Today, an Innkeeper with an Inn for sale is competing with hundreds of Inn owners for the attention of potential buyers. Just as potential guests rely on photos to form an impression of an Inn, so do potential buyers. An Inn buyer who is contemplating a move from California to New York will want as complete a picture as possible of an Inn before booking a flight to go see it! Most Bed and Breakfast Inns have websites with good photos of guest rooms, common areas and the exterior setting. Inn buyers are interested in seeing everything else. Photos of the Innkeepers' living quarters are of utmost interest, followed by the kitchen and work areas. Outbuildings, storage areas and potential expansion space are other subjects for photographs of a Bed and Breakfast for sale.
Are professional photos necessary? It's easy to compare the inspiring work of a professional Bed and Breakfast photographer with grainy do-it-yourself photos taken in a hurry.
But with patience, and a little practice, a determined Innkeeper with a digital camera can produce very good Inn photography. (Amateur Inn photographers interested in improving skills should visit the Ken Rockwell website - lots of excellent, free how-to information.) An Innkeeper is always on hand for a "magic moment" and can shoot photos over time.
For Innkeepers who do not have the time to become experts in Bed and Breakfast photography, the services of a professional Inn photographer are an excellent investment. Professionals are experts at making Bed and Breakfast properties look romantic, vibrant and successful.
Either way, Bed and Breakfast photography should be both informative and attractive. Naturally, guest rooms should be "picture perfect" - and so should Innkeepers' living quarters! Prepare for a photo shoot as though a VIP is coming to visit - clean, organize and use fresh flowers.
Great Inn photography will:
- set an Inn apart from others on the market
- leave a lasting, positive impression
- create as complete a picture as possible of the entire property
Eliot Dalton Inn Broker and Consultant Bed and Breakfast Real Estate (610) 717 8083
