Hotel Photos for Your Website
What hotel photos does your website need?
Your site needs the right photos, not just a lot of them. Here are 10 shots every hotel should have. Use this as your shot list for your next shoot. If you are new to this, start with why hotel photography boosts bookings.
The 10 must-have hotel photos
The outside. Shoot the front at golden hour or just after sunset, when the lights glow.
The lobby. This is your first hello. Make it bright and open.
Each room type. Show every room, so guests know what they are buying.
The bathroom. Guests care a lot about a clean, modern bath.
The bed. Fresh sheets and soft pillows sell the stay.
Food and drink. Show breakfast, coffee, and the bar.
The restaurant or cafe. Show the space with the lights on.
Fun spaces. Pool, gym, rooftop, or patio.
The view. Window and balcony views are big selling points.
Small details. Keys, flowers, art, and cozy corners.
Tips for better hotel room photography
Use light the right way. Natural light makes rooms feel warm. Open the curtains and turn on all lamps. Avoid harsh flash.
Keep lines straight. Crooked walls and doors look sloppy. A tripod helps keep every shot level.
Shoot wide, but stay real. Wide lenses make rooms look bigger. But if a room looks too big, guests feel tricked. Stay honest.
Show the same style across all photos. Keep colors and mood the same so your site looks neat and on brand.
How to add hotel photos to your website the right way
Great photos still need a little setup to help your site load fast and show up in search.
Compress every image. Aim for under 200 KB per photo. Use WebP when you can.
Name files clearly. Use "king-room-new-haven-hotel.webp", not "IMG_4821.jpg".
Write alt text. Describe what is in the photo in one short line. Google explains this in its image best practices.
Lazy load photos below the fold. This keeps pages fast on phones.
Put your best photo first. Guests decide in seconds.
Where to use these photos
Use them on your home page, room pages, Google Business Profile, travel sites, email, and social media. Planning a video too? Read our post on hotel videography.
Frequently asked questions
How many photos should a hotel website have? Aim for 20 to 30 strong photos overall, and 5 to 8 for each room type.
What is the best time of day to shoot a hotel? Morning light is great for rooms. Dusk is best for the outside.
Should I show guests in hotel photos? A few photos with people add warmth. Just get written permission first.
Book your hotel photo shoot
We can shoot all 10 in one visit. See our hotel photography services or contact MDR Creative Visuals in New Haven, CT.
About the author: Matt is the owner of MDR Creative Visuals LLC, a photo and video studio in New Haven, CT. He shoots photos, video, and social content for restaurants and hotels.
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