The Importance of Good Photography

We are all familiar with the old saying “never judge a book by its cover”, however in the hospitality and travel industry, it couldn’t be more opposite. With more and more people booking with the intention of taking photos on their trip, highlighting your property with proper images is of great importance. Not only can good photography help increase your bookings, but it can also help your claim if damage occurs.

Keep reading to discover all the benefits of capturing your picture-perfect inn.

Save Thousands with Good Pictures

A picture is worth a thousand words. It can also be worth thousands of dollars in the insurance world. When you file a claim, insurance companies will ask for photos of the damage or lost items as proof to support your claim. Capturing photos or even videos of your bed and breakfast is visual proof to illustrate the scope of your property’s condition before damage occurs. Labeling each photo with the date and updating your photo inventory when renovations or an expensive purchase is made will give you a record of your property’s condition and valuables.

Capturing images with your phone or camera is the quickest way to determine what you had on your property and the condition it was in. Otherwise, you are left scavenging through receipts of past purchases trying to explain the contents of your property and the condition they were left in. It will save you time and headaches during a stressful situation. 

The Benefit of Using Drones

To capture stunning photos and videos of the exterior of your inn, look no further than drones. While they may sound expensive to use just for a few photos, they can actually save you more money in more ways than one.

• Drones can be used for inspections, construction jobs and to look at storm damage.
• They can help attain better records. Drone footage captures the property over a period of time. By having this visual, time-stamped data, you will always have that digital footprint to refer back to.
• Reduce insurance costs. Not only can drone footage help in light of a claim, but it can also reduce the amount of time personnel is placed in a dangerous situation. Nobody needs to crawl up on the roof to check for something.

Great Images Help With Marketing

Not only will updated photos help speed up the claim process, they will improve marketing your property to potential new guests. Being transparent with your images shows the guest exactly what they are getting for the price. High-quality images of your inn can lead to more inquiries and bookings! According to FastCompany, you have 20 seconds to capture an audience’s attention before they leave the page.

Keep in mind while taking photos of your bed and breakfast that images should be compelling, visually inviting, and supportive of your well-crafted description. Invite guests’ eyes to explore your property before they even step foot in the door. Consider your property’s photos a virtual tourism pamphlet highlighting its best features. 

Picture Perfect

When photographing your inn, make sure to follow these steps to maximize your exposure for new bookings while producing high-quality images for insurance protection. 

• Take photos that provide visual context for the viewer. A good rule of thumb is to snap photos of the four corners of the outside of your property. Capture the entire building in a photo if you can. Inside your property, take many different views and angles of each room.
• Take at least 20 photos of your inn including the yard and extra features.
• Clean your inn and stage it with items that help tell a story and make it feel inviting to guests.
• Use as much natural lighting as possible, avoiding a flash. Turn on lights if needed. 

Protection at All Costs

Take the time to revisit your inn’s photos. Are they up to date? It’s important to have recent photos documenting your property in case damage occurs and a claim needs to be filed. Capturing new images now can reduce stress later knowing you have proof for a claim. To learn more about protecting your business through CBIZ Innkeepers Insurance, connect with a member of our team.

This blog may contain scenarios that are provided as examples only. Coverage is subject to the terms, conditions and exclusions of the policy issued. The information provided is general in nature and may be affected by changes in law or the interpretation of such laws. The reader is advised to contact a professional prior to taking any action based upon this information.

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