Guide to Commissioning Custom Landscape Photography for Your Hotel or Property
Custom landscape photography can transform a property from generic to unforgettable by anchoring the guest experience in a real sense of place. This guide walks property owners, GMs, and designers through how to plan and commission landscape artwork that feels uniquely “yours.”
Why commission custom landscape art
Custom photography is created specifically for your brand, your spaces, and your guests, rather than licensed out of a stock library. That makes the artwork more authentic, memorable, and aligned with the story you want every guest to feel the moment they walk in.
It reflects your actual surroundings: nearby mountains, desert light, city skyline, or local landmarks become part of your visual identity.
It avoids the “seen it everywhere” effect of mass‑market prints, which can make even beautiful properties feel generic.
Step 1: Clarify your brand and spaces
Before contacting a photographer, get clear on what you want the artwork to say about your property. A little pre-planning helps ensure the commission supports both design and brand goals.
Identify key feelings: calm retreat, energetic urban hub, spiritual escape, or nature‑connected sanctuary.
Walk your spaces: lobby, corridors, guest rooms, meeting rooms, spa, and restaurant, and note sizes, color palettes, and existing design features that the artwork should complement.
Step 2: Define the scope and budget
A commission goes more smoothly when you define scope and budget early, even if the details are still flexible. This helps the photographer propose the right approach, usage rights, and installation options.
Decide how many pieces and approximate sizes you need, and whether you want a cohesive series or a few feature “hero” images.
Set a realistic budget range that covers creative fees, travel (if needed), image licensing, printing, and installation.
Step 3: Choose the right photographer
For landscape-based hotel art, look for a photographer whose portfolio already shows both strong sense of place and an understanding of interior presentation. You want someone comfortable thinking in terms of mood, color, and large-scale printing, not just single “pretty shots.”
Review portfolios for consistency, print quality, and how well images would sit on a wall, not just on a screen.
Ask whether they’ve worked with hotels, restaurants, spas, or corporate interiors, and request examples of installed work if available.
Step 4: Plan a creative brief together
A concise creative brief aligns you, your design team, and the photographer. It does not have to be complicated, but it should spell out what success looks like for the project.
Include brand adjectives, color preferences, locations to feature, and any “must-have” seasonal or time‑of‑day looks (sunrise, twilight, night city lights).
Share floor plans or elevation drawings with rough art sizes so the photographer can compose with final installation in mind.
Step 5: Coordinate locations, timing, and access
Landscape commissions often depend on light, weather, and access, so logistics are crucial. Careful planning gives the photographer the freedom to chase ideal conditions without disrupting your operations.
Confirm shoot locations on or near your property, permits if needed, and any access times that work best for you and your staff.
Discuss seasonal elements (wildflowers, snow, monsoon clouds, fall color) and whether you prefer timeless or strongly seasonal imagery.
Step 6: Understand licensing and usage
Commissioning custom photography does not automatically mean you “own” the images outright; instead, you typically license them for specific uses. Clarity here prevents surprises later and protects both you and the photographer.
Specify where and how you will use the images: wall art only, or also website, brochures, social media, and advertising.
Decide whether you need exclusive use for your property, and for how long, so your artwork remains unique in your market.
Step 7: Select, proof, and print
Once the photographer delivers a curated selection, you move into the refinement and production stage. This is where images become physical art tailored to each wall.
Review a proofing gallery and narrow down to a cohesive set that supports your brand narrative across spaces.
Choose finishes (framed prints, acrylic, metal, canvas, or fine‑art paper), mounting options, and any custom cropping appropriate to each location.
Step 8: Installation and long-term care
Well-planned installation ensures the artwork feels integrated, not tacked on at the end of the design process. With the right care, high-quality prints can serve your property for many years.
Coordinate with professional installers so pieces are hung at the right height, with proper hardware and lighting to minimize glare.
Ask your photographer or printer for care guidelines, especially for high-traffic areas or pieces exposed to direct sunlight.
How to get started on your property
The easiest way to begin is with a short conversation: share a few photos of your spaces, your brand story, and the feelings you want guests to carry home. From there, a photographer can propose a custom landscape commission that turns your surroundings into a signature visual experience for your property.
