PhotoBizX The Ultimate Wedding and Portrait Photography Business Podcast 644: Bruce Vincentiis – From YouTube Tutorials to a Luxury Hotel Photography Business
Premium Members, click here to access this interview in the premium area
Bruce Vincentiis of www.bdv.photography brought something refreshingly different to this interview — and it’s one I was excited to dig into.
Bruce is a long-time listener of the podcast, which had me scratching my head at first… because he’s a luxury hotel photographer based in Southeast Asia, not a wedding, portrait, headshot or branding photographer like most listeners.
He started out shooting landscapes, drifted into urban exploration, and eventually found his way into a high-end niche photographing some of the world’s most recognised hotel brands, including Marriott, Accor, and Hyatt.
What makes his story even better is how he learned the craft — entirely self-taught through YouTube, picking up techniques in internet cafés across Asia and honing everything through trial and error.
Take one look at his portfolio and you’ll spot it instantly: jaw-dropping interiors, a beautiful balance of ambient and artificial light, and the kind of imagery you’re used to seeing in luxury travel campaigns, glossy brochures, and high-end resort advertising.
Alongside still photography, Bruce now offers aerial drone work and video — with food photography next on his list as his brand continues to evolve.
In this interview, Bruce shares how he has gone from YouTube photography tutorials to a luxury hotel photography business. This is a great story with many business lessons for any photographer to implement.
Here's some more of what we covered in the interview:
- The bold move that took Bruce from self-taught traveller to in-demand luxury hotel photographer — and why relentless experimentation still wins over formal training in niche markets.
- How offering smart, low-pressure “portfolio builder” shoots opened doors to high-end hotels and helped Bruce land credibility with brands like Marriott, Accor, and Hyatt faster than you’d expect.
- The relationship-first networking strategy Bruce uses to stay top-of-mind with hotel decision-makers — and why it keeps repeat clients coming in across Southeast Asia.
- Why mastering the dance between ambient light and flash is the foundation of magazine-worthy hotel interiors that clients gladly invest heavily in.
- The behind-the-scenes staging process Bruce uses with housekeeping teams to make every room look pristine — saving hours in post-production and dramatically improving client satisfaction.
- How a consistent Capture One + Photoshop workflow protects your style, speeds up delivery, and positions you as a true professional in the commercial space.
- The simple, project-based proposal structure that works across branded hotels, architects, and independent properties — without encouraging price shopping or undercutting your value.
- Why adding drone imagery and video has become a competitive advantage for Bruce — and how diversifying your deliverables can set you apart in a crowded hotel photography market.
- The weather-proof mindset Bruce brings to every assignment — including how he still walks away with hero images when conditions are far from ideal.
- How clear communication, expectation-setting, and a calm workflow turn demanding hotel clients into long-term partners who trust you with their brand identity.
- The long-game strategy behind growing a hotel photography business: refine your portfolio, nurture key relationships, invest in the right gear, and commit to continual improvement.
- Bruce’s biggest success driver: staying curious, experimenting constantly, and evolving with every shoot — because in hotel photography, progress comes from momentum, not perfection.
Anantara Angkor Resort
What’s on Offer for Premium Members
If you’re on the fence about becoming a premium member, join with the $1 trial today and get access to the FULL interviews each week, a fantastic back catalogue of interviews, and have ALL future interviews delivered automatically to your phone or tablet. Plus, special member-only interviews.
When I started shooting hotels, I would go out and do what we call portfolio shoots…to offer to shoot a space at no charge, and let the hotel have the images. And so. there's not too much pressure on you if you do make a mistake, and you can try different techniques, etc, but never on a paid shoot. – Bruce Vincentiis
You'll also receive access to the members-only Secret Facebook Group, where you can connect with other Premium Members and interview guests to help, support and motivate you to take ideas you hear in each episode and put them into action. The group also has FB live video tutorials, role-play, and special live interviews. You will not find more friendly, motivated, caring and sharing photographers online. Seriously, that's not all.
LinkedIn gets me real jobs, it’s far more valuable than Instagram — Bruce Vincentiis
In addition to everything above, you'll get access to instructions on forming or joining a MasterMind Group with other premium members. These groups are super motivating, make you accountable, and help you build friendships with other pro photographers with motives similar to yours—to build a more successful photography business.
AVANI+ Riverside- Seen Bar and Restaurant
What is your big takeaway?
Following this interview, I’d love to know if you're taking anything from what Bruce shared. Is there something you heard that excited or motivated you to the point where you thought, yeah, I'm going to do that! If so, leave your thoughts in the comments below; let me know your takeaways and what you plan to implement in your business based on what you heard in today's episode.
I do a lot of reaching out to clients, to old clients, to networking contacts, to new networking contacts that I keep. I've got to try and reach out to so many people every week, and just keep people top of mind, because it does make the work come through. – Bruce Vincentiis
If you have any questions I missed, a specific question you’d like to ask Bruce, or a way to thank her for coming on the show, feel free to add them in the comments area below.
Fairfield by Marriott Phnom Penh
iTunes Reviews and Shout-outs
I check for any new iTunes or Google reviews each week, and it's always a buzz to receive these… for several reasons. Firstly, it's confirmation that I'm on the right track with the interviews and that they are helping you improve your photography business. That's awesome! Secondly, iTunes and Google are the most significant podcast search engines, and your reviews and ratings help other photographers find PhotoBizX. More listeners mean more interviews and, ultimately, a better show.
The shooting is the shortest part of the job, the longest part is preparing the scene — Bruce Vincentiis
If you have left a review in the past, thank you! If you haven't and you'd like to, head to https://photobizx.com/itunes or https://photobizx.com/google. You can leave some honest feedback and a rating, which will help me and the show. I'll be sure to thank you on the show and add a link to your website or blog if you let me know the URL of your website and your name. Alternatively, if you've left a review for PhotoBizX and are looking for more backlinks to help your SEO, leave a review for the new Photography Xperiment Podcast. Email me your keywords or phrases and where you'd like me to link them.
It's a lot easier to include one price and not to list everything individually, put it together as a project price. – Bruce Vincentiis
Another great way to get a backlink to your site is to send a video testimonial. It doesn't need to be fancy, and your phone will be perfect. Click record and tell me how PhotoBizX has impacted you and your photography business.
This week's shoutout goes to…
★★★★★ This tip made my YEAR!
Via email from San Diego dog photographer Alexis Heisa, in the USA on November 23rd, 2025.
Hi Andrew!
Hope you are doing well! Keep up the great work.
Thanks,
Alexis
Black Friday Sale — ON NOW! Finishes December 2nd.
There's a big sale on everything PhotoBizX this week!
Details here: https://photobizx.com/blackfriday
- Facebook Ads Course — 50% off — $97
- Photography Pricing Masterclass — 50% off — $47
- Online Sales Masterclass — 50% off — $47
- LinkedIn for Photographers Course — 40% off — $117
- Expos for Photography Lead Generation and Bookings — 40% off — $117
- Lead Ads Training for Photographers Course — 40% off — $177
- Profitable Book Projects for Photographers Course — 40% off — $117
- Facebook Competitions for Photographers Course — 40% off — $117
- Qualify Your Leads Like a Pro! — 40% off — $239
- How to Make Bigger and Better Sales — 40% off — $117
- How to Build a High Converting, Beautiful Website FAST — 40% off — $177
- Set up for Success and Profit Fast as a Pet Photographer — 40% off — $117
- The Art Of Selling: Sales Training For Photographers — 40% off — $239
- Community Fundraising Lead Generation For Photographers — 40% off — $239
- AI Marketing for Photographers — 40% off — $239
- The Art Of Selling: Sales Training For Photographers — 40% off — $239
- 40 Over 40 Portrait Campaigns Masterclass — 40% off — $239
- Master Photography Exhibitions to Drive Sales, Bookings, and Build Your Brand — 40% off — $117
- Photography SEO and UX Masterclass — 40% off — $177
- Unlocking Joy & Fun in Your Business — 40% off — $29
- How to Advertise Like a Mofo — 40% off — $117
- How to Sell Like a Mofo — 40% off — $239
- How to Finance Like a Mofo — 40% off — $239
- The Model Framework for Photographers — 40% off — $57
- Beyond SEO: Future-proof your photography website — 40% off — $57
IF YOU ARE ON THE $20 PER MONTH PREMIUM MEMBERSHIP, THE 12-MONTH OPTION IS A NO-BRAINER…
12-Month Premium Membership — 40% off — $120
Sign up for the 12-month option and cancel your $20 payments (or let me know, and I'll cancel for you).
Note: If you paid your monthly membership in November, let me know, and I'll get that refunded for you, too.
Specials are available from now until Tuesday, 2nd December.
Here's the link again: https://photobizx.com/blackfriday
IMPORTANT: No matter what you purchase, if you feel something isn't a good fit, let me know, and I'll happily refund you. Or feel free to ask if you're unsure about something.
More Insights From 600+ Photographer Interviews
Quick side note: if you’re not sick of my voice after this episode, I was recently interviewed by Ina Jalil for The Pet Photographers’ Journal. She wanted to dig into the business patterns I’ve seen after interviewing more than 600 photographers on PhotoBizX — the habits that lead to consistency, the marketing traps that slow people down, and the decisions that actually move a photography business forward.
We talked about what’s working for photographers right now, why experience consistently outperforms perfection, and the simple shifts that help turn interest into real bookings. It’s very much a business-focused chat, and if you want a distilled look at the themes that keep showing up across every successful studio I’ve spoken to, you might enjoy it.
You’ll find the link to that episode here: https://the-pet-photographers-journal.captivate.fm/
Or on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4jTI2ljbV2tPtaVLXTTaq2
Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-pet-photographers-journal/id1821073326?i=1000737146521
Novotel Sihanoukville Holiday Resort
Links to people, places and things mentioned in this episode:
Bruce Vincentiis Hotel Photographer
I don't believe in shooting multiple angles. When you walk into a hotel room, you know by instinct what the best angles are. You just know it, and by experience as well. So for me, it would be a waste of time shooting these additional angles, which are not going to be nice photos. It'd be waste of my time and a waste of the clients time and the client's money to shoot them. – Bruce Vincentiis
Andaz Pattaya Jomtien Beach
Thank you!
Huge thanks to Bruce for being so open and generous in this chat. His story — from teaching himself photography through YouTube videos in Asian internet cafés to becoming a go-to photographer for luxury hotels — is such a powerful reminder of what’s possible when you stay curious and keep moving toward the work you love.
He’s built a thriving business on his own terms by focusing on relationships, consistency, and delivering world-class imagery that truly elevates a hotel’s brand — not hype, shortcuts, or chasing trends.
I’d love to know what stood out for you — what’s one idea or perspective you’ll take into your own photography business after hearing this interview?
I get AI to put together a report for me of the clients website, all their reviews and the history of the hotel. So I get a good report on everything about the hotel, about what's included, what people are saying positively about the hotel, what people are saying negatively about the hotel. So we can also rectify those negative comments or reviews with the photography, or at least address them with the photography. – Bruce Vincentiis
That’s it for me this week; I hope everything is going well for you in life and business!
Thanks for listening—speak soon,
Andrew
The post 644: Bruce Vincentiis – From YouTube Tutorials to a Luxury Hotel Photography Business appeared first on Photography Business Xposed - Photography Podcast - how to build and market your portrait and wedding photography business.