential future guests want to know they will be pampered and looked after if they decide to book a stay at Zero George.

With that in mind, I set about creating scenes that showed the smaller details of service such as the plush robes and slippers included for every guest in their room, and the offering of Malin + Goetz luxury bath products in the bathroom. I also avoided using any artificial lighting, relying only on natural light and the lights available in the rooms to present a more accurate and relaxing feeling to the imagery.

Besides the interior spaces and guest rooms, the hotel offered beautifully manicured gardens and open air patio spaces true to its Southern charm. I wanted to capture these areas in the midst of a languid afternoon, using details such as warm dappled sunlight and slightly closer viewpoints to make the spaces seem more inviting and intimate.

If you’re looking for images to elevate your hotel, let’s connect!

For a behind-the-scenes look at how the images were shot, as well as an overview of my trip to Charleston, check out the vlog.

Interested in booking a stay at Zero George? Have a look at their website.

Disclaimer: I was gifted a 2 night stay at Zero George in exchange for a content package. As always, all opinions are my own.