If you're waiting until June to think about your summer marketing, I have some tough love for you: you're already behind.
Summer is the most competitive season in hospitality and tourism and the brands that win it aren't worrying about pulling images together in May. They're the ones who planned ahead, booked their photographer early, and had a full gallery of stunning, on-brand imagery ready to go the moment spring hit.
That could be you. But only if you act now. Summer marketing starts in spring, not summer.
Here's the truth that every successful hospitality marketer knows: by the time summer arrives, your audience has already made a lot of their plans. They've been seeing ads, scrolling through Instagram, saving destinations to their wish lists, all throughout late winter and spring.
If your summer campaign isn't live until July, you've missed a huge window of influence. The best time to launch summer campaign content is March through May, which means your photos and content need to be ready before that.
And photos don't appear out of thin air. There's a shoot to plan, a date to lock in, and a turnaround period before you have a gallery in hand. Which brings me to my next point.
Plan for a Two-Week Turnaround After Your Shoot
After your shoot date, you're looking at roughly two weeks before your full edited gallery is delivered and ready to use. That's not a long time, but when you're coordinating social posts, email campaigns, website refreshes, and ad creative, two weeks can feel very short.
Factor in time to:
Brief your marketing team on the new imagery
Design graphics and ad creative
Write copy and captions
Schedule and queue content in advance
Update your website hero images and listings
When you look at it that way, booking your shoot in March or April means you're just barely on time, not early.
Why Stock Photos Just Don't Cut It for Hospitality
You could try to piece together a summer campaign from stock photography. But here's the problem: your guests aren't booking a stock-photo vacation. They're booking your pool, your rooftop bar, your stretch of coastline, your vibe.
Custom photography communicates authenticity in a way stock simply can't. It shows potential guests exactly what they'll experience and it builds trust before they ever set foot through your door. In a market where travelers are scrutinizing every detail before they book, that trust is everything.
A Few Spots Still Open, But Not for Long
I currently have a couple of openings this month for new hospitality clients. Whether you're a boutique hotel, a beachside resort, a tour company, or a vacation rental brand, now is the time to get your summer campaign imagery on the calendar.
Here's what working together looks like:
We connect to talk about your brand, your goals, and what a shoot could look like
We lock in a date and location that works for your timeline
We shoot: lifestyle, product, venue, whatever tells your story best
Two weeks later, you have a full, professionally edited gallery ready to power your summer campaigns
Availability is limited. Once my schedule fills, it fills! Don't be the brand looking for last-minute photos in May.
Drop an inquiry today and let's make sure your summer campaigns are the ones people can't stop scrolling past. Inquiry form below. :)
