Tips & Tricks for Hotel Content Creation!

Hotel Content Creation for Hotel Aguas Claras

Hotel content creation + travel have always been a true passion of mine! As a Content Creator and Photographer I’ve learned so much about how to really showcase the lifestyle behind a hotel so today I want to share with you the behind the scenes on how I create content for boutique hotels!

I’m gonna share all the tips and tricks I use when shooting hotels and experiencing the lifestyle and magic behind them. Whether you’re a content creator or a business owner this step by step guide will help you create the content you need to really make the most out of your shoot. Let’s get started!

10AM | Check In & Scouting

Location, location, location! Upon arrival I always make sure to take a stroll around the hotel to make sure which are the best spots to photograph. The check-in process is perfect for this, normally the concierge will give you a tour of the facilities so make sure you’re taking notes to see where are those golden spots.

Take a look on the lighting, cute corners and of course which spots are best for food, lifestyle and details! This way you’ll have the perfect shots of the hotel ready for you.

10:15AM | Interior Shoot of the Rooms

As soon as I check in I grab my camera and start setting up the room to shoot. This way every single detail about the room is intact and you won’t have to struggle with wrinkles, messy rooms or clutter. Get your props and make it look chill yet clean and styled. Remember the key of hotel content creation is to make the audience feel what would it be like to stay in that hotel!

This way you can make sure you have interior design shoots with everything clean and ready to go!

10:30AM | Coffee & Inspiration

After checking in I usually start my shoots with coffee & Pinterest! I love creating mood boards and gathering up inspo shots so I can get my creative juices flowing.

This helps me create my prop list before packing which always include: a cute beach hat, purses, fans, accent shoes like sandals or slippers to prop by the bed, magazines, beach bags, florals, books and all those things that will make your guests feel just like home!

After gathering all the inspo and props we get to styling!

11AM | Brunch Styling & Shoot

Breakfast & brunch are the first things we shoot! Food photography needs natural lighting so make sure you have enough time to work around the food. After scouting I always pick the closest spot with great natural light, that way I can make sure all of the shots look great.

Bonus points if you can find a lounge table, this makes your process so much easier. This tables are closer to the ground so when you take flatlays you won’t have to stand up in a chair for height!

Tell the staff to bring all of the plates at the same time, that way things like latte art and banana won’t get ruined. Some plates will look great for a long time, like avocado toasts, pancakes, or even salads. But plates like smoothie bowls, coffee and cocktails can loose their magic pretty quickly! So make sure you have your composition ready to go BEFORE adding those elements.

Shoot with different angles, include props, hands and make the shoot feel just like a Sunday morning brunch with friends! This will make the shoot look so much better.

12MD | Interior Design Shoot

Once all the brunch & breakfast content is ready I take my time to go around the hotel and shoot the interiors. This way I have more time shooting close up shots, all the interior design and details that make the hotel unique. My biggest tip is to always talk to the staff so they can tell you about their favorite spots.

This way you’ll make sure to shoot important content for the hotel! Make sure to mix up the content: 40% Hotel & Interiors / 25% Food & Drinks / 30% Lifestyle Shots / 15% Staff or Branded Content. Before arrival talk with the owners or the marketing team so you both know what content they need to create.

1PM | Lunch & Beach Break

The best part of creating content for hotels is to be able to experience what it’s like to stay at their hotel. This way it will give you insights about the lifestyle and vacation vibe you can translate into your content. It’s all about telling stories about moments and feelings.

After shooting I always take a lunch & beach break to explore the hotel restaurant and beach. This way you get to recharge and relax before shooting the next location.

3PM | Cocktails & Restaurant Shoots

When you’re shooting cocktails and restaurants the best time to shoot is at odd hours, for example instead of shooting at lunch when all the guests are at the restaurant try to pick odd hours when the service is low. This way you can make sure the plates are coming out quickly and the staff can help you with extra garnishes, flatware and props.

Shooting food has to be one of my favorite parts, all the angles, composition and shots you can create makes my heart happy. So make sure to get all the angles and of course the interior details of the restaurants!

4PM | Coffee & Editing

Once the light is starting to dim I like to sit down with some coffee and start editing. Always make a backup of your content. This way you’re sure that all your hard work is safe. After shooting I like to make a editing selection to see what type of content is missing.

I LOVE doing this so when I start my editing batch I already have all my favorite shots ready to go!

5PM | Relaxing & Sunset

Remember that the magic about hotel content creation is the balance between work & play! I make sure to always end my shoot days relaxing. This way I can feel recharge after a long shooting day, my favorite ways to unwind are cocktails by the pool and watching the sunset.

After the sun is down I make sure to get a shower, get ready and go to dinner so I can spend some time editing in bed after everything is ready to go!

Hotel Content Creation has to be FUN at its core!

When we’re creating content for travel & hotels it has to be fun, it has to tell stories and make people feel. The best way is to really enjoy the experience behind this amazing hotels. I’m so grateful to Elena and her team at Hotel Aguas Claras for letting me experience their hotel and to share with you all the amazing content we’ve created for them!

If you want to learn more about the magic behind Hotel & Lifestyle Content Creation click here and follow me on IG @hopefuloutsiders.

PS. If you loved this post be sure to check out my Staycation in Nomadic Nosara!