Ft. Caswell Conference Center, NC. Early morning photo. Click for larger image. Used with permission.

Take a look at your Web site. Are there enough photographs to showcase the beauty and inspiration of the buildings? Will guests positively anticipate their arrival to your property?

Below are some tips to consider for photographs:

• Show more than just the building. Include the beauty of the outdoors in the same photo as the building. Sometimes include the sky.
• Capture the uniqueness of a building, such as its architectural elements like expansive windows and/or historical features.
• Use good lighting. For outdoor photography, when you photograph at sunrise or sunset, buildings can “glow.”
• Show a few photos that highlight the seasons, such as the greens of the summertime and the rich reds and oranges of fall leaves.
• Build positive anticipation. When people are booking a hotel online, they want to see the rooms, eating area, lobby, and amenities. Use photographs so that guests and campers can see how they’ll be living. Photograph gathering areas, bathrooms, common activities, dining areas, etc.
• Include photos both with and without people. Happy and content people can bring a building to life.
• Match the photos with your mission statement. Photos for a renewal center are different than photos for youth development camp.
• Enhance the digital photos using software tools. Crop, adjust lighting, balance colors, etc.
• Use expertise. Learn more about architectural photography on the Web and through reading books. Decide when it’s appropriate to hire a professional photographer.