ACT Studios is a leading supplier of high quality visual content to the hospitality industry.
Our professional team of photographers and post production editors can supply you with high resolution, still photography of your holiday cottages or hotels.
As well as a more immersive experience, using our specialist Matterport cameras, which gives you a 3D virtual tour of your property, allowing viewers to walk through each room and turn 360 degrees to view any aspect of it that interests them.
Preparation is the key to getting the best out of a hospitality photography shoot and so we have put together this useful guide on how to best to prepare for your forthcoming ACT Studios shoot.
Who are ACT Studios?
We are a small but highly professional team of photographers, based throughout the UK, specialising in high quality photography for the hospitality industry.
Established in 2015, we produce incredible visual content for all aspects of your property marketing, which is specifically designed to show off your premises in the best possible light.
We have delivered photography and 3D interactive walkthroughs to well over 1,000 holiday properties throughout the UK. We work with independent owners and agencies and do our very best to ensure that the whole process is simple – and enjoyable!
The ACT Studios team cover the UK and occasionally travel further afield. Some of our team even own their own holiday properties, so we understand the challenges of this market first hand!
Do you bring all your own photography equipment?
Yes! We carry the latest in digital SLR cameras as well as the more specialised Matterport cameras, which allow us to photograph your rooms in three dimensions.
The Matterport cameras gives you a virtual tour of the property, which your customers can browse to get an overall feel for the place, as well as being able to zoom in great detail in any corner of the room. It also allows us to produce a ‘dolls house’ model of your property.
We also carry professional lighting equipment. In fact, everything necessary for producing great results.
What are the benefits of professional hospitality photography?
In short, great hospitality photography sells rooms. Or weeks.
In fact, research has shown that having at least one photo of your property on a property page actually increases the likelihood of a booking inquiry by 225%!
And that for properties with at least 100 photos, engagement levels rise to 151% and likelihood of a booking inquiry rises to 238% compared to properties with no photos Source
Our aim is to create assets that you can then use in all forms of marketing, whether it’s print or digital marketing, that will improve your bottom line.
“The Act Studios photography and walk-though tour package
was our best marketing spend ever.
Since carefully incorporating it all onto our website we have seen a 15-20% uplift in bookings resulting in our best ever financial year.
It has made our small one bed cottage look great and is highly practical for our larger properties.
ACT Studios are passionate and talented guys and they really care.”
Pitt Farm Cottages.
Planning your professional photography shoot
Having photographed numerous premises over the years, there are just a few things you can plan in advance, to make the whole process much smoother on the day!
Before the shoot
It always helps to know about any features which make your property stand out when you make the booking with ACT Studios.
So we will ask you about its location and any stand out features.
It also helps us to know exactly what you are hoping to achieve from the shoot. For example, you might simply want to refresh old imagery or you might want to increase out of season bookings. Or better illustrate the building’s suitability for weddings.
Preparing your property for hospitality photography
To really make your property stand out, we’ve compiled the following checklist, to be completed in advance of our visit. It’s not designed to be exhaustive but it will get you thinking along the right lines about advance preparation for your shoot:
- Property exterior – is this clean and tidy?
- Windows – make sure all windows have been cleaned inside and out
- Beds – these need to be made up beautifully! Without creases, using your best linen and complete with plumped and attractive pillows
- Lights – do all the lights work? Including all the occasional lighting?
- Curtains and blinds – ensure these are fully opened
- External doors – again, make sure these can be easily opened on the day
- Flowers – invest in a large, high quality bouquet of fresh flowers and some on-brand magazines to be strategically placed throughout the property
- Lining up! – straighten picture frames and mirrors and make sure lamp shades seams are facing to the back of any shot
- Local produce – include any locally produced food and drink that feels on brand with the look you are going for. Especially if these products feature in your welcome hamper
- General – remove all bins, check that switches are turned and light cables hidden or made neat
- Beautifully dressed tables, food, wine and props Your photographer will help on the day wherever possible Make it feel luxurious!
- Warm it up – light any fires to add extra warmth the photos (we can always add this later if more practical)
- Set the table – lay the table using your best crockery and cutlery to show that the table will accommodate the full occupancy for the property.
- Outside – use cushions on outside tables, and dress the tables with fruit or flowers. Equally, consider champagne glasses and a bottle of Prosecco plus some luxury robes for the hot tub
On the day of the shoot
Your ACT Studios photographer will be internal, external, lifestyle and possibly also location shots on the day of the shoot.
A standard cottage may take approximately 2.5 to 3 hours to shoot carefully (assuming a 3 bedroom property).
Consider whether or not you wish to be present (you don’t always need to be). If you’re not available, try to ensure that there is someone present who can, for example, work the hot tub jets.
Our photographers will take shots for both still photography as well as the more immersive, 3d virtual tours.
After the shoot
Once the shoot is complete, it’s over to our skilled Editing Team to produce beautiful results for all your rooms, views and external details.
