Hotel Photography at the Grove Hotel in Hertfordshire

I recently spent three busy days shooting at the Grove Hotel in Hertfordshire (hosts to the Ryder Cup and a very famous current American President!), with Martin Hulbert, interior designer extraordinaire, who has remodelled and designed most of the rooms over the years. The lounges and bar areas were magnificent, and we took time to shoot the conference facilities too. Slightly surreal as it turned out, as the current Covid crisis meant that the whole place was empty… made things easier for our work, but Im sure that now they have reopened, things are a lot busier there! I love the attention to detail in Martins work; the fabrics and wall coverings are all hand painted, the colours are beautifully restrained and furniture all hand picked, or designed and made.

I have also been shooting gardens galore… its high season and the planting is lovely, the days are long and I am making the most of it. I have done features for Country Life, Country Homes and Interiors and various other garden publications. Let me know if you are an editor looking to fill space next year! I have lots of options..

Garden Photography near Winchester

I have also set up and begun selling some of my prints. These are beautifully printed black and white images, of Italy, gardens around the world, corners of Devon, Venetian gondoliers and barrels of cider in atmospheric barns! … ideal for interior designers with walls to fill in hotels or houses… take a look at the page, I have even found a fabulous framer who can finish off the piece to perfection.

Hotel Photography

I thought I’d write a little bit about hotel photography and why I find it such a satisfying part of my photographic work. I photograph hotels throughout the United Kingdom, Italy and France, Spain and soon India! I started my career as an interiors photographer, adding garden photography soon after. I have always loved gardening and beautiful gardens so it seemed a natural step to photograph them too especially as many of the magazines that I worked for had garden sections too. There’s nothing more inspiring and good for the soul as being out at dawn photographing a sublime garden.

Photography at Chateau Impney

Much of my time is spent photographing flowers and my fascination in photographing all things macro, small and floral, led me in to photographing food. It’s similar in many ways. I use natural light, I go in close and the current trends for fresh clean and unfussy food means that a plate of wonderfully prepared food can look much like a plate of flowers!

Barnsley House Hotel

So, in the early days, as I was asked to photograph a hotel in the Cotswolds. In fact it was Barnsley House, a fabulously designed place, done by one of my now regular interior photography clients Martin Hulbert Design!. It was also the home of legendary garden guru Rosemary Verey, mentor of Prince Charles. I soon realised that photographing hotels is a combination of my favourite bits of my job, the interiors, gardens, food and lifestyle.

Photography at Il Borro, Tuscany

A lot can be accomplished during a day at the hotel, especially if you are well organised. We can do 4-5 bedrooms, including bathrooms if required, some living areas, some food and a selection of other important areas ( maybe the spa? the restaurant, or even maybe the staff?) In an ideal world I would do two days as It gives me the chance to shoot over the evening, or early morning as well, and in a large hotel, it is surprising how long it can take navigating around the rooms as they become available! However, I am sometimes asked for just a half day, perhaps just to showcase the new menu, or a couple of new rooms recently decorated.

Photography at Borgo Pignano, Tuscany

Please do get in touch to discuss, and please take a look at this guide to hotel photography, which can give you an idea about how the day of the shoot progresses. Obviously, I am flexible, I can fit in with the rooms becoming available, and I am quick and tidy. Call me or email to discuss. Thanks for reading!

Please do contact me if you would like me to send you a free printed portfolio of my hotel photography

And while you are here, perhaps I could ask you to head over to my revamped Facebook Page and give me a like? many thanks.

Christmas hotel photography for Bowood Hotel & Spa

At least it is in the world of magazines who are already on the lookout for features for their December issues. Many’s the Christmas shoot I’ve been commissioned to do – in July…  With gardens looking blooming lovely and trees sporting the greenest of leaves, I’m inside with stylists lighting a roaring fire, decorating a tree and wrapping presents for a cosy, rosy glow, front cover. 

Luxury hotels on the other hand are a different matter. Although they like to get ahead producing brochures that showcase their festive delights to entice guests and Christmas party bookers, many are happy to have their Christmas hotel photography completed the year before. The brochure above which I photographed for Bowood Hotel & Spa was actually shot last December when the place was in full festive mode and decorated for the season. This can only be a good thing as I’m not sure I’d feel comfortable asking the chef to knock up some mince pies or roast turkey in August while demanding the guests swap shorts for reindeer jumpers.

If you would like to discuss some festive hotel photography, do get in touch. That’ll be one thing ticked off your Christmas to do list…

Thanks so much, Mark 

Food Photography at Gara Rock Hotel in Devon

I spent a lovely day at one of the most fabulously located hotels in the UK... Gara Rock is an institution in the South Hams of Devon, and its recent change of ownership, and upgrade that came with that, has ensured a state-of-the-art kitchen, supplying fresh and simple food for residents and visitors alike. The chef in charge is Lewis Glanville, and it was great to spend time with him and his team, photographing them as they cooked up some great dishes; clean and crisp, colourful, and above all else, tasty. Worth a visit, even if it's the most southerly hotel in Devon, and quite a drive to get here!

Photography at Casa Da Calcada Hotel, Portugal

Situated on the beautiful Douro river and not too far from lovely Porto, is the luxurious and rather grand looking 'Casa Da Calada' Hotel. Its famous for its wonderful food, and Tiago is a renowned Michelin starred chef. The food tastes amazing but it also looks wonderful... an easy job for a food photographer!

The Grove Hotel, Narberth, photography for Martin Hulbert Design

I was pleased to to be asked to photograph the latest hotel interior design project by Martin Hulbert Design (featured in House and Garden's 'The List'). The Grove , Narberth is a country hotel in deepest Wales... understated, quiet, luxurious and very, very cool. This is partly to do with the design, which manages to be completely 'in keeping' and authentic, but at the same time contemporary and chic. Jay Grierson, who I worked with on the shoot, says that the aim was 'to combine traditional and contemporary and be thoughtful, considered and appropriate... Creative with an extra layer of magic on top.' I think it worked!

Tuscany in May, Photography of Hotels

Nowadays, if you are planning a trip to Tuscany in May, pack an umbrella alongside the suntan lotion! Two weeks in Chiantishire, photographing four hotels, was an exercise in dodging the showers and then basking in beautiful sun. The light was always lovely though, and the four places, Borgo Pignano, Borgo Argiano, Follonico and Castello Di Vicarello certainly looked wonderful, whatever the weather! On a whistle-stop tour, we photographed rooms, spas, pools, food and staff... thanks to all of them for the views, the welcome and the superb food.