Photography service opens inside area Ritz-Carlton

The days of lugging a standalone camera on a trip are, for the most part, days gone by. Most people use phone cameras, but a certain segment of the population wants something more...professional.

Enter The Photography Concierge.

Mariah Talbot, creative director of The Photography Concierge at The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota, tells Coffee Talk the service has been popular, especially with families, since it opened at the hotel in the fall. “Naturally, when you’re on vacation you don’t want to think about dragging a camera everywhere,” she says. “This way, you can have somebody take the pictures for you, and it becomes a memory you keep for the rest of your life.”

The Photography Concierge primarily caters to hotel guests but also offers photography services for corporate events, weddings and the local community.

A key perk for hotel guests is that the sitting fee is complimentary. In that way, The Photography Concierge is a service for guests — an added amenity of particular appeal to the demographic staying at the hotel. “It’s a luxury service,” Talbot says. “Photography is a luxury service to begin with. For a nice, upscale hotel to be able to provide that for clients is an awesome thing.”

There’s also a convenience factor for guests. No need to find and book another outside photographer. There’s one right there, with a stand in the lobby of the hotel and an office near the ballroom where employees meet with clients to review photographs.

Photo sessions are held on location, which for a lot of families, means going to one of the biggest draws in Sarasota — the beach.

The Photography Concierge owners, Kleber Vera and David Canal, used to work for The Ritz-Carlton, so they have experience in the hospitality business.

The company also operates in other locations, such as The Ritz-Carlton, Orlando; The Ritz-Carlton, Naples; and The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch in Colorado. Right now, the Sarasota location has two photographers, with plans to add more in the future. There are also plans to add more Photography Concierge locations at additional hotels.