Luxury Hotel Photo Shoot in Gstaad: Old Wood and Alpine Views
How do you capture the discreet luxury of a 5-star alpine hotel? In this behind-the-scenes look, I share my photographic journey through wood, light and mountain elegance at the Ultima Hotel in Gstaad.
Located in the prestigious Swiss village of Gstaad, the Ultima hotel commissioned me in 2016 to produce a full architectural photography series just weeks before its opening. Nestled in a spectacular natural setting, between traditional chalets and mountain meadows, this 5-star hotel offers a contemporary interpretation of alpine luxury. Reclaimed wood from century-old barns forms the core of the interior architecture, creating a warm and elegant atmosphere I aimed to convey in each image.
Interior Architecture: Tradition Meets Design
Each suite and common area of the Ultima hotel is designed as a cocoon of comfort and sophistication. Generous spaces, noble materials, and soft lighting set the tone. Raw wood is paired with luxurious textures—leather, marble, velvet. Reflections and depth, especially around the fireplace or the bathrooms, provided rich visual opportunities that I carefully composed to preserve the hotel’s calm and refined ambiance.
Capturing Mountain Light
One of the key challenges in interior architecture photography in the mountains is managing the changing natural light. At sunrise and sunset, sunlight filters through carved wooden balconies and sheer curtains. The color palette turns softer, almost painterly. I made sure to capture those transitional moments to reflect the serene and hushed atmosphere of the hotel.
Exterior Views: A Breathtaking Setting
From the balconies or large windows, the views stretch out toward the awe-inspiring Bernese Alps, dark forests clinging to the slopes, and dew-covered pastures. These vistas are part of the hotel experience, and I ensured each interior photo highlighted them. The contrast between cozy interiors and majestic landscapes adds a new layer to the visual narrative.
Luxury Hospitality Photography: A Focus on Detail
My approach also emphasizes decorative details: designer objects, custom furniture, curated textures, and table compositions. Often crafted by renowned interior designers, these elements deserve dedicated attention. I used fast lenses with shallow depth of field to isolate and elevate these design accents, creating images close to contemporary still life.
A Place of Lifestyle and Discretion
This luxury hotel photo reportage in Gstaad allowed me to document a space where interior architecture dialogues with alpine surroundings. Luxury here is discreet, never ostentatious. The project’s spirit rests on balance: between old and new, nature and comfort, elegance and simplicity. As a photographer, I sought to express this delicate harmony through every composition, every light, every ambiance.
See also: My interior architecture photographs
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All the photos displayed on this website are copyright protected © Sebastien Desnoulez. No use allowed without written authorization.
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