Luxury Resort Photography in Mexico | Excellence Coral Playa Mujeres
For our 15th wedding anniversary, my wife and I spent a week in Playa Mujeres, Mexico, staying at Excellence Coral Playa Mujeres. The goal was simple: slow down, be together, and rest.
That said, I’m a photographer and filmmaker. I don’t really know how to not notice light, design, and atmosphere. So while this trip was personal, I naturally experienced the resort through the same lens I bring to my professional work.
What stood out wasn’t flash or excess. It was restraint. And that’s usually where good design lives.
The Way the Resort Is Designed to Feel
From the moment we arrived, the property felt calm. Not “trying to impress” calm—just confident.
The buildings sit low and wide. The walkways curve. Nothing feels rushed. Water is everywhere, but it never overwhelms the space. Instead, it slows you down. You move through the resort at a different pace almost without realizing it.
The color palette stays neutral. The materials feel warm. The architecture doesn’t fight the environment—it works with it. Because of that, the light does most of the work.
Morning light is soft and directional. Evenings don’t explode with color, but they settle into something quieter and more atmospheric. As someone who pays attention to how spaces photograph, that subtlety mattered.
Water, Space, and Flow
One thing I kept noticing was how intentionally water is used.
Pools aren’t just amenities here. They create separation. They guide movement. They reflect the buildings back into the space in a way that softens everything.
Public areas transition naturally into more private ones. Nothing feels chopped up or boxed in. From a visual storytelling perspective, that kind of flow makes a huge difference. Lines lead your eye where it wants to go. Compositions feel balanced without effort.
That’s usually a sign the design is doing its job.
The Details That Actually Last
The moments that stuck with me weren’t staged or dramatic.
Palm shadows sliding across white walls. Woven textures catching side light. Warm interior lighting against the cooler tones of the evening outside. These were quiet moments, but they carried the most weight.
When I’m creating hospitality photography or video—whether commissioned or not—I’m always paying attention to those details. Over-styled imagery feels fake fast. Honest light and real atmosphere build trust.
That mindset doesn’t change just because I’m on vacation.
A Few Honest Notes (Because No Place Is Perfect)
A couple things worth knowing if you’re considering this resort.
First, you don’t really get classic ocean sunsets in Cancun. The coastline faces east, so the mornings are beautiful, but the sun doesn’t drop straight into the water at night. Evenings still look great—just softer and more indirect.
Second, some of the restaurants do have dress codes in the evenings. I understand why, and it fits the tone of the resort. Still, there were nights when we wanted to stay lazy and casual. Packing a few nicer options solves it, but it’s something to plan for.
None of this took away from the experience. But honesty matters, especially when talking about hospitality.
Why This Matters for Resorts and Travel Brands
Most people don’t choose resorts based on amenities alone. They choose based on how a place feels.
Good photography and video help communicate that feeling before someone ever books. Not through hype—but through clarity. Through atmosphere. Through restraint.
This trip reinforced how important that approach is. The best hospitality content doesn’t try to sell everything. It invites people in and lets them imagine themselves there.
That’s how I approach this work—whether it’s a personal trip or a commissioned project.
Personal Trip. Same Professional Eye.
This wasn’t a brand shoot. It was a vacation.
Still, the way I observed, composed, and captured the space didn’t change. I paid attention to light. I respected the architecture. I let moments unfold instead of forcing them.
For resorts, boutique hotels, and travel brands looking for content that feels real—not manufactured—that’s exactly how I work.
Creating Hospitality Content That Feels Human
If you’re a resort, hotel group, or travel brand looking for photography and video that reflects real experience and thoughtful design, I’d love to collaborate.
Whether through commissioned work or a hosted stay, the goal stays the same: create visuals that help people feel something—and imagine themselves there.
Connect with Jared Mark Fincher
Dude these are absolutely incredible way to crush it man! Love the insight.