You do not need a studio to create a successful glamour photo shoot. A few weeks ago as I was preparing for my first women’s retreat in New York, NY, I did a broadcast on Periscope showing how I was going to use the space for glamour and boudoir photo shoots.

Shooting in a hotel requires some work beforehand as well as when you are on location.

I was not planning on releasing the video, however I’ve had numerous requests from In Bed With Sue Facebook group members. So please pardon the low quality as it was only meant to be broadcast live.

Below is a summary of what I look for in a hotel and some of the final photographs we created at the retreat.

Periscope Video: How to Have a Glamour Photo Shoot in a Hotel

What to Look For When Booking a Hotel

1. Decor – What is the general look and style of the hotel? Is it a boutique hotel? Is it a basic hotel room? What color are the walls? What type of furniture is in the room? What furniture and decor do you need? Be careful of bright-colored walls because they create color casts on your model. I prefer hotel rooms with neutral colors.
2. Size – How big is the room? What is the square footage? If it is for a shoot you want a Queen or King room since you won’t need 2 beds. Queen is preferable since it doesn’t take as much space in the room and you can move around more. The more open space the easier it is to shoot in.
3. Cost – Hotels in New York City and other large cities can get quite costly. Determine your budget beforehand and stick to it unless your client has a specific request and is covering the cost of the room.
4. Guest Photos – Do a search on google or the travel sites to see photos previous guests of the hotel that you are looking at posted. Some hotel rooms look gorgeous on the hotel’s website and then don’t quite measure up when you are there in person. Compare the guest photos to the professional photos to confirm that is the look you want to capture.

What to Look For When You Are Setting Up in the Hotel Room

1. Windows – Look at the walls by the windows first if you are shooting natural light. Create a corner there. This is one setup for standing shots or sitting on the floor. Use reflectors to bounce back light from the window.
2. Walls – Look at all the other walls in the room for a solid backdrop. Also look at closet and bathroom doors. Sometimes these are painted a nice solid color and can create more variety.
3. Furniture – Determine what furniture you want to use. The bed can be used for boudoir shots, or as a makeshift couch or ottoman for any laying down shots. Is there a couch or any other additional seating you can use? Can you bring a folding stool with you and use that near a wall? Move furniture around if you can to help you create shooting space.
4. Mirrors – Are there any mirrors you can use for some more creative shots? How about the bathroom?
5. Tables – Is there a side table available? I’ve had clients kneel on the floor behind them and posed their arms and hands on top of the table. I’ve also used the tables for stools or additional seating.
6. Doorways – Are there any doorways you can use? In a suite you can do poses in directly in the doorway. If it is a sliding door onto a balcony or patio you may be able to do shots from the inside of the room getting backlight, or from the outside of the room and have the light falling off into the room.

Behind the Scenes & Photos from the Hotel Room in the Video

Couch

Bathroom Door Across from Windows

Corner with Windows to Left

Couch with Windows Behind

Do you need help figuring out how to use your shooting space? For information about mentoring contact Joanna here.