The Difference Between Hotel Photographers and Pure Architectural Photographers

11 Jan 2025
Ben Purnomo

Hello, this is Ben! It’s time for me to share on my website.

I’ve noticed that some hotels hire photographers who specialize purely in architecture, using the same treatment as architectural photography. There’s nothing wrong with this approach, but I feel that it may not be entirely suitable.

If we pay attention to the purpose of a hotel hiring a photographer, it’s essentially for sales. The photos are meant to serve as key visuals when displayed on websites or OTAs (Online Travel Agencies), so there are specific treatments applied to make the rooms look appealing for potential customers. This is different from architectural photography.

From what I’ve observed, architectural photography is more about documenting an architect’s project, focusing on the building’s form, layout, spatial relationships, and scale with humans. These elements may not always align with the needs of a hotel. While architects also aim to showcase their designs, the context and intent are different in my view.

If there are any architects or hotel photographers reading this, feel free to share your thoughts!

Best regards,
Ben