Mar. 22, 2022

Photo and videography in South of France

of a former 17th-century monastery

Recently, I travelled to southern France for a special assignment. A home with holiday apartments in a former monastery is being offered for sale, and for the sales presentation I created professional photographs, a film, and floor plans. The assignment felt like a true adventure. After some careful planning and organisation, I set off by car for the first 1,200 kilometres.

A brief history: from monastery to home with four holiday apartments, a pool, and a workshop

Construction of this monastery began around 1650. It is located in Labastide-Savès in the south of France. Up until around 1890, various sections were added to the original structure. In the 1980s, a Dutch couple purchased the building along with nearly six hectares of private land. They converted parts of the monastery into their own home and four spacious holiday apartments.

Television inspiration: Ik Vertrek, Gort over de Grens, and Chateau Meiland

Dutch television regularly features programmes about people starting a bed & breakfast or hospitality business abroad. Well-known examples include

//Ik Vertrek//,

//Gort over de Grens//, and

//Chateau Meiland//.

These shows inspire many people in the Netherlands who are considering taking the leap and moving abroad.

In Chateau Meiland, the selling real estate agent

briefly appeared on screen. The owners of this former monastery are now considering selling the property and approached that same agent, René van Nierop of At Home Makelaardij, to explore a collaboration. That connection ultimately led to this assignment for me abroad.

Planning, travel days, and margins

Planning the trip required some organisation. I was leaving my family behind, as well as other clients whom I could only support to a limited extent during my absence. After some coordination, I was able to schedule the journey.

Travel days: by car, plane, or bicycle

Although I often visit nearby appointments by bike, covering approximately 2,400 kilometres that way wasn’t exactly an option. Flying would have been the fastest choice, but not my preferred one for two reasons: limited ticket flexibility and the risk of equipment being lost or damaged. Even though everything is well insured, a tight schedule leaves little room for replacing missing gear. I also value the freedom of leaving when it feels right to me—rather than when an airline decides it’s time.

Planning: from production schedule to efficient on-site work

After a comfortable 1,200-kilometre drive, I was glad I didn’t have to start working immediately. Upon arrival, I was warmly welcomed with an extensive meal, cold drinks, and a well-heated apartment. Over a cup of coffee, we briefly reviewed the plan for the coming days—a plan I had mentally refined throughout the journey.

After a few days, I needed to drive back to the Netherlands with, at the very least: sketches and measurements for a survey report, floor plans, and all photo and video recordings. To keep everything clear and manageable, I divided my production schedule into several sections. This allowed me to work step by step, ticking off completed tasks and keeping track of what still needed attention.

I prefer to begin by sketching, measuring, and annotating all spaces with detailed notes. This part of the sales presentation needs to be as precise as possible and taps into a very different mindset than the creative flow required for photography and filming. Once the measuring was complete, I could fully focus on working with the various cameras.

Allowing margin in the schedule due to weather conditions

A monastery with holiday apartments in southern France naturally brings to mind sunshine. In reality, this period is winter—just like in the Netherlands. That means grey skies and cold temperatures. Not swimming-pool weather, but hopefully dry. With a tight schedule, a bit of luck with the weather always helps.

A lot to see, but selective and critical for interior photography and film

Presentation floor plans provide a detailed overview of the entire property. For the photo presentation and impression film, however, attention span becomes a factor: how long can viewers stay engaged? I would love to show everything, but at a certain point attention fades—and I aim to stay ahead of that moment.

That’s why the photo and film selection shows only part of this remarkable property. There is much more to discover, but those elements are best saved as pleasant surprises during a physical visit or a more in-depth introduction to this unique place.