Room photography while the hotel unit is out of operation due to the season.

In the fall of 2024, I was called upon to investigate, on behalf of a hotel group, whether and to what extent it was feasible to conduct room photography while the specific hotel was out of operation due to the winter season.

The possibility of conducting a location scouting, which would help me get a more comprehensive understanding of the situation, was ruled out due to limited time and the fact that the hotel was located on an island, making such a move financially unfeasible for the group.

The solution I proposed to get an overview of the spaces was to ask the hotel management to take photos and videos with their phone of whatever needed to be depicted.

Once I received the material, I immediately began to examine it and take note of the difficulties as well as the options available for implementing the project. Soon I realized that the material contained all the necessary elements to proceed with the photography. However, there were also some issues that created challenges in executing the project.”

“For example, the view from two of these rooms included deciduous trees, whose branches were bare due to the season. In another room, the view showed a pool, which was empty of water. I realized that, in order to overcome these challenges, the final photos would need to undergo digital editing with the help of AI (artificial intelligence).”

“I made the decision to proceed with the project and informed the management of the group. In the following Pre-Production Meeting (PPM), my collaborators (prop stylist, assistant photographer, editor) assured me that they could support the photoshoot. The main goal was to capture and highlight the summer atmosphere. However, there was also an unpredictable factor: the weather. Although it wasn’t the most ideal, it ultimately worked in our favor.”

Three days before the start, I sent the hotel management a detailed list of ‘Must do’ items, which included instructions for what needed to be prepared before our arrival.

The Must do list:

• Preparation of the selected rooms by housekeeping as if expecting guests.
• Amenities and accompanying equipment in the rooms placed in their correct positions.
• Loungers, umbrellas, and tables arranged around the pool.
• Disposable props such as flowers, fruits, etc.
• Backup pillows, towels, and sheets.
• Maintenance standby.
• Housekeeping standby.”

All these preparations helped ensure that, when the day of the photoshoot arrived, the project unfolded smoothly, quickly, and with high quality. The term ‘quickly’ refers to the tight time constraints I had, due to the shortened daylight hours from the winter solstice.οιμασίες βοήθησαν ώστε, όταν ήρθε η ημέρα της φωτογράφισης, το project να εξελιχθεί ομαλά, γρήγορα και με υψηλή ποιότητα. Ο χαρακτηρισμός “γρήγορα” αναφέρεται στα στενά χρονικά περιθώρια που είχα, λόγω της μειωμένης διάρκειας που είχε η ημέρα, εξαιτίας του χειμερινού ηλιoστάσιου.

I followed the same photoshooting process that I always use when I’m in a hotel during the tourist season. Essentially, my team and I experienced a bit of summer, even though we were at the beginning of winter!”

A key factor in the success of the photoshoot was the great support we had from the hotel staff, which contributed significantly and effectively. The weather, although the forecasts were positive, did not provide the ideal conditions we needed. For this reason, I resorted to extensive digital editing for some of the rooms. However, the secret to successful editing is making the photo look natural, almost as if it hasn’t undergone any intervention. And at this point, I succeeded in hitting the targets.

The final photos I delivered perfectly capture the summer lighting conditions and the atmosphere, both within the room spaces and in showcasing their views during the hotel’s summer operation.

Conclusion

The extensive experience I have gained over the years, serving the needs of the hospitality industry, has helped me take on and successfully complete various and demanding projects. However, above all, I really enjoy my work. I feel that I am meant for the ‘difficult’ tasks, as everything I photograph, I do with great love and passion. I am especially happy when the final result satisfies me personally, as well as my collaborators.