Daniel Jenkins is a professional hotel and travel photographer. We love his work and wanted to share with you some of his best photos, as well as his advice for how you can improve your own.
The point of great hotel photography isn’t to show you what the hotel looks like. The point is to show you what it feels like. Travel, at its best, is a heightened state of reality. Travel photos, at their best, should be the same. Otherwise, we wouldn’t need professional photographers. Otherwise, you’d be happy if we only showed you blurry, blown out, and crooked cell phone pics.
Instead, we show you photos by pros like Daniel Jenkins. He thinks about every element of the hotel — its architecture, design, and landscape; its history, surroundings, and intent — and then he sets out to create photographs that capture the intersection of those elements, and that inspire you, the viewer, to come see the place for yourself.
Below, he breaks down some of his favorite photos of Tablet hotels — Es Racó d’Artà, Ace Hotel Toronto, La Divine Comédie — explaining the methods he used to tell the hotel’s story as he sees it, and providing a few valuable tips for improving your own travel photography.
Es Racó d’Artà
Artà, Spain
EXTERIORS: I decided to shoot these scenes in black and white in order to better contrast the flat reflective surface of the hotel’s infinity pool with the rugged, windswept landscape of northeastern Mallorca. The shots were taken on a late August afternoon and the light was not exactly how I wanted it — a bit too harsh to create the feeling I was aiming to achieve. Shifting to black and white helped solve this issue and simplified the photo.
I composed both shots to be slightly off center and purposely included several distinct textures (water, rock, concrete, vegetation) to provide context to the scene as well as display Es Racó d’Artà’s strong connection with its natural surroundings. In the first photo, distinct lines created by the pool’s edge lead the viewer’s eye toward the horizon, evoking a feeling of calmness. In the second, the sleek and modern pool occupies the bottom third of the image, creating a contrast with the olive tree grove, forest, and hilltop church in the distance.
INTERIORS: Inside Es Racó d’Artà, minimalist design meets artistic furnishings. In these photos I took advantage of the warm tones that emanate from the native wood throughout the hotel’s central structure. The first photo, taken in one of the main common areas, showcases a piece of local art trailing alongside a stone staircase. I composed this shot at an angle, and loved the way the art aided in leading the viewer’s gaze upward, beckoning one to wonder what lies above.
The second photo shows a calming scene in the hotel’s lounge area. The afternoon light created a nice contrast in tone throughout this space. The open book draws the viewer in, leading you to imagine yourself picking it up to read and relax on the couch. The wooden beams of the ceiling illustrate the materials that compose the building, and the glimpse of a rolling olive green landscape through the window is a reminder of the property’s location amidst nature.
Daniel’s images of Es Racó d’Artà can be viewed here.
Ace Hotel Toronto
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
My aim with Ace Hotel Toronto was to showcase the building’s materials — brick, concrete, Canadian Red Oak, glass — all of which connect to the manufacturing past of its neighborhood, Queen Street West. The photos above provide two perspectives from the same space. In the first, I composed the shot to eliminate the ceiling and create the effect that the concrete pillars extend indefinitely. The wood designs on the rear wall, as well as the staircase, help complement this framing and funnel the viewer into the space.
The second photo showcases the beautiful large glass windows, which bring in loads of light and connect the hotel to a tree filled park across the street. Interior spaces like these can be challenging to capture. I almost always shoot with natural light (no supplemental or artificial lighting whatsoever), which means timing is critical. For this project I planned to shoot mid-morning for more neutral scenes throughout, helping achieve a balance between the contrasting interior and exterior light.
Daniel’s images of Ace Hotel Toronto can be viewed here.
La Divine Comédie
Avignon, France
EXTERIORS: Lush and verdant gardens surround the historic La Divine Comédie, transporting you from the bustling labyrinth of ancient streets that surround the hotel to a beautiful and quiet place. With these images, taken during early autumn, I wanted to blend together the hotel’s vegetation and the striking stone incorporated around the grounds.
In photo one, we see a small stone bath beneath a large clock, framed by green leaves and ivy. I composed the shot so that light fades towards the edges, making clear the subject of the picture. In photo two, the pool appears as if it were a natural spring. To compose this shot I took advantage of the hanging tree branches to frame the pool and pool house, enveloping them in nature.
INTERIORS: La Divine Comédie is full of art, antiques, and literature. The two vignettes above illustrate the hotel’s luxurious interior and prove the power of detail in photography.
The first photo was taken in the evening, to amplify the romance of the space. Some limited artificial light was included to aid in creating shadows on the walls. The second, taken in The Naples Suite, is composed off center to display the subject (fireplace) along with the surrounding design elements (chandelier, desk chair, mirror, gold accents). The light diminishes from left to right, evoking the calm moodiness of the space.
Daniel’s images of La Divine Comédie can be viewed here.
More Tips for Impactful Hotel & Travel Photography
Details. Wide, dramatic shots are nice — and necessary for telling a full story — but beauty and intrigue lie in the details. Many of my favorite photos are vignettes that show small portions of a space. These types of photos leave something to the viewer’s imagination — they provoke thought and pique interest — and help make the story deeper and richer.
Be Present. Live in the moment and let your eye take lead. When you’re present you’ll have an easier time finding composition in your surroundings. Photography is an art, but as with any art there are really no hard and fast rules. At the end of the day there is no wrong photograph. Have fun and capture what inspires you.
Rise Early. Shooting early in the morning when the light is gentler and less people are around can often provide for intriguing and beautiful moments. When I travel I always spend at least one morning of a trip waking before dawn to walk a property with my camera as the sun rises. Not only is it a peaceful way to start the morning but if you’re staying at a hotel or resort, most interior and exterior common spaces are clean and tidied for the day ahead. This allows for the hassle free opportunity to take great photos of spaces that are styled and neatly arranged.
Daniel Jenkins is an architectural and travel photographer based in Colorado. He is available for bookings and commissions worldwide. Daniel’s work can be viewed on his website and on Instagram, both linked below.
Website: www.danielscottjenkins.com
Instagram: @danielscottjenkins
For inquiries or to collaborate: daniel@danielscottjenkins.com