Inside the lens of hotel stories

the Future of HospitalityWonderful. So you started in weddings, but how did you start with photography in the first place? Can you tell me a bit about more about that?

Gergely JancsóIt was a hobby. I mean, it's more than ten years ago, fifteen years ago. I don't really remember. It's not that interesting story. I mean, everybody's taking photos. Like, you know, everybody has phone. But from that time, it was so rare that somebody had a digital camera. So my father had, and it was pretty new. And I just it was so, I mean, interesting to take photos and see on the screen immediately. I know now is not that interesting at all, but fifty years ago, it was. So we had to get the comment and, you know, it's it it started as a hobby, go to the nature and take photos.

Gergely JancsóEverybody starts in this way, I think, in these days, But it's so easier to take photos with your phone because immediately it's there. But at that time, this was so new and so interesting. Yeah.

the Future of HospitalityYeah. So what is the moment you knew that photography wasn't just a hobby anymore?

Gergely JancsóI was hired by a hotel, Barcelona hotel in Canary Islands after my studies. Mhmm. It was not hotel photography, actually. I was hired as a a family photographer in Canary Islands in Fuerteventura. It was five month contract, and I had to take photos of the families of the guests on the hotel. Okay. So I had a station in front of the restaurants that was a slideshow. And during the day, I walked through the pools, walked through the hotel, and took photos of the guests who are the guests of the hotels, and they can they could see the photos before the dinner, and they can usually, the main goal was to invite them for the one hour family shooting during the sunset, and it's so, let's say, better to have family photos, in a coastline instead of the studio. Right. So it was my first contract. And after I returned it back to, Europe I mean, Spain is also Europe, but Canalia is a little bit outside of Europe. So, I mean, in the center of Europe, and I started my own, business.

Gergely JancsóYeah. This was the you know, I have so many stories, but it's long story short.

the Future of HospitalityOkay. Well, yeah, it's of course. And so after that, you decided to start working for yourself. How did you do that? And what what what is what is the what you like about this the most?

Gergely JancsóThe most? I think the travel because and we have time to take the best photo possible. As I as I said, you know, weddings, the conditions sometimes are not the best. But in the hotel images, we can schedule everything what we want and the travel. So last week, we were in Frankfurt, shot for Hilton, and almost every interview, I mean, Asia, different countries, Kuala Lumpur, in Malaysia, Bali, Thailand. So several countries we visited in Asia. So it's Right. Maybe yes. It's, I would say it's the best work the best job in the world, but I know some so many people, say the same. Like, you know, travel in Asia during the winter, skip the European cold winter and go to Asia for a few months.

Gergely JancsóEverything gets paid, and you do what you love. That's that's pretty amazing.

the Future of HospitalitySo tell me how that works, because you mentioned, like, Hilton Hotel and etcetera, you name some some brands. So you get invited, you get asked, hey. We want this and this from you. So can you walk me through the process, how that works, and how you then end up at a beautiful resort somewhere and do your work? I'd wanna have some more insight.

Gergely JancsóYeah. So it's I would separate the independent hotels from the brand hotels. Right. So brand hotels actually have approved photographers and videographer lists. Some hotel chains are not that strict with that, and some are. So let's say, hotel chains have a list of photographers and videographers, and, they can work with them only. So this is the way to reach more international clients without any marketing. Of course, it's really hard and difficult to be on the list, But if you are on the list, it's after that's so easier to have more international clients in brand brand hotels. But independent hotels, local hotels are much much more like based on your personal connections.

Gergely JancsóRight. Yeah. It's not brand hotels. The local marketing manager or the sales will decide who will be the photographer or in the or the videographer of that assignment. Yeah. Right.

the Future of HospitalityOkay. Tell me a bit about your last trip. How did that go? It was in

Gergely JancsóFrankfurt last week, so we went to Kimpton Hotel. Kimpton? From Frankfurt. Kimpton. Yeah. Kimpton. Okay. Kimpton and

the Future of HospitalityHilton. Kimpton Hilton. Kimpton Hilton. I know one. We have one in Amsterdam as well.

Gergely JancsóYeah. Yeah. Amazing amazing hotel. So I know the market manager in Hungary, the Kimpton, and they recommended us to to to the Frankfurt hotel and the Hilton, also the brand the brand hotel. And but, yeah, it was last week, and it was amazing trip and amazing hotels, amazing people. So we do 20 stunting images, interior only, and some food.

the Future of HospitalityIt's just amazing. Amazing city and amazing people. Right. That's that's why I like How do you because you said, I mean, images of food and rooms. How do you turn a nice photo into a compelling one, like a story? What's the difference?

Gergely JancsóYeah. The interior images the interior photography is more like stack heavy because of the dynamic range. So dynamic range is like, as humans, we can see more details in the highlights and the shadows at the same time. The the but the cameras don't don't see the same dynamic range. So that's why it's really tricky to take a photo what is near to the reality. You know, the photo and the reality is is not the same. It's really hard to take the photo and try to cover the dynamic range technically. Because this is the first step because Okay. You know, let's say, some rooms has beautiful views, beautiful views, and the price is really high because of the view of the lake.

Gergely JancsóSo we need to show the view because it's has the room itself. Yep. So it's really hard, sometimes difficult to capture the view and the interior side, the dark side I mean, the interior and an exterior in one shot. So this is the first step. And the second step is the compositions, like the wrinkles of the bedding. This is the most challenging thing in our life. The wrinkles in the bedding because it's really hard to, remove that afterwards. So we always ask the halters, please iron the entire bedding place because it's pretty you know, we can use a flash to fill the space we'd like. And so so in this case, if we we are using the flash bouncing from the ceiling Yeah. The shadows will be lit by the bounce the flashlights.

Gergely JancsóSo the wrinkles won't be that visible Okay. If we always ask the hotels to place iron, and we have our or own iron on locations. So we can iron the bed in all locations sometimes. Yeah. Yeah. It's tricky. It's not not not just about photography. Like, in a restaurant, we need to move furniture. So take the image. It's just one click and a few flash switch just, let's say, one minute. But the preparation is, like, ten, fifteen, twenty, or more minutes Yeah. Because we are moving furniture, try to avoid any strange things on the location, like the furniture can cover each each other so that that don't look very good. So, yeah, moving furniture is 70%

the Future of Hospitalityof our job. Right. I get it. So when you're shooting sorry. When you're shooting a hotel room, what's the story that you're trying to tell?

Gergely JancsóThe first, we need to capture the space itself because in a hotel, it's really important to to show what is included in the room, like the size, the amenities. So it's really more like informal at first. But we also take detailed photos. What are most like about the stories, the design, how the guests can use the space, the amenities. So it's it's it should be informal, good looking image, nice exposed contrast image. At the same time, it's more like documentary. So it's, of course, it's telling the story, but the hotel has their own story. We need to show that. So the portraits are more like the photos telling the story, but in a hotel photography, we are showing and document,

the Future of Hospitalitythe story of the hotel. You understand that? The identity. I think it's like it's the the the culture and the identity of the hotel, and also people can identify them or see themselves in that picture. That's probably what I'm what what you're trying to tell. Like, more like informal

Gergely Jancsóimages and nice composed images as night light. So, you know, it's nice night lighting. Mhmm. But it's I I wouldn't say, the interior image, the architecture, and the interior photograph is I I wouldn't say that's that's art. It is, but it's, I think what is my experience is more like documentary, photography instead of telling the story because we need to set our camera and find a great compositions, of course. Mhmm. But the story the hotels have their own stories, and we are showing their stories with our photos. Yeah. Now you're documenting that story.

the Future of HospitalityYeah. Yeah. That's correct. That's what you do. So that's why people invite you to tell their story. So do you you you just mentioned I'm on lists with big brands. I get direct assignments through contact con contacts through my network. So how is your I I had a good look at your website. Amazing pictures. Everyone should have a look at Greg Images. You do aerial shootings. You all kinds of techniques that you're using. Can you tell me a little bit more about how you how you do that?

Gergely JancsóThe entire shooting or how you mean, like yeah. So we started to do videography too beginning of this year because we have so many clients around the world, and they trust us. Right. And they ask good videos like social media, brand video. It's really close. The photography is really close to the videography, so that's why I started videography at the same time Right. For our previous call clients. But the area of photography, the drone, food, some portraits, you know, it's not our specialty, but we can do that. So we specialize in interiors. We are the best of the category for interior photography. But at the same time, if our clients, let's say, ask us to take three more portraits of the new sales and the marketing colleagues, we can take it on on on location or some photos of the food selection. Let's say, I remember in Frankfurt, we took photo of the food selection, what is optimal no. So what can be asked by, the conference. So I will say this again.

Gergely JancsóSo in Frankfurt, our clients, in Frankfurt, our client asked us to take a photo of the food selection because it can be I don't remember that word English. You have a conference. Yes. And it is maybe without food. Yeah. But you can order the food selection for the conference. Yeah. I want to say that. Okay. Okay. I would say it again, please. Okay. So in Frankfurt, our Hilton, in Frankfurt, our client asked us to take photo of the, food selection because that food selection can be ordered for the conference. So maybe the conference can be just, you know, just with order or without anything, but with food selection also, with cafe machine, or let's say, lunch or with dinner or, cold foods and warm, etcetera. So we took photos of the food selection itself. So it's like, what the hotel needs, we try to figure it out Right. What are the need, and we try to deliver the best results possible.

the Future of HospitalitySo in this, what's more important you think? Is it lighting, composition, or mood?

Gergely JancsóTech heavy. So as I say, the tech heavy, so I think the lighting, yeah, because we are using our flashlight. Mhmm. It's more like technical thing to cover the dynamic range of the space. It's it's more like technical, but it's really easy to learn. But after then, the people I mean, the photographers need to practice a lot of to how they can merge the photos together because we are taking photos with the only with the ambient lights and only with the natural light. Right. And we see of the all the yellow lights in the room, and we flash up the the entire room. Mhmm. And after that, we are merging together the ambient light with the artificial lights with the flashlights. Right. It's really sources at the same time. So that's why I'm saying that it's really technical thing, and some some photographers prefer the flashy images with really nice contrast, but it can be unrealistic Mhmm. CGI render feeling.

Gergely JancsóBut, you know, there is no, good or bad way. It's more like about the style. So some hotels are like, some hotels prefer the flashy, contrasty photos, and some are more like, the natural, like, the nature of photo photorealistic

the Future of Hospitalityphotos. So you It depends on what the client wants. That is that is pretty much Yeah. Yeah. It's it's more like about the brand guidelines. So it's for brand holders, we receive the brand guidelines.

Gergely JancsóThere's so many pages have to shoot the spaces. Like, some hotels don't want to see any amenities on the bathroom photos, and some wants to have these amenities of the photos. It's really based on the wholesale chain itself. So that's why we always ask the brand guidelines, and we need to follow them strictly because if we don't, our photos can be rejected.

the Future of HospitalitySo Oh, yeah. And you don't want that. You want your photos to be seen. So what is the one thing you always look for when you walk into a hotel for the first time? How do you mean? Like, what I You walk into a hotel? Because that's what I do. Because I just I just visited a hotel myself just recently, and I always look for specific things, how they look, how they the lighting. Because I make pictures myself. I didn't wanna say that, but I like I like photography myself. So I'll always look for the for the right composition and what what attracts me. What is a nice story to tell? So my question for you is what is what is the thing you always look for when you walk into a hotel for the first time?

Gergely JancsóThe compositions. When I walk through their lobby, I always see the edge of the edge of the image, the possible image, what That's what I mean. And would be the light, like, during the sunset that would be hit the window. And so that this is how I see Lightfish shadows. Yeah. Absolutely. So I I have a application. This is Sun Survivor, and they'll have you with the camera. I can see where we'll be the sun in special in in during the day. So we can schedule our shooting based on the lights. So Uh-huh. In Frankfurt, in Kimpton, it was the Kimpton was the Kimpton Hotel is in the city center.

Gergely JancsóSo we were so lucky because the sun hit the building, during the sunset. The it was just few seconds, but just few minutes. But on that application, we could predict what would be the perfect timing for that exterior Amazing

the Future of Hospitalityhow tech can help you with photography.

Gergely JancsóYes. It's, let's say, in a room or in a lobby or in a restaurant, we can see, oh, let's say, during the sunset or during the sunrise, the sun will heat the space and feel warm, inviting, feel the space, I mean. This would be great to take a photo, let's say, five minutes before six, so woke up woke up wake up early.

the Future of HospitalityAlright. So, you traveled all over Europe and even further, Asia for a hotel shoots. What's one behind the scenes moment that you will never forget?

Gergely JancsóSo many, but I Name a few. Come on. Tell me some stories. Alright. After the I mean, after when I went back to Canary Islands, I started the wedding photography business. And two years after, I was hired to go to Bali and Bangkok for three months. I was hired by the German one German agency to take 20 hotels to take photos of 20 hotels in Bali and 25 in Bangkok. Mhmm. I I I went to Asia and took images of these hotels, and this is was the starting point because I could make so many connections in Asia because I was there on location and delivered, the photos to the creative agency. But at the same time, I had to contact to the marketing manager.

Gergely JancsóSo this was three month trip in Asia. It was beginning of November, and I returned it back in January.

the Future of HospitalityPerfect timing. You escaped the winter in Europe.

Gergely JancsóYeah. It is eight years ago. It is eight years ago. Yeah. So I will highlight that two months because I went to Asia. It was my first trip outside the country, outside not outside the continent. So it's amazing, and I visited so many great places. And I went back with new images and Asian beautiful hotel portfolio, and I show, to my prospective clients, my my clients, and they was they were amazed. And I printed out printed portfolio to the local hotels and sent to them by process, no online. I just walk, evolved into the hotel or I just sent sent a few ones in past, and they were amazed Okay. About locations because it was, you know, my portfolio was about Asian beautiful amazing hotels.

Gergely JancsóIt was so eye catching. Yeah. So it was starting point in in the local market when I went back to Asia. So I will try by this two, three months period of my life.

the Future of HospitalityI like it. So you're you're expanding your your horizons, getting more clients all over the world. So if the camera could talk during a shoot, what would it say?

Gergely JancsóLeave me alone. I enjoy many photos today. One day, we do more than a thousand photos. Really? In more than a thousand. You know, because we do so in one interior, we switch off the lights, take five or even six photos. We switch off the light, six photos, and plus the strobes. So strobes that see, we're walking through the room with flash. And, so twenty, thirty, even 50 images needed for only one image. So that's why we usually take more than a thousand with within only one day. Right. Yeah. Wow.

the Future of HospitalityAnd you're not working just by your yourself. I see you always oh, I also have a colleague or a friend. Can you tell me a bit about working together?

Gergely JancsóYeah. I always work with assistants. A few years ago, I had my friend of mine who assisted me on location because moving furniture and so it's all this is better to work together because there's so many things can happen on location, unexpected things. Mhmm. Let's say, it's a hotel and the clients ask images during the sunset, a blue hour, after the sunset, drone images, aerial images, and few interior images during the blue hour. And so we need to we have several cameras. So my assistant is inside, take photo of the room or other another side of the building, and I'm flying with the drone and take another image at the same time. Because the sunset, we have ten minutes of your time to take the best images possible because of the lightning. So that's why it always easier to work together.

Gergely JancsóAnd Pat Patrick, we are working together now. We started two years ago together, and it is full time for now because he is responsible for the retouching. Mhmm. He went one of my online and offline courses because I'm teaching photography the same time. And we met there two years ago, and I just delegated a few retouching things to them to to him. And I was satisfied with the results. So I hired him a first time for just a few assignments. And after after we talked, and he said wants to have more about this entire process. And I said, of course, I need assistance on location. So what about to work together? And you are coming with me all all of them, of of the shootings, and you will be responsible for the retouching. In this case, I am more like, I can focus on the marketing and the sales, and the administration and the social media and so many things behind the business as I'm sure you know. And he's responsible for only for the retouching and assisting me all location.

the Future of HospitalityWell, that's good if you have someone that totally understands what you see through the lens, what you wanna capture, and that he's able to retouch it in a way that you want it. So that is a a good good symbiosis as I would call it.

Gergely JancsóIt took one and a half year to find the common ground because my and I would say our style always change.

the Future of HospitalityAlways changing. Yeah. I can imagine. So

Gergely Jancsóit's sometimes we are shifting more, to the flash images. Sometimes we are shifting more, like, natural, wider angle. Sometimes we are using wide angle lens because we need to show more of the space. Sometimes we are we more like detail focused, so we are always changing our creative mind, like, say, ah, this is really good design, hotel, and be more like, want to focus on the details instead of showing the entire space.

the Future of HospitalityI like it. Have you ever seen a photo that you took used in a way that surprised you or moved you? That you're like, oh, wow. Or hey, I that's my picture, but I didn't expect this. It looks have you ever seen something like that?

Gergely JancsóYeah. One of my colleagues, we are we know each other in this field of the photography. And let's say, the guy who I follow uploaded, images to Instagram, new hotel in in Europe, and beautiful hotel. I'm just thinking about, oh, the lightning. Oh, how he did that? What kind of light he used? And how how he merged together. I'm I'm just watching or looking, the image, the details, and this is natural light or this is flash or how it is so compressed. So it's more like I think these photos more like the technical way and try to learn how he did it. Okay.

the Future of HospitalityLike it. If someone gave you complete creative freedom at any hotel in the world, what would you do? What would you create?

Gergely JancsóActually, almost every time we have this. Oh, really? Okay. Yeah. Because our clients rely and trust us because we are after so many hotel shootings. Actually, we know what are what what are the needs. We always show the photo, all location, the raw photo of tablets, and they can see what would be the final compositions. So that's so great. All location, we show them. Mhmm. Everything is on the photo. Do you like it? Do you see anything what you don't want to see back on the final photo? We can remove it. You light the angle or you don't like it. We can change it. Just share our ideas.

Gergely JancsóAnd let's say after three images, we show the clients this three first image, and they, accept at the first. And after, they just said, guys, you don't need us. We are leaving and doing our own job. You know? We have so many, emails on our inbox. So we did it this several times. Just call us if you have question.

the Future of HospitalitySo

Gergely Jancsómany times, almost every time, we have this creative fee freedom. Of course, they have some needs, some brand guidelines we need to follow, but, the compositions and the what we need to show. This is you know, we we are in the industry for ten years, and we are after countless of Holter shoots. So we sometimes not not sometimes we I would say always know what is their needs.

the Future of HospitalitySo Right. That's why they usually just left us on issue. Let you do your thing, and that's the best thing to do. Yeah. But we like

Gergely Jancsóand we love if they are with us on location because we show every raw image with them to approve. But, you know, if they want to leave, we are fine. We can take all of them. So yeah. Right. What's one hotel image that you have created that you're the most proud of and why?

the Future of HospitalityYeah. It is behind me. I thought so. I was looking at it. It's where is that? That's a resort somewhere?

Gergely JancsóYeah. It's in Bali. In Bali. My resort, five store, and I took this from

the Future of HospitalityIt's cute. I like it. It's

Gergely Jancsófive or six six store. Yeah. It's it's pretty high hotel, and I took it from the restaurant. So it is the view from the restaurant. Oh, this is the view from the restaurant. Oh my gosh. Yeah. It is infinite pool, so it's pretty beautiful. I have another one from grounds. It is amazing.

the Future of HospitalityIt looks so nice, really. Yeah. I can tell. Alright. What is your next project? Tell me about that. Where are going next?

Gergely JancsóNext project, we in May, we have so many because the first few months during the day during the year, it's really quiet because of the weather. So during the winter in Europe, just a few assignments. So it's more like a summer heavy work, what we are in. So we are full field with hotel, shootings in the next week and videography, and, I can check my calendar. So next week, we have four days in a row in different hotels. And after, we are going to Austria to take photos to another hotel and Hungarian hotel. Yeah. Because almost every hotel skip the shooting during January and February, and they wait until beginning of the summer because of the treats, because of the mood Yeah. Of the summer. You know? We are unable to sell a hotel with winter images Oh, you know. The hotel is more like visited during the summer. Yep. So it's summer heavy

the Future of Hospitalitywork. Alright. You work is on a holiday in the summer, and you're working hard.

Gergely JancsóThat's what it is. Yeah. And the fun fact, during the COVID, we had so many so many contracts.

the Future of HospitalityYeah. Because the hotels were empty. Yeah. We got Amazing. So oh my god. That so there is, like, for you, that was the the best period, probably.

Gergely JancsóYeah. Of the financial side, yeah, it was. But Oh my gosh. Yeah. Amazing.

the Future of HospitalitySee? I learned something new. Alright. Is there any advice that you would give anyone who would like to dive into this career or career like this?

Gergely JancsóWhat would I say? Of course, it's pretty difficult to go to the market. It's pretty based on the personal connections, like just like every business, I think. Mhmm. It would start as a hobby, and it easily can go, like, a profession, but it's no longer a hobby

the Future of HospitalityRight. If you know how I mean. I know what you mean. I'm I'm a hobbyist. I like making pictures myself. I call it telling stories, and I will never become professional because I just want to be a hobbyist because I really enjoy it. We

Gergely Jancsódo love doing this, but at the same time at the same time, it's it's no longer a hobby. No. I see the difference. Somebody will do a lot to take photos. There is no pressure to deliver the photos to the clients. No needs. No nothing. Mhmm. That's easy to enjoy. But True. In the next step, if somebody doing this for the living and deliver the photos to the clients and follow-up the needs, that's that's different. That's different. Yeah. That's different. Okay. But

the Future of Hospitalitythis is, you know Yeah. Greg, where can people find your your photos?

Gergely JancsóIt is gregimages.com.

the Future of HospitalityGregimages.com. Plain and clear. Wonderful. Greg, thank you so much for being on our show. I I learned a few things. It was good to have you on and to pick your brain about photography in the hospitality industry. Thank you so much.

Gergely JancsóThank you very much for having me.