Boutique Hotel Photography : The Salutation : Sandwich Kent.
Gogglebox Steph & Dom
Having shot many Boutique Hotels & Luxury B&B’s I always admire the commitment of the owners.
One of the more memorable Boutique Hotels I have shot, has to be Googlebox’s Steph & Dom’s Hotel, The Salutation. ( shown in the stylish brochure) They are as charming and funny in person as on TV. Steph was very hands on.
The hotel is stunning. Set in Sandwich Kent. With a very interesting history of its own. It’s gardens were designed and built in 1911-12 by Sir Edwin Lutyens. Steph had designed the rooms with impeccable taste. To compliment its auspicious history. The rooms were extremely inviting. And like many Luxury B & B or Boutique Hotels incredible value. Equal to many top 5* hotels.
The Boutique Hotel alongside its owners, originally featured on Four In a Bed, Channel 4’s well-know show. Winning can elevate a B & B’s no end. Steph & Dom’s fantastic characters shone through. They and the beautiful Salutation Hotel, were such a sensation, Channel 4 then cast them in Gogglebox.
The rest is history. Steph & Dom’s yellow sofa at The Salutation became as famous as them.
Photography & Marketing for Boutique Hotels.
Boutique Hotels deliver an exclusive experience for guests. Special things a big chain can’t offer. Some located in historical areas or in a property with striking period features. Others creating character & interest, with unique design or sourcing beautiful furniture & vintage pieces.
Boutique hotel photographers
Needing to capture the unique qualities as Owners often have a clear vision of what they’d like. So discussing what atmosphere they are looking to convey. Understanding where the priorities are. Rooms and features to highlight. How they plan to use the images etc. Check out some other Boutique Hotel shoots here
It also helps if they have a marketing agency on board. Steph & Dom were using the very talented Emma Reynolds at the WOW factory in Charing Kent. I have worked with Emma on many projects, and always excited to see her designs. She’s one of the best.
A brand design team, working together with the photographer to capture the best shots from the get go, can really help keep a consistent theme. Discussing the design, and look/style/moodboards, helps everyone. Covering landscape & Portrait. Enough variety for print & media. And delivering photography compliments the branding they have created for the client. Whether that be rich strong light or quiet gentle daylight atmosphere. Its important to have the discussion first.
