Your tourism property has one key advantage when it comes to marketing: It is beautiful. Sprawling campgrounds, cozy cabins, and adorable bed and breakfasts are a visual marketing dream. When done well, your business’s photography can be the deciding factor when a customer chooses to book. Follow these tips to take and use the best photos possible.
- Watch Your Lighting: The light makes or breaks a photo, so be sure to be mindful of it. You will take the most aesthetically pleasing outdoor photos in the hours right after sunrise and right before sunset. If you own a bed and breakfast, or other indoor property, try to use as much natural light as possible while snapping photos of the different rooms.
- Include People: You’re trying to attract people to book at your campground, RV park, or bed and breakfast. Make the experience come to life for your potential clients by taking photos of people enjoying their stay. Be sure to ask permission before taking someone’s photo. You can also include a section of your booking terms that allows people to consent to being photographed while on your property.
- Stay On Brand: Be sure to keep your photography focused. Remember that photos are part of your content marketing and should stay on brand as much as possible. If you are leasing cabins, for example, you could include photos of the cabins, forest, campfires, and other rustic details. Your collection of images will establish an aesthetic.
- Invest In Quality: Especially for your website, be sure to invest in the best possible images. Consider purchasing a DSLR camera and learning how to use it well. If you aren’t able to spend the time on your own photography, you can hire a professional to take your marketing photos for you.
- Be Selective: Only post your best photos on your website and social media. Place them strategically and avoid clutter. Consider adding a slideshow to your website to allow users to look through images at their own pace.
Remember: Professional photos will immediately grab the attention of website visitors. Data shows that organic search results make up about 30% of clicks, so make sure that visitors get a quality experience when clicking into your website. As industry trends and standards change, be sure to update your website images. This will keep your site attractive and relevant in the ever-changing digital landscape.