Answers on a Postcard… from hotel photographer Chloé Mignard
Up next in Answers on a Postcard, my interview series with some of my favourite creatives, I catch up with French photographer Chloé Mignard, whose work I first discovered whilst heading up comms for Antler luggage. Commissioning Chloé was a total pleasure, both in terms of working with her as an individual, through to getting that first glimpse of the work she’d created for us, and seeing it take flight across social. With clients including Belmond and Aman, Raffles and Beaumier, here I ask Chloé how she captures the essence of a place to ‘sell’ the destination and where she thinks the industry is heading.
Q: Tell me about your work — how did you get started and what drew you to travel and hotel photography?
A: I was born and raised in a small town in France, and a few years ago my husband and I bought a house there that we’ve been slowly renovating. I’ve always been drawn to both travel and design. Growing up, my parents took me on some incredible trips, and I think that’s where my love for exploring new places really began. As for hotels, my background is actually in hospitality marketing. I used to work for a luxury hotel, and that’s really where my passion for this industry started. It stuck with me ever since.
Chloé behind the lens
Q: What does travel mean to you?
A: For me, travel is all about balance. It’s disconnecting from my everyday life, while at the same time connecting deeply to a new place: its culture, its food, its architecture.
Q: How do you balance storytelling and aesthetics — is your priority to capture a moment or a mood?
A: I guess it’s a blend of all of those, but above everything, I try to capture a feeling. The feeling you’d have if you were standing right there.
Q: When working with a hotel, what’s your process for uncovering the story or unique character you want to bring out visually?
A: That can depend a lot on the client, because many hotels come in with very clear ideas of what they want. But when I have the creative freedom, I like to approach the shoot from the perspective of a guest. I take my time, explore at a slower pace, and let myself experience the property the way a guest would, soaking in the atmosphere and catching those small, in-between moments that tell the real story.
Q: In your opinion, what makes a photograph ‘sell’ a destination or hotel experience, beyond just looking beautiful?
A: Emotions. Always. Nothing is stronger than a feeling. Especially in luxury hospitality, when someone decides to spend $1,000+ a night, it’s not really about the amenities. It’s about the emotions, the promise of something they need at that exact moment, whether that’s exclusivity, serenity, or the chance to disconnect.
Moments at Moroseta Homes
Q: How do you think the rise of video on platforms like Instagram and TikTok has changed the way hotels should think about photography?
A: I don’t think photography will ever lose its place, hotels will always need it. But video has become such an important complement. It helps bridge the gap between imagination and emotion in a way photos sometimes can’t. I’d say hotels should definitely integrate more video into their strategy, alongside strong photography.
Lily of the Valley — the luxury hotel a few minutes’ drive from Saint Tropez
Q: What’s the most surprising or challenging request you’ve had from a client?
A: Honestly, I don’t think I’ve ever had a truly unusual request from a client. I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or a bad thing, haha!
Q: Looking to the future, where do you see hotel and travel photography heading in the next 5 years?
A: I see it leaning even more towards video, especially short, cinematic snippets. What I like to call “moving stills.” Just 5 seconds that capture the essence or feeling of a place.
Capturing the Belmond Andean Explorer
Q: What are your plans and ambitions for the rest of the year and beyond? Is there anyone you'd love to work with or projects you'd love to see come to life?
A: I’d love to collaborate more with architects, the people who actually designed the spaces. It would be fascinating to bring their perspective into the storytelling, rather than just working from the client side. A dream project for me would be to work with Studio Andrew Trotter.
Golden hour at Beaumier Hotels, by Chloé Mignard
All images courtsesy of Chloé Mignard.
Follow Chloé on Instagram @NovemberStudio.co and see more of her work at NovemberStudio.co.