Guest House

Working with the landscape of Prospect Berkshire was a dream for a nature-loving gal who grew up in New Hampshire. Nestled on Prospect Lake, the elevated camp-like property offered both a refined and playful essence. I could immediately see why people were drawn to the idyllic property, laden with Wildflowers, lake views, cozy cabins with fold-out chairs, bikes you could ride around, a gorgeous pool, and a snack shack. My adult summer camp dreams had come true.

When I corresponded with the team at Prospect for this shoot, as I visited under the trade agreement, I laid out the assets I would offer in exchange for the two-night stay. Beyond agreeing on the assets, I asked the team if they had any particular happenings or features they wanted to promote. The brief was open-ended, and I was happy to let the property lead me to the most photogenic moments: a couple dipping in the lake after enjoying the lakefront sauna with a view, the sun sifting through the cabins, the firepit smoke dreamily dancing out of the fire at sunset. The property is inspired by the great writers of the Berkshires, from Emily Dickinson to Herman Melville; it draws on themes of self-reliance and the beauty of nature, so it was no wonder I felt so inspired by the design and place.

Rain on the Radar

When we first drove in, it was overcast, with rain on the radar for the next two days. It was a bit discouraging, but I still snapped away, focusing on framing, the reflections on the lake, and the people enjoying the property around us. I used those first few hours to understand the property and map it out mentally so that when the sun did shine through, I would be ready to go.

That patience paid off. The next day as we enjoyed the pool, the sun broke through. I dropped what I was doing, ran to one of the property’s on-site bikes, and spent the next hour or two chasing the light — cabins, trails, the lakeside saunas, the swings and firepits. After 20 hours of getting the lay of the land, I could quickly capture what I needed.

I find an intimate understanding of the property valuable when capturing content; if you’re running through the shot list, you risk missing those intimate moments that happen unplanned. My favorite images came from this time, which let me lean into my photos, videos, and experimentation with my Super 8 camera.

Start to Finish

For anyone curious what a Guest House collaboration looks like, here is a sneak peek:

• Pre-shoot: I do my homework on the property beforehand—location, architecture. I read guest reviews and compare them to the visual offering online and on social, which helps me understand the guest experience and what might be missing on social.
• On the ground: I treat the first hours as much reconnaissance as production, getting a grip on what guests experience for myself and what might make someone curious to experience a place from a picture.
• Chasing the moment: Staying swift to the light and the property’s busyness, and deciding whether to shoot a full, busy kitchen or highlight the space’s design features more cleanly.
• Post-production: Editing is where the story gets stitched together—choosing the images and clips that capture how the property feels, and selecting tones that complement the photos and the feed.

Telling the Story

Showing the true setting matters because it lets people get a real sense of what they’ll experience when they stay, visit, or dine. This is a strategy I strongly support. Often, when assets are too polished, they feel unrelatable and can mislead potential guests. I’ve always found honest, raw visuals help tell a story.

That’s the difference between content that fills a calendar and content that actually makes someone want to book a stay. If you’re a property considering a content partnership like this, let’s talk.