When photographing a hotel, it’s natural for attention to gravitate toward the lobby, suites, restaurant and bar. Those are the headline spaces. Equally important — and often decisive for a guest’s impression — are the common areas: hallways, waiting areas, ballrooms, conference rooms, elevators, public restrooms, the gym and the pool.
Holiday travelers, business guests and event planners all look at these spaces as indicators of overall care. High traffic reveals wear quickly; when hallways are clean and well-lit, when the elevator interiors feel polished, when restrooms are tidy and the fitness area is organized, it signals that housekeeping and operations maintain consistent standards throughout the property. That trust often converts into bookings, repeat stays and positive reviews.
For hotel owners and marketing teams, common areas frequently top the shot list for a reason:
They demonstrate operational excellence and attention to detail.
They show how the hotel handles heavy usage and guest flow.
They provide context for the guest experience beyond the private room.
They sell safety, comfort and professionalism to prospective guests and event clients.
From a photographer’s standpoint, capturing these spaces requires a slightly different approach than suites or signature public rooms. Pay attention to flow and circulation — compositions that show pathways, sightlines to exits or meeting rooms, and how spaces connect are valuable. Lighting must be balanced to avoid blown highlights in well-lit corridors or underexposed elevator interiors. Small details — fresh towels on gym racks, polished metal on elevator buttons, neatly arranged signage in conference suites — matter as much as overall composition.
Below are a few examples from a Houston shoot a few years back that illustrate these principles. More to come. To see more of our work, please visit our website. www.normansizemore.com
