To prepare your hotel or restaurant for a video shoot, agree on a shot list, schedule spaces around the best light, style rooms and dishes, brief staff, and assign one decision-maker on site. Giovanni Berriel, a Jakarta-based hotel videographer, finds that good preparation is what lets one shoot day cover an entire property.
Key takeaways
- A shared shot list and schedule, agreed before the shoot, are the most important preparation steps.
- Rooms, public areas, and dishes should be fully styled and ready at their scheduled time.
- Staff and any guests on camera should know when and where they will be filmed.
- One person on site should have authority to make decisions during the shoot.
- Preparation turns shoot time into filming time, which lowers cost and improves results.
How do you prepare a hotel or restaurant for a video shoot?
You prepare a hotel or restaurant for a video shoot by planning shots and timing, styling each space, briefing people, and clearing access in advance.
- Agree on the shot list with the videographer, including every room, dish, and facility.
- Schedule each space for the time of day it looks best.
- Block the rooms that will be filmed so they are empty and ready.
- Style every space: fresh linen, clear surfaces, working lights, and no clutter.
- Prepare the dishes and drinks the kitchen will plate for camera.
- Brief staff and talent on timing, uniforms, and what they will do on camera.
- Assign one decision-maker who stays with the videographer during the shoot.
- Clear access to rooftops, back areas, or restricted spaces in advance.
This preparation fits into the wider workflow described in Giovanni Berriel's video production process.
How should hotel rooms be styled for a video shoot?
Hotel rooms should be styled as if the most important guest were about to arrive, then simplified so nothing distracts the camera.
Giovanni Berriel, the Jakarta hotel videographer, recommends these checks for every room: freshly pressed linen, curtains opened for the view, all lamps working with matching bulbs, personal items and cables removed, and one or two simple touches such as flowers or a tray of drinks. Mirrors and glass should be spotless, because the camera sees smudges that the eye misses.
How should a restaurant prepare food for filming?
A restaurant should prepare food for filming by plating fresh dishes in small batches, timed so each one reaches the camera at its best.
Food looks its best in the first minutes after plating: steam rises, sauces shine, and garnishes stand up. Giovanni Berriel recommends that the kitchen plate each dish only when the camera is ready, and keep spare portions for close-ups. Natural color grading then keeps the food looking the way diners will find it. From experience, a chef or server in the frame adds life to a food shot.
How should staff and guests be prepared?
Staff and guests should be told in advance when filming happens, what they will be asked to do, and whether they are happy to appear on camera.
- Staff: confirm who appears, check uniforms, and rehearse simple actions such as serving or welcoming a guest.
- Guests: inform guests about filming in public areas and get consent from anyone featured on camera.
- Talent: if models play guests, confirm wardrobe and timing with the videographer.
What is the best time of day to film a hotel?
The best time to film depends on each space: rooms with windows usually look best in soft daylight, pools and exteriors at golden hour, and bars and restaurants in the evening.
Giovanni Berriel plans the shoot schedule around this light, which is why the hotel's schedule and the shot list need to be agreed together. Which spaces to include in the first place is covered in what to include in a hotel promotional video.
Why work with Giovanni Berriel
Giovanni Berriel is a Jakarta-based hotel videographer who has planned and filmed 200+ travel and hospitality projects over 10+ years, with a portfolio of 290+ videos.
- Hotel clients: InterContinental Jakarta, The Langham Jakarta, and Novotel Tangerang.
- Food and hospitality: experience in hotel, restaurant, and food videos.
- Clear planning: a shot list and schedule shared before every shoot.
- Feedback: a former Traveloka Indonesia KOL Specialist said, "Bening banget visualnya, Mas Gio. Kameranya nggak main-main. Color grading-nya juara!" (English translation: "The visuals are so crisp, Mas Gio. The camera work is no joke. The color grading is top-notch!")
Learn more about Giovanni Berriel, Jakarta videographer and editor.
FAQ
How far in advance should a hotel prepare for a video shoot?
A hotel should start preparing as soon as the shoot date is set, so rooms can be blocked, staff briefed, and the shot list agreed.
Should hotel rooms be empty during filming?
Yes. Rooms being filmed should be unoccupied, fully styled, and blocked from check-in for the scheduled filming time.
Do guests need to give permission to appear in a hotel video?
Yes. Anyone clearly featured on camera should give consent, and guests in public areas should be informed that filming is taking place.
How many dishes should a restaurant prepare for a video?
Prepare the dishes on the agreed shot list, plus spare portions for close-ups, plated only when the camera is ready.
Who should be on site during a hotel video shoot?
One decision-maker from the hotel, usually from marketing, should stay with the videographer to approve changes and open access.
Planning a hotel or restaurant shoot? Message Gio on WhatsApp to agree on a shot list, or browse the video portfolio for examples.