by Sandy Soule
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Fallacy #1 Not much has changed in photography in the past ten years.
Fallacy #2 I know my pictures don’t do my inn justice, but I would
rather have my guests be pleasantly surprised when they arrive.
Fallacy #3 My rooms just don’t photograph well.
Fallacy #4 All I need to show are photos of my guest rooms.
Fallacy #5 Once I get my pictures online, I won’t have to worry about it
any more.
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And now the facts:
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Fallacy #1 Not much has changed in photography in the past ten years.
Digital photography has revolutionized the industry. On the Internet,
digital pictures usually look crisper, brighter, and clearer than scanned
prints. Digital images also offer instant gratification; shoot dozens of shots
from different angles, with varied lighting, then load them into your computer.
Chose the best to crop and brighten, and you’ll have some great photos to add
to your website.
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Fallacy #2 I know my pictures don’t do my inn justice, but I would
rather have my guests be pleasantly surprised when they arrive.
Before:
Chateau Tivoli, San Francisco, CA
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After:
Chateau Tivoli, San Francisco, CA
Photo by Manning Moxley
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The “before” and “after” shots shown here show a guest room that appeared cold and gloomy (before)
transformed into one that’s dramatically elegant (after). Take a careful look at your photos as
they appear on the Internet. Are they in focus, correctly exposed? Remember that your pictures are
a reflection of the quality of your property. The better their quality, in terms of focus, definition,
and clarity, the better your look-to-book ratio will be.
- Fallacy #3 My rooms just don’t photograph well.
The best way to get great photos of your inn is to use an experienced professional photographer
who can show you samples of his/her work, both online and in print. If using a pro is not an
option, consider these tips:
- Turn on all the lights in the room; add supplemental lights if needed
- Take pictures at different times of the day, then select the images that show off the room in the best light.
- If photographing bathrooms, fill the tubs with bubble bath to make them more inviting.
- In general, avoid taking shots of guests; travelers want to imagine themselves in your rooms.
- Always show the fireplaces with a fire going, even if you just need to light some crumpled newspapers to get the shot.
- If you are not able to get a great photograph of an entire room, or your whole inn, concentrate on a smaller feature.
Photos still not up to par? Consider freshening your décor with new curtains, bedspreads, lamps,
paint and/or wallpaper.
- Fallacy #4 All I need to show are photos of my guest rooms.
While guest rooms are a key element, they’re not the only one. Guests want to see the grounds, the
common areas, the inn’s exterior, the innkeepers, and even the pets. Photos of area attractions in
different seasons are important as well. Stay focused on the guest’s point of view. A close up image
of a garden flower is beautiful, but irrelevant. If the inn’s gardens are a highlight, then take a
photograph of the garden, with a garden chair and a book open on the seat in the foreground.
- Fallacy #5 Once I get my pictures online, I can forget them.
If you put your pictures on line a few years ago, you need to update the old shots, and add some new
ones. Did you redecorate the honeymoon suite? Landscape the swimming pool area? Add a whirlpool tub?
Get a new puppy? These marketing features can only bring you new guests if people know about them!
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Congratulations to the Inn at the Bay B&B, St. Petersburg, FL! As the 2000th
B&B to accept BedandBreakfast.com Gift Certificates, they received a free
upgrade to Gold membership!
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More information
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Time to move on? Sell your property by listing it on the leading Internet site
for bed and breakfasts and inns, BedandBreakfast.com, visited by thousands of
inngoers every day! Read
more
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The Internet gives you the opportunity to interact with potential customers in
a variety of settings, from search engines to tourism websites, from
specialized inn directories to major online travel services. Taking real-time,
online reservations is the most effective way to transform your Internet
presence from an informational resource into a 24/7 sales engine. Read
more
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Need more info? You’ll find lots of forms, tutorials, and educational articles
on our site for your convenience.
 Resource Library
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