How to Capture Impressive Photos of Your RV Park
RV park owners, are you ready to elevate your marketing to the next level? You can improve your results by unlocking the power of visuals to let your photos do the talking. For anyone in the outdoor hospitality industries, compelling photos can make the difference between success and failure. Appealing photos can help keep your park reservation list full year round, attracting new guests and staying present in the minds of previous guests.
Picture Perfect Marketing
This guide is packed with expert strategies and insider tips that will help you capture those picture-perfect moments and showcase your park’s natural beauty. With our guidelines, learn how to strike the balance between showcasing your park in its best light while keeping your story authentic and realistic. Gain trust from potential guests as they get a glimpse of what makes your park truly unique.
Professional vs. Amateur Photography
If you choose to hire a professional photographer, be sure to find someone who can do justice to interior spaces as well as your outdoor campground or RV property, who can capture their adventurous home-away-from-home spirit.
Photographers know how to frame a picture in the best light, but you know your park best! You’ll need to participate in any professional photoshoot to direct your photographer to the larger views and the practical amenities that you know campers look for and appreciate.
If a professional isn’t in the budget, these RV Park Photo Guidelines will help you with some expert strategies for capturing grand vistas, realistic mundane scenes, and the quiet moments that make your park come alive for potential visitors.
WHY: The Strategy
What are we trying to accomplish? We’re letting images provide a friendly introduction to your park, for visitors traveling in your direction, to help them choose your park over the next one down the road. If you really want that to happen you’ll need to use every advantage you have!
Build confidence and trust
Your photos should be a window into the real experience guests can expect at your RV park. By showcasing the park’s best features, you build confidence and trust, making guests more likely to choose your park for their stay.
Make campers feel like they are part of your story
Photos are a powerful storytelling tool. Use them to invite people into your world, showing that you genuinely care about making them feel welcome and part of your RV park’s story.
WHAT: The Photos
Capture the best things about your park
Photos should paint a flattering but realistic picture of your park. Capture anything campers would enjoy, like amenities, staff, or recent improvements.
Capture nature’s beauty
Are wildflowers in bloom? Ducks on the pond? Geese in flight overhead? Take a nature shot.
Capture the bigger picture
Include the surroundings around buildings and amenities to give people a feel for how they fit into the bigger picture.
Capture the practical things
Take shots of areas as campers will see them — the park entrance, your office with you in it, photos of your staff, your laundry room, empty campsites as new arrivals will see them, and common areas.
Fess up to your flaws
If upgrades in progress create a messy scene, build trust by explaining what you’re doing to make the park better.
Get permission to photograph visitors
If you take photos of people, technically you need written permission to use them for marketing purposes. There are exceptions to this rule, such as if visitors are part of a public group activity where they could reasonably expect to be seen in a photo. Check with your property owner for a Photo Release Form.
HOW to Capture Great Shots
Use your smartphone
Smartphone photos are fine. You don’t need a fancy camera.
Horizontal shape
Take photos with your phone turned sideways, landscape shape, to capture a wide and short shape. Vertical photos are harder to use on a website or social media.
Watch for tilt
Watch the horizon or ground line to make sure your camera is level from right to left in the photo frame. Avoid tipping your phone to one side.
Remove unsightly objects
Look around and try to clear surrounding areas of unsightly objects like trash cans or cars if you can.
Pick your best season
Winter camping does have its special appeal, but if you’re in an area full of deciduous trees, don’t wait until the dead of winter when trees are bare and the ground is brown to take your photos.
Use natural bright light
Take photos in natural, bright light, mid-morning or later afternoon to avoid shadows. An overcast sky is OK – we can brighten those photos for you digitally.
Keep your distance
Back up from the subject with plenty of space around it, so there’s room to crop the photo to a specific shape later.
HOW to Send Photos to Your Marketing Team
Include descriptions
If your marketing team isn’t physically near you, they’ll need some help to learn what your photos are about. For clients of ours, you’ll be helping us tell your story on your website and on social media by describing how a camper will experience what your photo shows.
What’s it like to be there?
Imagine yourself telling a friend about whatever is in your photo. For instance if you send a nature trail photo…
How long is it?
How easy or hard is the trail to walk?
What will someone see from the trail?
When is the best time to walk the trail?
Are pets allowed on the trail?
We’re here to help keep your park full
If you’re not using photography to fill your RV campground, you’re missing out on a game-changer. Practice these tips to authentically capture your RV park in photos and watch your bookings grow! With our expert advice, you can develop an eye for images that will make your audience linger, and create a captivating visual story that not only attracts new guests but also keeps them coming back for more. Remember, a single photo has the power to turn curious travelers into lifelong campers. So don’t keep your park a secret!
Contact us
Our clients: If you’re an RV Park client of ours, send a note to our Director for instructions on how to submit your photos.
Not a client yet? If you’d like a marketing partner to get the word out about your park and fill up those campsites, contact us!
