Hospitality Photography: A Three-Day Commission at Manor House Country Hotel
In hospitality photography, patience is just as important as technical skill. Earlier this year, I finally returned to the stunning Manor House Country Hotel for a second commission that had been delayed for 15 months due to the pandemic. While the first project was a quick one-day shoot, this return visit was an intensive three-day production designed to capture the full essence of the guest experience.
Image from first shoot.
Comprehensive Visual Storytelling To truly market a luxury venue, you need a diverse library of assets. Over the course of three days, I focused on capturing architectural interiors, nighttime exterior shots, and high-altitude drone footage. The goal was to produce imagery that was authentic and "on-brand" while still evoking the emotional response that drives bookings in a competitive "Instagram-first" travel market.
Image from second shoot
The Logistics of a Working Hotel Shoot Planning a large-scale shoot at a fully operational hotel requires open communication and a meticulous brief. As a commercial photographer in Northern Ireland, I understand that the hotel's first priority is its residents and events.
We had to carefully coordinate access to the Watergate Bar, the restaurant, and leisure facilities to ensure we captured empty, pristine spaces without disrupting the guest experience. This type of interior photography takes time—waiting for the right light to hit a suite or setting up complex lighting to balance the interior warmth with the twilight blue hour outside.
Standing Out in the Hospitality Sector High-end hotel photography is about more than just showing a room; it’s about selling an atmosphere. From the texture of the linens in the bedrooms to the ambient glow of the bar at night, every frame is crafted to help the venue stand out. Looking back at the images from both the first and second shoots, it’s clear that thorough planning and professional execution are what make a hospitality brand shine.
