Photo by @lightkeyportraitphotography
If you visit Bali or even live here like us, it’s no secret that there are aesthetic hotels everywhere. Not to mention the prices are pretty affordable so you can stay in the most Instagrammable place for less than $100 per night. With that amount of money, you’ll pretty much get everything you need; a great pool, a nice breakfast in the morning, and other facilities depending on where you stay.
I personally like the Ubud area, and if you are like me who likes to staycation during weekends, you’ll find it hard not to take pictures all the time. But how do you make those pictures look Instagrammable? Because I’m sure, you don’t want to spend your money only getting so-so-looking photos. Especially when you only visit Bali once a year.
Here are the 7 tips you can use to make your photos more aesthetic and Instagrammable during your staycation in a hotel:
1. Make use of what you have and use them as props
Pictures by @lightkeyphotography
You don’t have to go out and buy expensive stuff to support your photos. You can use what you already have. Small things such as a bucket hat, flowers in your room, or any aesthetic accessories are good to go.
So much of Instagrammable photos has more to do with how you take it (the angles) rather than focusing too much on the props. Though they’re nice to make your photos more appealing, you certainly don’t have to stress out too much about it.
So look around and make the best of what you see around you. Most of the time, if you have a staycation here in Bali, there are definitely cute little things that you can grab and include in your photography.
2. Be prepared the day before
Pictures by @lightkeyphotography
People think taking Instagrammable photos is easy. You just need to go up there and start taking the shots. In contrast, the reality is very far from the truth.
Unless you’re already prolific at photography with years of experience, you’ll need more preparation, to begin with. This means, think of the best time in the day that you’d like to take.
If your window has access to the sunset view, then taking photos in the evening might be a better idea than doing it in the afternoon.
Other things such as tidying up your room a couple of hours before and collecting all of the props will help you feel more confident in gaining the shots you want.
3. Don’t forget about the lightning
Pictures by @lightkeyphotography
Lighting matters more than you think.
If you take the photos when the sun is shining directly into the camera, then you’ll have a lot of work in the editing process later on. It’s better to have them too dark rather than too bright because at least you can increase the brightness later on.
That’s why it’s important to tip to turn off the lights in the room during daylight to avoid overexposure. Having to stay in a room where the ceiling/wall is white will also help a lot.
4. Be creative in coming up with different angles
Photo by @lightkeyportraitphotography
Rather than just taking normal photos with you sitting on the bed, try something different. If you aren’t sure, you can always go to Pinterest or Unsplash for some quick inspiration.
If you look at those influencers on Instagram, their pictures stand out because of the different angles they have. They come up with creative ways to make the same hotel photos more appealing.
That’s why you’ve probably seen a huge contrast in their photos compared to other people, although they stay in the same hotel.
5. Go outside of your room
Pictures by @lightkeyphotography
Most hotels in Bali will have scenic spots all around, so avoid only taking photos inside the room. You can also go outside and take shots in the entrance or swimming pool. But again, consider doing it when the light isn’t so harsh so your time and energy wouldn’t go to waste.
To get ideas of which spots you should take, try to go to your Instagram first and see what other people have done. Then come up with a unique spot that hasn’t been discovered yet.
That way, when you show your photos to the world, there’s a higher chance to gain more reactions because they’re unique.
6. Learn more about editing skills
Photo by @lightkeyportraitphotography
The last step in making your photos look Instagrammable is to edit them. Don’t just take the shots and upload them right away.
Nowadays, there are lots of software or Apps that let you edit your photos easily. One of them is the Lightroom App. Even if you aren’t an expert, you can still make the photos look amazing by playing around with the features inside them.
However, if you think you don’t have to do all those editing processes, you can always purchase Lightroom Presets on sites such as Etsy or Creative Market. It’s the fastest way to get your photos edited and ready to post.
7. Hire a photographer
Photo by @lightkeyportraitphotography
Sometimes we just need a little help on something we aren’t good at.
If you’ve been trying for a while and are still not satisfied with your own photos, don’t worry. The best thing to do in this situation is to hire a photographer.
There are tons of photographers who are ready to take your Instagram photos game to the next level. In fact, in Light Key photography, we provide just that. We’ve worked with so many clients and helped hotels all around Bali to get their aesthetic and best photos for their marketing activity.
You can always check out our Instagram page here. This way, you don’t have to think about the angels, props, or even the editing process because it’s all covered in the service package already.
Overall, taking hotel photography should be a fun thing to do. It shouldn’t make you stressed or overwhelmed. If you do, consider getting help and hiring a photographer because it can save you a lot of time and energy.
If you’re in Bali and looking for a professional photographer, feel free to reach us out to @lightkeyphotography and Whatsapp chat
