As one of the largest and most famous cities in the world, New York City will always be a magnet for visitors. From its history to its museums and entertainment, The Big Apple is an unparalleled hub of activity and because of this, hospitality is a huge market. On one end you’ll find some of the finest, most legendary hotels and restaurants worldwide — some even serve as attractions unto themselves! And on the other, a huge need for quality, yet affordable places for the many people looking to experience The City That Never Sleeps, yet still need a place to actually sleep! For these reasons, New York City hotels and restaurants deal with such a level of competition that standing out is one of the most critical aspects of not only success, but survival. Having the right hospitality photographer is key in conveying what a guest will love and remember about a visit, which in turn leads to more business.
At Wonderful Machine, we define Hospitality photography as a combination of Food/Drink, Architecture, Home/Garden, and Lifestyle photos that convey the experience of guests enjoying the amenities of hotels, resorts, spas, or cruises. Here are the best New York hospitality photographers that will bring attention to anywhere they shoot, even within a city some call The Center of the Universe.
Originally from New Zealand, Emily Andrews landed in the perfect town for an artist so talented in capturing both interior design and architecture. Something that New York hospitality photographers can really do for a business is reveal the unique characteristics that make it an exciting place to be. Emily’s work focuses on these details, yet effortlessly pulls them together within a photograph to make a truly attractive image. Utilizing creative angles that almost seem to move with the shapes, bends, and furniture in a space, Emily brings out a fresh feeling of being alive that one can only get visiting New York City.
Selected Clients: Ensign Hotels, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Con Dedison, Ritz Carlton, Sonos, Dream Hotel Group, Compass, Rockwell Group Architects, Neuehouse, Union Square Hospitality, Champalimaud Design
Based in Brooklyn, Michael Marquand is well-traveled and, perhaps because of this, very in tune with the human experience of being somewhere new. When a New York hospitality photographer has these qualities, they are up for the job of sharing the excitement of a city that has arguably more cultures, foods, and aesthetics than anywhere else in the world. Making strong use of color, Michael’s work is as exhilarating as the establishments he captures, immersing you into the atmosphere and activity that makes a place genuinely special.
Selected Clients: Conde Nast Traveler, Wine Spectator, L’official Voyage, Bon Appetit, Lonely Planet, Sweet Paul Magazine, Purewow, Passion Passport, The Knot, Harpers Bazaar, Table Magazine, The Nest, El Pais, Lodestars Anthology, Suitcase Magazine, Edible Manhattan, Edible Brooklyn, Culture Magazine, Sidetracked Magazine, Cigar Aficionado, Crate and Barrel
Beginning his career shooting a series of empty theaters, Colin Miller has a true knack for utilizing both mood and perspective to express the identity of a place. Excelling as a New York hospitality photographer who is very skillful in working with the lights and colors of the city, sky, and establishment, Colin’s work has helped designers and architects to win awards and gain attention. Keeping to the bohemian roots of the theaters that began his path, Colin has also published his own book of perhaps New York’s most storied spot in the hospitality industry, The Chelsea Hotel.
Selected Clients: Interior Design, Architectural Digest, Elle Décor, The New York Times, Town and Country, O Magazine and Communication Arts among many others. He studied photography at Tisch School of the Arts at New York University
Nicole Franzen uses light and an emphasis on decor to bring the vibrancy of a place to anyone who looks at her work. Often exploring the dynamic nature of the business she is shooting by incorporating everything it has to offer, from food to lodging, to spas, to the view, Nicole brings into focus the most key of elements in hospitality: comfort. Brightly showcasing the best aspects of an establishment and its associates is a key element in capturing the special things a visitor will remember about a hotel, restaurant, or resort. The finest New York hospitality photographers will use their work to communicate these qualities to incoming guests, and Nicole Franzen shines as one of them.
Selected Clients: Travel & Leisure, Elle Decor, Domino Magazine, Real Living, Conde Nast, Traveler, Architectural Digest, Design Hotels, Airbnb, West Elm, Anthropologie, Clarkson Potter, Chronicle Books, Veuve Cliquot, Ten Speed Press, Kinfolk Magazine, Shinola, Martha Stewart Living, Bon Appétit, Food & Wine
Incredibly adept in his use of natural light, Ken Kochey has the ability to show the hotels and resorts he photographs at their most vibrant. Every day is the perfect day in his work, and this is a gift that this New York hospitality photographer has taken worldwide. Clearly passionate about the human experience in every place he captures, Ken brings a genuine feeling of warmth in how people are featured in his photographs. Like the locations he shoots, they are at their best, and this is about the most important thing good hospitality photography can feature: authentic joy. And just like his subjects, from New York to Bali, you can’t help but feel good when you look at anything Ken Kochey does.
Selected Clients: Aman Hotels and Resorts, Como Hotels, Disney Cruise Lines, Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts, Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts, Marriott Hotels, One & Only Resorts, Ritz Carlton Hotels, Silversea Cruise Lines, Aston Martin, Condé Nast Traveler US/UK, Travel & Leisure Magazine, Departures Magazine
Originally hailing from Germany, Michael Grimm arrived in New York on vacation and never left. Starting his business when film was still the norm in photography, Michael beautifully blends light and color to bring out the strongest imagery of every place he shoots, evoking the most positive of feelings ranging from exhilaration to total peace. One very notable strength in his work is a celebration of the history within an establishment, whether it’s in a building’s walls, the care in a recipe’s preparation, or the pride in a staff taking part in a rich legacy of some of the world’s finest foods. This is a huge part of the excitement in not only visiting New York City, but anywhere in the world. In conveying the dedication involved in such an atmosphere and level of service to a visitor, Michael truly excels in showing every part of an establishment as a work of art.
Selected Clients: Snøhetta, IAA, Cornell Tech, Gensler, DLR Group, Little Island, Related, The French Laundry, Times Square Alliance, Starwood Hotels, Ultra Fabrics, Gran Kriegel Architects, W Architecture&Landscape, Roche Bobois, Balthazar Restaurant, Il Buco Restaurant
An experienced travel and interiors photographer, Rick Lew found a natural fit in hospitality photography. With an eye for the interaction of light and location, a wonderful aspect of Rick’s work is using the time of day to set the tone. Within the shine of a bright afternoon or the glow of an evening, the hotels, resorts, and restaurants Rick shoots show people reveling in it. Also very intimate with the design aspect of an establishment, there’s a sense of magic in how a place must feel that is translated so well in his photographs. Rick Lew has an immense talent in revealing how how exciting, yet serene, a fine establishment can be.
Selected Clients: Condé Nast Traveler, Destination Hotels & Resorts, Highgate Hotels, InterContinental, Interstate Hotels and Resorts, JW Marriott, Marriott International, Montage Hotels, Park Central Hotel, Refinery Hotel, Ritz-Carlton Magazine, The London, The Quin Hotel, The Renwick, The Archer, The Knickerbocker
Each possessing a unique journey that brought them to New York City, these seven photographers are unique yet all very perfect not just for the city that they call home, but anywhere in the world. They share the best experiences in every place they capture in their work, allowing an establishment to do what matters most: stand out.
Further Reading
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