Hotel & hospitality photography services
I'm Sue O'Keefe, a Melbourne-based hotel and hospitality photographer. I photograph boutique hotels, luxury lodges, short-stay accommodation and restaurants. I capture the atmosphere and story of a place, not just the rooms.
My work ranges from Hotel Vera, a boutique hotel in an 1884 mansion in Ballarat, to Berkeley River Lodge, a fly-in luxury lodge on the Kimberley coast. My images have been published by Australian Traveller and delicious.
What I photograph
- Rooms, suites and interiors: the spaces, plus the details guests notice
- Food, drinks and restaurants: plated dishes, the bar and the dining room, guests and staff interacting, staff service
- Lifestyle: people enjoying the stay, from breakfast on the deck to an afternoon by the pool, guest activities, quiet moments
- Exteriors and surroundings: the building, the view and the local area, including drone
- Short video and UGC-style content for Instagram, TikTok and your website
See the work: Accommodation · Restaurants · Lifestyle · Commercial
Who I work with
Boutique and luxury hotels, luxury lodges, short-stay and Airbnb hosts, restaurants and cafés, and tourism and lifestyle brands.
Hotels and venues I've worked with include Berkeley River Lodge, Hotel Vera, Hotel Ernest, Melbourne Marriott Hotel Docklands, Lanson Place Parliament Gardens, Studio Amaro, Wombat Hill House Cafe and Dufflebird Getaways.
"She has a rare ability to move through a shoot with ease." Berkeley River Lodge
"Delivering beautiful photography and Instagram reels that captured the hotel perfectly." Lanson Place Parliament Gardens
Where do I work
Based in Melbourne and available across regional Victoria and Australia wide. My work so far includes Ballarat, Bendigo, Daylesford, the Mornington Peninsula, Phillip Island, the Otways, the Southern Highlands, Hobart, Brisbane and the Kimberley, WA.
How a PHOTOshoot works
- Enquiry. Tell me about your property, your dates and what you'd like photographed.
- Briefing phone call. During a phone call we will talk through your brand, your guests and where the images will be used to make sure you get what you need.
- Planning. I put together a shot list and mood board so we agree on the look before the day.
- The shoot. I plan around your guests, housekeeping and the best light. I'll work around you.
- Editing. Every image is edited by me.
- Delivery. Your images arrive in a private online gallery, in high resolution and ready to use.
Rates
Half day: $2,800
- Up to 4 hours
- Capture and standard equipment
- Minimal styling and props
- 5 days of post-production, with all images supplied in high resolution
Full day: $5,600
- Up to 8 hours
- Capture and standard equipment
- 1–2 weeks of post-production, with all images supplied in high resolution
Travel: $0.88 per km for driving to locations more than an hour from Melbourne, unless otherwise agreed. For interstate travel, flights and car hire are charged at cost.
No GST is charged.
Usage rights
Your images come with a non-exclusive licence to use them on your own website, social media and basic marketing. Usage rights for advertising and other commercial use are available for an additional fee. Exclusive usage rights are available on request. We can talk through what you need when you book.
How booking works
Send me a message through the contact page with your dates and what you'd like photographed, and I'll come back to you with a quote. A 25% deposit secures your date.
Questions clients often ask
How much does hotel photography cost?
My half day rate is $2,800 (up to 4 hours) and my full day rate is $5,600 (up to 8 hours), plus travel for locations more than an hour from Melbourne. The right option depends on the size of your property and how much you'd like covered. I'm happy to help you work it out.
Half day or full day or multiple days: which do I need?
This can be determined after the briefing phone call. I'll work with you to tailor the scope to your budget.
Do you travel outside Melbourne?
Yes. I regularly work in regional Victoria and interstate. I love working with clients across Australia.
Can you shoot while we have guests in-house?
Yes. We plan the shot list around your occupancy, and guest areas are photographed at quieter times of day. I'll check in with your front office or housekeeping staff to ensure there are no disruptions to the guests' enjoyment of your property. If the project is a pre-opening shoot then I'll work with you to capture areas as they become available.
Do you shoot video for Instagram Reels?
Yes. I shoot short video and UGC-style content for social media alongside photography.
Who owns the photos?
I keep the copyright, and you receive a licence to use the images. Extended and exclusive usage rights are available for an additional fee.
How long until I receive my photos?
Half day shoots include 5 days of post-production, and full day shoots include 1–2 weeks.
