Makes me wish I was Rich!

Whew! While I never really think websites are "done". This one is at a point where it's good enough to put out into cyberspace. While I don't envy people with Porches or Cool Condos these parcels of land on San Juan Island make me wish I'd started working for Bill Gates in the 80"s http://lawsonridgehomesites.com/ are 14 Ten Acre Parcels of Unique Beauty and Grace they are the paramount example of San Juan Island View Property. They are in fact one of a kind locations in one of the most beautiful places on earth. I can talk on and on about them but as a picture is worth a thousand words click on the link and you have 37,000 words and if a picture is worth a thousand words, what's a video worth?? One thing I will mention is Lawson Ridge will be a shining star in Green living. All the homes will be integrated into the environment and each parcel was carefully thought out by Richard Lawson as to it's placement for privacy and Stunning Views. Check out the site, look at the videos and give us some feedback. Please make sure to forward the link to your friends @ Microsoft.

Cheers,

Jeff

Gem in the Desert

The Hotel Artesia project has been an interesting, exciting and educational project. The best part has been the personal relationships I have developed and old friends I've had a chance to work with again. The last blog was about the room art we developed and now I had a chance to create imagery for the marketing of hotel. This is one of the coolest hotels from a point of Architectural design I have photographed. Richard Yates of Zydeco was the original Architect who developed the concept of a modern day Art Deco property. Richard's use of color and shape is both refreshing and creative. It's a brilliant building. Architect Aaron Bohrer of Archi-Scape in Santa Fe worked with Richard's design and put it into the practical application that is alive and open in Artesia New Mexico. Reid and Associates of Albuquerque are the general contractors who made the plans a reality. You can check out the images of the hotel on the ResortHotelPhotographer.com site. This is the first project utilizing the RHP business model of shooting more than the budget will allow and using the images to help create a network of incoming links for the project partners. As saavy web aficianados we know the the verifiable incoming link is one of the most important tools in increased Search Engine Optimization. Well that and I can sell more pictures to pay for the extra work and expenses. Richard Hefler President of Zydeco and I were discussing utilizing the social networking options that were available to increase exposure and SEO for the hotel. While he is not willing to "get with it" on Facebook, his wife is and I was able to peruse her cool website and have a new friend in the travel world that relates to my photography business, Check is out!

Cheers,

Jeff

Dream Job

Since I have bestowed upon myself " King of the Hotel Room Photographers" I have something very cool that may verge upon Narcissistic. I will have the opportunity to photograph Hotel Rooms that have "my" Art on the Walls. The Hotel Artesia, http://hotelartesia.com/ a very cool Art Deco Hotel that is scheduled to open in June 2009. Zydeco Real Estate Management group in Santa Fe, http://zydeco66.com/ is the brains behind the operation. We will be discussing this project in upcoming blog posts as it is the flagship project for new photography business model that is http://resorthotelphotographer.com/

I was given the assignment of creating images for the Room Art that were more than the same photos of a Yucca or something equally as boring that you see in most hotel rooms. Because the Hotel Artesia is a unique project in a small town where everyone works. We weren't creating images for the couple from Modesto like most resort hotel properties. We created images for people who have blue collars and roll up their sleeves. We photographed from "Cain't see to Cain't see" images of workers on oil wells, the Navajo Refinery, the local agriculture, abstracts of the tools of the trades and the beloved Bulldogs, the high school football team. Check out all the images at http://resorthotelgalleries.com

Another Dream job associated with the Hotel is being an interior designer who gets to work with the cutting edge developers that are building the Hotel. Rahli Designs of Santa Fe has created amazing headboards, desks, dressers and coffee table that give this Hospitality Haven a unique and sophisticated feel. We have only just begun to blog about this cool project. Talk to you soon!

Cheers,

Jeff

It's Working!

The Website is working. I just received a call from a Company that has Treetop Hotels in Tazania http://elewana.com/ We have just begun negotiations and while the deadlines may preclude us from getting to work together this go around, it's showing me we are getting the message of http://resorthotelphotographer.com/ around the world.

We are launching the new website (actually very similar to the old website) on a Drupal Content Management System. This will allow me to post images with text and links as they become available. This will also allow dissemination of the information and imagery throughout the world of my fabulous clients who have spent money with me. I will also increase their SEO.

In regard to SEO we have been doing our homework. We are #1 in Google's and Yahoo's world under the keywords " Hotel Photographer" and "Resort Photographer". I know that these are desirable keywords as my competitors spend their hard earned dollars to buy Google Adwords, and the guys from Tanzania found me. I am currently writing new copy for the site with a blend of keywords combined with content. As a photographer you would hope they look at the photos and don't spend a lot of time reading. As incoming links are important to SEO and through using my SEO tools, I discovered my friend Kri Mayer who has a great business in Paris driving tourists around speaking to them in a variety of tongues, has linked to me and it's registered, thereby increasing my SEO. So here's to you Kri! http://americandriverinparis.com/

Here's my son Jackson working with me on a shoot we did for our client http://sturtevants.com/
I think I want that job!

Cheers!

Jeff

Art of the Resort....com

Hello Hotelians ( def: noun: someone who has stayed in a hotel)

I did some research on the Q Bar Artist. His name is Yuri Zatarain. His mediums are clay, wood and iron. He created these amazing characters for the Q Bar. He was born in Quadalajara of Russian Heritage. The ceramic work in the Q Bar creates a personality to the space. Amazing! This would bring us to ArtoftheResort.com but I have to get back to work. Talk with you soon.

Cheers,

Jeff


http://hhandr.com/albuquerque_dining.php#qbar

http://www.yurizatarain.com/

Cool Q-Bar

Hi ResortHotelPhotographer Fans,

There is so much to talk about. I've been discussing the concepts of the business with what could be described as movers and shakers of the industry. An excellent client and good friend or should that be good client and excellent friend as she drives a hard bargain. Pam Bazant-Jung is El Presidente of Heritage hotels and resort in Albuquerque. All important link here http://hhandr.com We shot the very cool and avant garde Q-bar on the recent trip to New Mexico. I shot the original shot of the bar that is on the http://www.resorthotelphotographer.com/ site. ( Is this just shameless incoming linking?)
This is a new part of the bar called the gallery. I am ashamed I don't know the Artist name, but I will as we want him to check out the images to consider liscensing them to use on his website with links to me and Heritage Hotels for ripping Optimization. I love his Art, I do believe he is from Mexcio and I will find out tomorrow and we will continue this discussion then.

Cheers,

Jeff

Resort Hotel Photographer.com, A new dawn in Resort Hotel Photography!

Do you like the grandiose title? The website is up and functioning. If your here, you've most likely looked at it. It's a new concept in resort, hotel photography and websites. It is an ever developing and changing website, as they all should be. It's primary function is to be brilliantly creative in capturing the essence of my clients fabulous properties that and "feed my kids".

My Kids:




Well Billy Kidd's not my kid but that's my son Jackson with him. Jocelyn is an amazing and accomplished Middle Eastern Dancer.


Now the second function is to give away as much photography as I can afford to. Check out http://resorthotelphotographer.com/giving_back.html . Shooting pro bono for non profits is a blast. No pressure, everyone cooperates and even the Art directors are nice when they are being picky. As Winston Churchill said " we make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give."

The website is about the Resort and Hotel industry. I have been shooting resorts and hotels for 20 years. I hear the same challenges over and over. I see photography under utilized, I see organizations using default images because "that's all we had". As Grandmother is now on line making the hotel decisions, you better have a good image of your pool. Online booking were up 17% in 2007. What will they be in 2010? This is a developing website, I want it to be a place for the industry will look at strategies to make fresh images more affordable. We will be talking about how to integrate your website into your marketing strategy, veracity of images, Search Engine optimization in website development and new styles in interactive media. All these and more! As a teaser, the next post will be about a successful shoot we did for the Salish Lodge and Spa here in Washington. http://www.salishlodge.com/ The " Honey from Heaven shoot" Now THAT was a fun one. Great hotel with great people. Gotta go, please check out the site and send feedback, requests and comments.

All the best!

Jeff