airbnb photography — Mark Bolton Photography Blog Page, Interiors, Hotels, Gardens

I thought I’d write a little bit about hotel photography and why I find it such a satisfying part of my photographic work. I photograph hotels throughout the United Kingdom, Italy and France, Spain and soon India! I started my career as an interiors photographer, adding garden photography soon after. I have always loved gardening and beautiful gardens so it seemed a natural step to photograph them too especially as many of the magazines that I worked for had garden sections too. There’s nothing more inspiring and good for the soul as being out at dawn photographing a sublime garden.

Much of my time is spent photographing flowers and my fascination in photographing all things macro, small and floral, led me in to photographing food. It’s similar in many ways. I use natural light, I go in close and the current trends for fresh clean and unfussy food means that a plate of wonderfully prepared food can look much like a plate of flowers!

So, in the early days, as I was asked to photograph a hotel in the Cotswolds. In fact it was Barnsley House, a fabulously designed place, done by one of my now regular interior photography clients Martin Hulbert Design!. It was also the home of legendary garden guru Rosemary Verey, mentor of Prince Charles. I soon realised that photographing hotels is a combination of my favourite bits of my job, the interiors, gardens, food and lifestyle.

A lot can be accomplished during a day at the hotel, especially if you are well organised. We can do 4-5 bedrooms, including bathrooms if required, some living areas, some food and a selection of other important areas ( maybe the spa? the restaurant, or even maybe the staff?) In an ideal world I would do two days as It gives me the chance to shoot over the evening, or early morning as well, and in a large hotel, it is surprising how long it can take navigating around the rooms as they become available! However, I am sometimes asked for just a half day, perhaps just to showcase the new menu, or a couple of new rooms recently decorated.

Please do get in touch to discuss, and please take a look at this guide to hotel photography, which can give you an idea about how the day of the shoot progresses. Obviously, I am flexible, I can fit in with the rooms becoming available, and I am quick and tidy. Call me or email to discuss. Thanks for reading!