A PLAIN GUIDE
Photography
Website photos for mountain businesses
A photo should help someone recognize the place, understand the service, and know what to expect.
Mark Kendrick would replace outdated or generic images when the business has something real to show. Phone photos are fine when they are sharp, well lit, and composed clearly. He can prepare images for the website and keep the subject accurate.
What job should a photo do?
He would change the reliance on outdated or generic images when the business has something real to show. Photographs should help customers recognize the place, understand the service, and know what to expect.
A photo should have a purpose beyond filling empty space on the page.
What happens when the photos are out of date?
One lodging website he encountered still showed older photographs after the property had been remodeled. Visitors were not seeing the current experience, so the presentation was misleading.
That reinforced the importance of updating images when the business changes.
Lodging sites, including current room photos, are on hotels, lodges, and resorts.
Are phone photos good enough?
Phone photos are fine if they are sharp, well lit, and composed clearly. Clean the lens, keep the phone steady, and send the original files rather than screenshots. Take a few wider views and some useful details.
He can prepare images for the website, including appropriate color correction, cropping, and file optimization, while keeping the subject accurate.
When should photos change?
He would change photos when they no longer reflect the business, or when seasonal differences matter to customers. A summer patio and a winter entrance may tell very different stories.
Renovations, new products, changed equipment, and new services are also reasons to review the image library.
Which views are worth taking?
The best photos show the real business: the exterior, entrance, parking, interior, team, products, work, and results. The right combination depends on the industry.
An attractive image is useful. An image that answers a practical customer question can be just as valuable.
How should a client send photos?
Clients can send up to five photos with a short explanation of what each one shows. Include the website URL in the email subject so the images can be matched to the correct project.
His workflow includes preparing and reviewing images before publication. He also identifies image gaps. He recommends 360-degree tours when understanding the layout would help customers. A separate photo shoot or a tour is part of the agreed scope.
What stays separate from a monthly plan is on what to expect with a new website.
Related
- Guides
- Websites and SEO for hotels, lodges, and resorts
- Websites and SEO for mountain restaurants
- Websites for mountain shops and retail
- What to expect with a new website
- Why local visits matter for marketing
Questions
Can I use phone photos on my website?
Yes, if they are sharp, well lit, and composed clearly. Clean the lens, hold the phone steady, and send the original files rather than screenshots. Include a few wider views and some useful details.
How many photos should I send?
Up to five, each with a short explanation of what it shows. Put the website URL in the email subject so the images can be matched to the right project.
When should we replace photos?
When they no longer reflect the business, or when the season changes what customers need to see. Renovations, new products, changed equipment, and new services are reasons to review the library. A summer patio and a winter entrance can tell different stories.
Want help choosing what to photograph?
Tell Mark what customers ask before they visit, and send up to five current photos with a note on each one. Call (909) 443-2260, or send a note on the contact page.