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Hotel film preparation checklist
Preparation before the shooting day shapes the film more than the crew does. A practical checklist for pre-season hotel shoots.
· Updated: · 7 min read
Short answer
Before a hotel film shoot, rooms need to be dressed, landscaping tidied, staff uniforms aligned, pool and beach arranged and permits completed. The most productive window is pre-season, while the property is empty, and the day is planned around the light.
The most common problem on hotel shoots is not equipment or budget — it is preparation. If the pool is cloudy, the garden unmown or the rooms not ready when the crew arrives, half a shooting day is gone.
We send the checklist below to clients at least a week before the shoot. In our experience properties that follow it finish faster and end up with more usable frames.
Rooms
- At least one of every room type fully dressed (bedding pressed, no creases)
- Curtains clean, mechanisms working
- No personal items, cleaning trolleys, cables or labels in frame
- Towels and amenities arranged to one consistent standard
- Balcony furniture in place with cushions fitted
Public areas and exteriors
- Pool water clear, no leaves or insects on the surface; robot cleaner removed before filming
- Landscaping maintained, dead branches cleared
- Sunbeds and parasols aligned, cushions arranged uniformly
- Restaurant tables set to a sample service standard
- Signage clean and lighting operational
- Construction, storage and technical areas screened off or kept out of frame
Staff and extras
Real staff usually look more convincing than professional extras, but uniform consistency is essential. Everyone appearing on camera should wear a clean, matching uniform.
If guests will appear, written consent is required. Where consent has not been collected, we frame so that nobody is identifiable.
Timing the shooting day
Light is the scarcest resource on a hotel shoot. We build the schedule around the sun: east-facing areas in the morning, west-facing areas and the pool in the late afternoon, exteriors and drone work close to sunset.
Interiors are shot around midday when the outside light is harsh. A schedule that breaks this order means another day with the same crew.
What you receive
- Main film (60-90 s) and short social media versions
- Photo sets in different ratios for Booking, website and print
- 360° virtual tour (cheaper if captured during the same shoot)
- Subtitles in four languages: Turkish, English, German, Russian
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Do we need to close the property?
No. For a pre-season shoot the property is already empty. In season we film public areas early in the morning and rooms in the gap between check-out and check-in.
Can the whole property be filmed in one day?
For a mid-sized property one day is usually enough. If there are many room types or separate areas such as beach, spa and restaurant to cover in detail, we plan two days.
When should the shoot happen?
Ideally 4-6 weeks before the season opens. That way the edit is finished before the booking period starts and the visuals are ready in time.
Services
Related services
Corporate Film
A 60-90 second film that does sales work, not just decoration.
Photography
The booking decision is often made on a single photograph.
360° Virtual Tour
Let guests walk through your hotel before they book.
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