When it comes to event photography, you want to ensure that you make a good impression on your clients.

Not only will this create opportunities to gain loyal clients, but it will also increase your reputation as an event photographer.

The higher the reputation, the more potential clients that you will have in the future.

So with all this in mind, here is our guide on how to successfully up your event photography game!

Step 1: Do your research

First and foremost, do your research! Yes it can take some time, however, the benefits that you will gain from this research makes it totally worth it.

The types of information that you want to be researching include things such as; Who’s attending, key event timings and key event locations.

This may be easy. Your client may provide you with all the details of the event, but if not, be sure to investigate so you’re not left in the dark.

Who’s attending:

It’s important to know the big names attending the event, and if they want to be photographed. Check with the client, and ensure that you have a full list of who needs to be featured.

Key event timings:

Ensuring that you know the main event timings is crucial for the next step on the list. This is because it will let you create a schedule based around these times.

You need to know who’s going to be where at what time. You may have to set up before hand.

If it’s your hotel and your photographer, then you can make sure that you get good photos of your hotel and grounds, as well as the event and its stars.

Key event locations:

Similarly to event timings, the even locations are equally as important for your schedule. Not only this, but it will also help you to get your bearings, maximising efficiency.

You may also be able to steer some of the locations to your preference, making sure you get key aspects of your hotel in the photos, too.

Step 2: Create a schedule

This step is arguably one of the most important and relies heavily on the research you did in the last step.

You essentially want to plan out your time at the event. This way you can effectively make the most out of it and be efficient with your planning.

This includes timings of how long you plan to spend in each section, the time you will allow yourself to set up in the next location, and maybe even prepare locations well before they’re needed.

It will also give you more time for taking photographs as you don’t have to worry about finding out where things are taking place.

Step 3: Be alert

Whilst it is important to try to stick to your schedule, there will inevitably some things that are out of your control.

That’s why it is important to stay alert whilst at the event, as you don’t want to miss these sporadic moments.

These types of moments can include general unexpected interactions, or perhaps small scenes that are created by random occurrences.

As always it’s best to focus on the main event attractions, however, if you find that there is an appropriate time to photograph said occurrences, then be sure to do so!

Step 4: Key moments and people

It may seem that it should go without saying, however, it is very important to ensure that you take lots of photos of the important moments and people at the event.

Sometimes you can get carried away with just one aspect of the event, or even one person, missing others and potentially upsetting the client when the final pictures appear.

This is why a proper schedule is essential.

Step 5: Keep it natural

If you’re a seasoned photographer, then you’ll not be tempted to over user PhotoShop or other tools that can help enhance, or some would say, ruin a photograph.

These tools have their place, but they shouldn’t be used to make a picture look false or overly-produced. If you’re just starting out, they can provide you with the help needed to crop a picture correctly or maybe remove something that you didn’t notice when taking the photo, but they shouldn’t be relied on.

The post 5 Simple Steps to up Your Photography Game at Events appeared first on Photoweb.

Take a look at the group “Rate my plate” and you’ll see what I mean.

I’m sure a lot of the food is fantastic, but the presentation looks awful, and the pictures do them no favours at all.

So how do some get it so right while others make food look so bad?

Well, the issue here is that if you want to get it right, you need to look at food photography in the same way you do normal photography, that is, you don’t just take a picture of your plate, you make sure the food is presented well, the background is perfect and your lighting is absolutely spot-on.

So, with that in mind, here are five really simple tips that will help you ensure your hotel food looks fantastic every time.

1 – Preparation is everything

The worst photos are the ones where the chef brings out a meal and the photographer thinks, “That looks great, quick, take a picture!”

From what’s being cooked to where it’s placed at what time of day and who’s taking the photo, it all needs to be organised and handled properly. Don’t leave any of it to chance.

Write down every step beforehand and then make notes as you go through them so if you don’t get perfect results, you can do it again and understand your mistakes.

2 – Get the background right

Where you place your dish to be photographed is extremely important.

Have you noticed that nobody ever takes a photo of a traditional Christmas lunch outside on the patio?

No. When you imagine a big festive roast dinner of turkey, it’ll have a roaring fire and decorations in the background.

It’s an extreme example, sure, but if you follow the same principles, then you’ll be on the right track.

For example, if your restaurant excels in selling smoked meats, then set up a platter on a wooden block with the smoker in the background.

Selling light summer salads? Take the plate outdoors and try to match colours in the salad with items around the plate. Reds, greens and yellows usually work really well.

Getting the background right can really set off your plate and make it ‘pop’.

3 – Lighting

While summer food can benefit from brighter lighting, traditional winter food would probably do better in a darker environment, but you still need to light up the food itself.

Here’s where presentation of the food itself can really help.

Brushing olive oil over the roast potatoes and veg can really make them stand out, and with some good lighting, the whole meal can look fantastic.

4 – Get close

It might be tempting to take a photo right above the food, but it’s not about getting a picture of everything on the plate, it’s about capturing the experience of eating, so getting low and taking the photo from the side is often much easier, and it looks better.

5 – Make hot meals look hot

Hot food looks appetising, but capturing steam takes amazing timing and some clever photo techniques.

So why not cheat?

Grab some cotton balls and soak them in water, then pop them in the microwave!

You’ll need to experiment because all microwaves are different, but in mine, it only took 20 seconds, and there was steam rising gently from the cotton wool which I was then able to pop on a small plate behind the food!

With these tips to help, the rest is just a matter of experimentation!

The post 5 Easy Photography Tips To Make Your Hotel’s Food Look Fantastic! appeared first on Photoweb.

Also, due to some fancy electronics built into some of the latest drones they can be much more stable than the human hand.

Most drones use gyroscopes to steady themselves, and the cameras built in will have image-stabilization technology to ensure pictures and films are rock-steady.

However, when you’ve unpacked your drone, charged it up and got to grips with controlling it, how can you use it for your own hotel photography?

Here are five ideas to get you started…

Bird’s-Eye View

The most obvious and perhaps iconic of the photography techniques is the bird’s-eye view technique.

This is where you take a picture looking down onto the desired location.

It works particularly well for hotels as it allows people to grasp distances and sizes of features in comparison to one another. For example the distance of the pool from the hotel, or the size of the garden walk.

Panoramic Photography
That brings us onto one of the most impressive of all photography techniques, the panorama.

This type of photography is where the camera captures a really wide view within one image.

The technique is usually achieved through the use of multiple images that are then together using specialist software. It can sometimes cost extra, but it can be worth it.

These kinds of images allow you to show off the full array of sights within one picture, which captures people’s attention, allowing you to entice them to your hotel with ease.

Offshore Imagery

Often a great place to take an image of your hotel is from the sea-front, however, it is usually too close to allow you to capture the entire hotel, or perhaps even too low down and you are not able to capture the entire structure, instead it will look like it’s floating.

There is, of course, one solution to this problem and that is using the drone for offshore imagery. This simply requires you to fly the drone out over the sea and take an image at the right height and distance.

You’ll need to practice a little, and if you have a drone that has a “return home” feature, be sure to turn it on, you don’t want it ditching in the sea when the battery runs out.

Out Of Reach Opportunities
In a way, this is similar to the bird’s eye view technique in that it is used to help capture a larger area from an angle that is either impossible or impractical for a person to get to.

A great example of this would be a pool, where you don’t want to have to get in people’s way to set up a structure in order to take a photo. Instead, you can take great aerial shots like this:

Indoor Inconvenience

Last but not least we have the “indoor inconvenience”.

This is more of a method that allows you to save space and maximise the view range.

For example in the cafe/restaurant section of your hotel, where you don’t want to move people around and then be cramped up in a corner taking a photo.

What you can actually do is use the drone to take a picture from much closer to the ceiling which provides a better view for the people as there are far fewer obstructions.

The post 5 simple ways to use drones to get awesome photos of your hotel appeared first on Photoweb.

WHY YOU SHOULD ADD NATURAL LIGHT TO YOUR PHOTOS

Whether your interest lies in landscapes, portraits, or food photography, good lighting is essential for creating amazing stills. If your budget doesn't allow for professional lighting equipment, consider adding an ample amount of natural daylight to your shots; natural light ensures that food colors, kitchenware, and backgrounds are properly illuminated and accurately depicted. Also, you won't have to worry as much about color casts, which could introduce an unflattering orange tone to your photos. Lastly, natural light, in most cases, allows soft, diffused light to naturally highlight the subtle textures and nuances of a variety of foods.

MANAGING SHADOWS

While we're on the topic of lighting, the shadows in your photos can complement or ruin an otherwise good image. The right amount of shadows can add depth and interest to a short; however, shadows can also ruin a shot if they're not well managed. Although using natural light can reduce the likelihood of having strong shadows in your pictures, this is not the case if you're shooting in strong directional sunlight. So what is the take away in all of this? Well, diffused natural light will add soft, flattering shadows to your photos and strong directional light will result in unflattering shadows. Here are few tips to help you achieve perfect lighting:

• Try shooting on overcast days when possible.
• If the sunlight is exceptionally harsh, consider placing a semi-transparent curtain in front of windows; this will help naturally diffuse harsh light.
• To avoid strong color casts or harsh shadows, try to avoid shooting too to the windows in your home.

WHY A NEUTRAL BACKGROUND IS IDEAL FOR FOOD PHOTOGRAPHY

In addition to great food, a neutral background can really add to your photos. How, exactly? Well, a neutral background places more emphasis on the subject. Here are a few background choices that can really make your food photography shine:

• If you're shooting primarily darker colored foods like chocolates, for example, a dark background will be ideal.
• For lighter colored foods like salads, a lighter colored or white background can place a better emphasis on the food in the shot.
• Wooden backgrounds are fairly universal, and they can complement nearly any food shot. These backgrounds, however, must be perfectly illuminated to achieve the best results.

HOW COLORS CAN TELL A STORY

When it comes to good food photography, choosing the right colors can help tell a story or convey a sense of feeling. For example, earthy tones can evoke feelings of serenity and comfort. This color scheme can be created by choosing the right background and food colors. Bright, vibrant colors like those found in smoothies and ice cream, for example, can convey feelings of summer and happiness.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT ANGLES

Along with good lighting, backgrounds, and color, choosing the right angles for shots can help create more engaging photos that people will be talking about for a long time. Consider adding a mix of flat lays, close-ups, and long shots. And for good measure, throw in a few Dutch angles along with some high and low angles shots as well.

WHY PREPARATION MATTERS

One of the best things you can do to ensure your photos look amazing is making sure you're gear is ready to go. This could mean having a new/formatted memory card, fully charged batteries, and having the right lens for the job.

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You see, one of the biggest problems for wedding photographers is timing.

They have a few hours to get everything right.

The wedding party turns up, go through a series of procedures such as meeting the guests, walking around the gardens, that sort of thing, all while the stressed out photographer attempts to herd them together to get some decent photos.

This can be a traumatic experience for all involved, especially the one with the camera who is currently being ignored.

So how can you help them to get the best?

Well, one hotel I had the pleasure of working with recently had a fantastic idea, you see, they'd already scoped the place out and were totally prepared for photographers.

For a start off, they invite photographers to visit the premises well before the wedding so they can get used to the area and take some trial shots, but, knowing their premises, they provided a folder with a map and example shots.

Not only that, they had a calendar which explained the best time to take the shots as well as location.

Evening wedding? No problem, head over to the path near the woods and take a shot across the lake sometime between 6 and 7. You'll have the sun in the perfect position to light up the couple.

Is it raining? Again, no problem. Use the orangery and position near the archway – you can get shots that include foliage and some of the beauty of the garden, all in the dry.

The folder of advice really was comprehensive and chock full of creative ideas.

How does this help my hotel?

Marketing is everyone's job, and you can make it a lot easier if you employ other people – such as photographers.

Every part of the wedding preparation is likely to involve recommendations, and if you have been accommodating and helpful to photographers in the past, then when they are asked for their opinion, they're likely to recommend places that are easy to work with.

Also, everyone wants their life to be easy, and any sensible photographer will work at places they know.

But there's also a side benefit.

You need photos for your brochures and website. After helping the photographer so much, a quick email to ask them if they'd mind providing a few images for publicity is likely to go down well.

This mutual promotion can only help to provide more marketing opportunities for both you and the photographer.

The post Preparing your hotel for wedding photography appeared first on Photoweb.

Smartphone cameras have reached the sort of quality that we could only dream about a few years ago.

Even though they often have tiny lenses, companies are packing in so much technology these days that they can take some fantastic photos with very little input from the user.

However, framing a photo is still something that many people struggle with. So even though they have a camera all the time in their pocket, using it is a different matter.

Getting that perfect picture that ticks all the boxes can be difficult, and although there are many architectural photography tutorials available, you want quick answers, yes?

Well, here are eight sure-fire ways to help take your photography to the next level!

1) Check your angles

Buildings are great. They have angles all over the place, and you can use this to your advantage.

A tall or long building will give you the ability to mess with perspective, so move your camera around. Watch where walls converge, where angles make unique shapes in the frame.

When using a camera phone or digital SLR, you have endless chances to get this right, so take your time and take plenty of photos.

2) Takes lots of photos

Very often I will take lots of photos of a scene and at the time not think that any of them are any good, then I get home and load up my editing software and suddenly realise that I have a gem.

It’s probably something that many professional photographers would frown upon, but I’ve heard many of the world’s top snappers say that the secret to their success is that they take lots and lots of photos.

If you have a digital SLR then you’re only limited by your memory card, and even the cheapest ones can hold thousands of photos these days.

3) Lighting is key

Lighting affects everything. Anything you can take a photo of will take on a dramatic new look with different lighting.

This could mean sunlight, moonlight or artificial like.

If you’re taking a photo of the exterior of a building, then look to see what lights are available. Some have great uplighting when the sun goes down, and if you can persuade the owners to turn the lights on early, say at dusk, you might see something pretty special.

4) Don’t worry about the weather

Many people want to wait until the top of the building is going to be bathed in golden sunshine, or set against a steel-blue sky, but often some of the best photos are taken when the sky is moody or cloudy.

Rain can add to the mysticism of some buildings; snow can make it look crisp and clean. Either way, experiment with the building you’re interested in and try lots of different weathers – don’t be afraid.

Maybe protect your camera if it’s raining though!

5) Yes – you can include people

Without people, a building ceases to have a purpose, so feel free to include them in your photo.

You can get some incredible photos by blurring motion in the foreground while capturing the full majesty of the building, showing it to be imposing, yet alive.

6) Remember – post processing is OK!

While many people are proud to post their photos with the #nofilter hashtag, it’s very rare a photo makes its way to public consumption without having some processing.

If you’ve take a photo and you like it, but wish it would ‘pop’ a bit more, get it into your favourite editor and alter the colours, the lighting and any number of other tweaks.

7) Upgrade your camera

Yes, your phone and basic SLR can take a great photo, but you know what? There are some photos that just require better equipment.

If you have recently taken on a commission, or you’re doing it for your own property company or hotel, then consider upgrading, and remember that the processing many mobile phones do to photos often renders them unusable for magazines and other high-quality publications.

8) Experiment!

Just keep trying.

At every chance, take a photo, see what it looks like.

Keep a notepad near you and jot down when you take a particularly good photograph that you like. Write down what you did, how you did it and what made you think that it would be a good photo.

The post 8 Top Tips to improve your architectural photography appeared first on Photoweb.

They’re everywhere, and the tech world seems intent on shoving new, smaller, faster, higher quality and ultimately more annoying types down our throat every few months.

There are drones with HD cameras, ones that can return to base when the battery is getting low, and others that will follow you around like a wasp, live-streaming your every move to a social media account that nobody’s looking at.

Of course, they’ve caused quite a bit of stir in the media with people arguing that they’re a danger to our very existence seeing as they can float almost unheard and film everything we’re up to.

They could, for instance, hover outside an occupied bathroom, exposing the person within, fly above a swarm of people at an event, showing the world who’s there (and indicating some empty homes), or drop on someone’s head when being piloted by the less-than-competent.

The detracts from the good they can do, however.

When piloted by someone who knows what they’re doing with skill and finesse, they can really show off landscapes and buildings to their best.

Check this video out as an example:

Yes, it’s one of ours, but it proves a point.

See how you don’t have to stop when you reach a wall? Nope, straight over it.

The way in which a drone works, but elegantly floating over and around objects gives a totally new look to your hotel photography and pushes this media ever more online.

I mean, you can’t do this in a brochure, can you?!

But still there are the detractors. If anything, due to the worry about privacy, drone videography will take a while to become mainstream, which means hotels that adopt it for their websites now will be ahead of the pack.

It’s not expensive, yet it gives your customers an unrivalled view of your hotel or resort.

It can be even more effective when showing off your activities.

For example, if you have a golf course, then show someone taking a swing then follow the ball down the fairway.

Near a boating lake? Then get up close and personal to boats right out in the middle of the water, something that would be impossible before drones, unless you had access to a helicopter.

Drone videography is in its infancy, and when the amateurs have been cleared out by the legislation and rules that are bound to be tightened, you’ll be able to trust that the company that does yours will provide a professional and safe service.

The post Is hotel drone videography the way forward? appeared first on Photoweb.

This is because we often want a bright, sunny day to show off the best bits of our buildings, and it’s also very appealing to the eye.

In many cases we do it to give an impression of what it’s like to stay at our resort when everything is perfect, including the weather. However, some of us have buildings that don’t need to be shown off in the glaring sunlight.

If your hotel is a particularly good example of a certain type of architecture, then you might find a grey day will give it more of a “lift.”

Some imposing structures can look fantastic when set against a moody sky, and when enhanced with software, this can give a far more atmospheric impression that shows off some of the more dramatic parts of our hotel.

For example, if you’re lucky enough to have a hotel that resembles a castle, it can look fantastic at dusk with dark clouds brewing in the background, highlighted by the last embers of the fading sun.

To make the most of this, look for parts of the building architecture that stand out, or that could be highlighted more by some effective back-lighting.

Also, night-time shots can be enhanced by placing lights pointing at certain parts of your building, especially angles that will reflect the light in interesting ways, or provide a frame to a certain aspect of the building that would otherwise go unnoticed.

Could all buildings benefit?

Of course, you don’t need to own a listed country mansion to make the most of its architecture and get some stunning shots.

Any building, with the right setup, and when photographed at the right time, could look fantastic if it’s approached in the right way.

An experienced photographer can make almost any scene look fantastic, no matter how bland it originally looks.

Although a lot of what pleasures the beholder is down to their particular view, someone who is good with a camera, and can also wield post-processing software deftly, can often place a scene in the mind that wasn’t originally there.

Don’t be afraid of monochrome

Of course, there’s always the friend of the moody photographer – monochrome.

Sometimes less is more, and simply stripping a photograph of it’s colour can help to provide atmosphere with little in the way of technical knowledge.

If the weather is already quite moody, with dark skies and thick cloud, converting to monochrome and then increasing the contrast between the dark and light can give a very dramatic effect.

Whatever you decide, don’t simply take a picture and expect that to be it.

Use whatever tools you have at your disposal and create a scene that will make your hotel look good, whatever the weather.

The post Make the most of the weather when taking architectural photography appeared first on Photoweb.

It seems everyone likes a good photo, and they especially love to share photos of things they’ve done or places they’ve been.

At this time of year, as people are getting ready for Christmas, many of them are also considering places to go, and if they can see photos, they’re more likely to share them.

I’ve noticed recently that a lot of hotels and resorts are sharing their 2018 holiday offers, and including lots of photos with them, too.

Friends are then sharing them with their friends. Usually with a caption such as “shall we go here next year.”

So how do you do that?

The concept is incredibly simple, and here’s a step-by-step guide to doing it.

1) Take some photos of your resort, but also photos of people enjoying themselves. You need 3-5 photos, and make sure you have permission from people in the photos.
The key is to show events, the water slide, people on the golf course, things like that. Get photos of people doing things at your resort and enjoying themselves there.

2) Use Facebook. Create a Facebook page and regularly update it. But, to make a shareable post, upload your images (those 3-5 you got in step one) and put a simple comment such as “It’s never too early to book for 2018, share with your friends to cheer them up!”
Your post will have all of your images so people can see how great your resort is, but you’re also inviting people to share the news, and many will.

3) Respond to comments. It’s likely that people will then ask you questions, so answer them. Be there for them and answer as soon as you can so that people know you’re responsive to them.

And that’s essentially it.

There are no big secrets to promoting yourself online, you just need great photos and something that people want, but remember, it’s not just “fire and forget,” you need to engage with people and make the most of your presence.

The post How to make your hotel photography shareable appeared first on Photoweb.

That sole reason is why spending some time in advance to plan the photo shoot is essential for you and your photographer to create vivid experiences through pictures and videos. To ensure you capture compelling shots, here are some best tips on how being prepared for a hotel shoot works in your favor:

Make sure your photographer researches your hotel before the shoot. Have they visited your web site, looked at old shots? We also recommend a pre-shoot phone call to run through the shot list, and make sure all parties, and departments are fully versed and up to speed with the latest brand guidelines. There may be styling, lighting and composition preferences that are highlighted within these guidelines that the photographer needs to be aware of. We recommend talking through each shot to see if any special equipment will be required – maybe a step ladder, possibly a drone, an extra long zoom, or a wide 16 mm for tight spaces.

As the first shoot day approaches, ensure all public areas are spotlessly clean, and all spot lights, bulbs and light fixtures are working. The meeting rooms need to be set with chairs & tables straightened, linens ironed, and pens, pads, and water glasses and bottles added where needed. In the Guest Rooms, ensure all bed sheets, pillows and bed skirts are crisply ironed and tightly tucked. If the pillows are a little lumpy, we recommend double wrapping them and ironing the outside case. Block all rooms so no guests will access, and then unblock them as each shot is completed. For the exterior shots, look across the street for a possible elevated view. Do you have any friends at the office or apartment building across the road who would be helpful and allow roof access? It’s also a great idea to ensure that you switch on as many front facing guest room lights as possible for the evening exterior shot. This will really light up your hotel, and make it look as busy as always. Does the grass need a cut, or more flowers added to the beds. Remember to remove the luggage carts and ashtrays that are visible.

The walk through with the photographer is vitally important. This is a time to discuss the shot list and see if anything needs to be moved to a different time slot. Maybe the lighting would be better in the early evening (what we call blue time) as opposed to during the day. This is also a chance to introduce the photographer to the hotel team and department heads; people that will be required to ensure the shoot runs smoothly.

Then it’s time for the fun to begin and the first shot to be taken. Photo shoots are not at all stressful if planned well in advance, which is something PhotoWeb has always been very good at.

The post Why It’s Critical to Prepare Accordingly for a Hotel Photo Shoot appeared first on Photoweb.