Hey guys,
Recently I've been very busy trying to grow and improve my portfolio by getting myself into the hospitality sector. I've shot so far 4 hotels in total, one nicer than the other, with the last one being, in my opinion, a very glamorous one and very tastefully designed, or that's just me because I love gold in basically anything :) .
Anyway, the first photo is the hotel bar. The composition of the shot was kind of given away because of the large chandelier stretching from the ceiling of the first level to the floor of the one under. This is where a tilt-shift lens comes in very very handy, what you can see in the photo is almost straight how it came out of the camera, almost. Second photo is what you can see on the opposite side of the bar. Such shame the weather was so bad, I had to replace the sky in all the other photos where you could see out the window. 3rd photo is one of the larger suites. 4th photo is the restaurant area. And the last photo is the one of the Penthouse suites, which is entirely furnished with Fendi furniture, even the carpet is Fendi... I really like the way the photos turned out, even with the sky replaced. As always critique and comments very very welcomed, otherwise I won't know what I'm doing wrong unless someone points it to me.
If you would like to see the before pictures, head on over to my website hudsoncooperphotography.com.
Horia.
Great work! :D
Thanks buddy !
I really like these! It's hard to tell you even changed anything because they are so well done! Keep up the good work.
Thanks, glad to hear such a good compliment!
Especially with the use of white in that particular hotel this look makes it almost feel like a rendering rather than a photo. Perhaps some warmer color grading could be used to make it feel less mechanical. Even the table condiments in the 4th one being perfectly aligned and in identical positions really looks fake. You're making it look like its sunset and mostly lit by natural light, but natural light during sunset would have a yellowness to it that's lacking in yours. Shadows seem a bit all over the place to me too.
I agree with you about the colour of the light at sunset being a yellowish-red tone, but if I would've done that, I don't think the hotel owner would have liked to have his bright white walls have any colour in them, no matter how small. About the condiments on the table, I personally like things to be in perfect alignment, they were not set up by me, but by the staff, so kudos to them.
Awesome stuff, Horia! I really like how the first two shots play with vertical border symmetry. Nice touch leaving the edges dark on the first one; really draws the eye inward. If you're looking for tiny improvements that clients wouldn't consciously pick up on, I'd flag the reflection on the picture frame in the 3rd photo. Also the side of the bed is a bit hot and could use a little D&B to centrally balance the exposure. The last thing I'd mention is really a personal preference that the immediate dining chair in the restaurant photo is sitting right on the thirds line and if it were front lit, it'd add a bit of pop. Still, solid as is! I'm sure your clients were very happy.
Thanks E! Since the moment I stepped in the hotel and saw the the bar area, I knew the shots would have to look like this, floor to ceiling in the shot, as I said, it was kind of given, which was good for me as it made my work a bit easier. About the reflection in the picture frame, I've attached a photo where I did do what you mentioned, I just forgot to do it on that particular shot as I was pressed by time.
Can I ask how you went about removing the reflection from this print?
Great stuff here, very clean images.
Might be related to the weather, but some of these interiors (especially 3rd) are brighter than the exterior, which is not especially natural, and makes it look somewhat like a rendering. Keep the mood of the space in mind, and remember that not every image needs to be super bright.
What is your processing time like for these shots?