New Photography Increased Occupancy by 15%

I'm starting a new blog for YourInnLuck.com this 2009. The first post is of an image from The Gruene Mansion Inn in New Braunfels, Texas. Cecil Eager of Gruene Mansion is one of YourInnLuck's first clients. We completely revamped his website a few years back with new images and a brand new design... it was a huge leap forward for GMI.

ILoveInns.com recently featured YourInnLuck.com and The Gruene Mansion Inn in an article about Professional Photography for Bed and Breakfasts. The article is quoted below...

New Photography Immediately Increased Occupancy by 15%

Cecil Eager, owner/innkeeper at Gruene Mansion Inn in Texas, decided two years ago to hire a professional photographer. Cecil noted that their occupancy rate jumped by 15% immediately after the new photos were published online. He hired professional photographer Patrick Cavan Brown at YourInnLuck.com who has a simple pricing structure--the cost he charges per room is equivalent to what you charge for that room!

How to Afford It... Perhaps you are thinking, in this tight economy, I can't afford to spend on photos. The truth may be just the opposite. Now may be the very best time to deal with photos. Consider the example of Pat from the Albion River Inn. She started with a couple great photos and stressed the importance of the first pictures you see when you open a Web site.

Great Photography Prevents Inn Hopping... Think of the photos on your home page as the first impression--they are critical in capturing a potential guest's attention before they click to the next property.

Why do great photos make such a difference? Because high quality photos make guests confident that they will receive a similar high quality experience at your inn. The most important skills you need to look for in getting a good picture according to Patrick is lighting and that usually requires a photographer to use additional lighting inside and out to create a well-lit, yet natural affect. The second skill you need is post production, which means being able to optimize the digital images for the Web, using a combination of graphic artistry skills and software.

Check online photo portfolios of photographers you are considering... If you like what you see, then schedule a time to meet with the photographer and do a trial room. In most cases, you will be the photographer's assistant so expect to set up the room--including a check list such as windows washed? blinds straight? fresh flowers? If you are doing outside shots, later in the day is often better for color saturation, and small details, like wetting down the sidewalk and lawns adds to the freshness of the shot.

Don’t let fear of the cost keep you from getting those extra guests you need. Do one room at a time if necessary with a good photographer, or hire a college student, or buy a few clamp lights from home depot and take the photos yourself and then let a photo shop software expert improve them. Explore your options--there are more out there than you realize.