Top 5 Tools for the Amateur Photographer

You may not always have a professional inn photographer at your beck and call. Thankfully, these days, there are myriad handy tools and tricks for getting some great shots when you are in a pinch. Check out some of our fav tools of the trade and snappy apps that can help you play it off like a professional:


Pro HDR App
This is a super-cool (and super-cheap) app for your iPhone and newer versions of iPod touch w/ camera applications. It simply "brackets" or creates multiple exposures of a shot, and then merges them to achieve even lighting for your photography.  In the first shot below, the automatic setting attempted to get the detail of the building by increasing the exposure time; however the sky was neglected. In the second image we used Pro HDR.  Here, a shorter exposure was taken which brought in the sky and was then merged with the longer exposure of the building. And there you have it--an image where both the sky and the building are exposed to perfection!

Pre-Pro HDR

Post-Pro HDR

Photoshop Elements
A cheaper and user-friendlier alternative to Photoshop, Photoshop Elements is a great tool for sprucing up your digital photography with basic editing needs.  This useful is designed specifically for the amateur and offers some important applications including red eye correction and tint changes. What's more, innkeepers can use to their advantage some cool extra features like a photo organizer and templates for photo books and greeting cards.

Pre-editing

Post-editing with color correction and cropping

Tripod & Camera Remote
Not-so high-tech, although you can find some pretty state-of-the-art models out there, the tripod is an absolute necessity for interior photographers--pro and amateur. Simply put, the tripod keeps your camera steady during longer exposures. For the amateur who doesn't have the specialized training in lighting techniques, or the expensive equipment, you can try to get a good interior with some natural light and a tripod. In the same vein of camera stability, consider the Camera Remote. Again, no more shaking the camera when you hit that shutter. In lieu of the remote, you can also use your camera timer. The point is, you want to keep your camera. absolutely. still.

Naturally lit interior using tripod

Naturally lit food shot using tripod

Your Guests
Enlist the help of other amateur (or maybe not-so-amateur) photographers! We've encountered some very clever innkeepers along the way who have hosted contests among their guests to see who can get the best shot of their exteriors and surrounding environs. You'll be amazed at what your guests come up with, and it's always fun to see different, and sometimes surprising perspectives of a place that you thought you knew so well!

From the car window between Santa Fe and Durango

Cape May day shot taken while we were walking around -- no tripod or lighting equipment required!