Hotel photos do two jobs at once: they sell the room on Booking.com and Expedia and they set the guest’s expectation. When the photos are better than the hotel, reviews suffer; when they are worse, bookings suffer. The goal of a professional hotel photography shoot is an honest, flattering image of every room category and public area. This checklist helps your team prepare so the shoot day runs smoothly and the images look their best.
Planning the shoot
- Decide which room categories, suites and public areas need photos and send us the list.
- Block the best room of each category for the whole day; rooms cannot be shot while occupied.
- Choose a day with low occupancy for the lobby, restaurant and spa.
- Nominate one contact person with keys and authority to move furniture and switch lights.
- Confirm which signature dishes, cocktails or breakfast items the restaurant will prepare.
Guest rooms
- Fresh, perfectly ironed linen with hospital corners; pillows plumped and aligned.
- Remove tent cards, remote controls, minibar lists, safety notices and anything laminated.
- Turn on all lamps with matching warm-white bulbs; check that none flicker.
- Set out amenities neatly; add a robe on the bed or a tray with coffee cups for a lifestyle touch.
- Clean the windows inside and out and open the curtains for the view.
- Bathrooms: fold towels hotel-style, hide bins and toilet brushes, polish chrome, no bottles in the shower.
Lobby and reception
- Clear the desk of stands, leaflets and monitors where possible.
- Fresh flowers or a large plant; remove dead leaves.
- Straighten furniture and fluff cushions; hide luggage trolleys.
- Staff in uniform if they will appear in the photos; consent forms ready.
Restaurant, bar and breakfast
- Set tables fully with glasses, cutlery and napkins even outside service hours.
- Prepare three to five signature dishes at their best and serve them fresh to the photographer.
- Bar: polished glasses, backlit bottles, one or two prepared cocktails.
- Breakfast buffet: full and tidy for a lifestyle shot early in the morning.
Spa, pool and wellness
- Still water surface: switch off pumps for a few minutes before the pool shot.
- Rolled towels, lit candles and no wet footprints.
- Treatment rooms staged with a prepared bed and a few products.
Exterior and surroundings
- Clean the facade signage and the entrance; remove sandwich boards and bins.
- Plan a dusk exterior shot with all room lights on, which is often the best cover image.
- Consider a drone shot to show the hotel’s location within Prague; see our drone rules guide.
After the shoot
You receive edited photos in web and print resolution within a few days, sorted by room category so your revenue manager can upload them directly to the booking extranets. We recommend refreshing hotel photography every two to three years or after any renovation. Combine the shoot with a Matterport 3D tour of the public areas and one room per category to give guests confidence before they book. See our hotel photography prices.
Frequently asked questions
How many photos does a hotel need?
Booking platforms reward listings with 25 or more photos. A typical boutique hotel shoot delivers 40 to 80 images covering every room category, the public areas, the restaurant and the exterior.
How long does a hotel shoot take?
One full day for a hotel with up to five room categories and a restaurant. Larger properties are scheduled over two days.
Can you photograph with guests in the hotel?
Yes, but public areas are best shot early in the morning or at low occupancy. Guests never appear in the photos without written consent.