Providing photos of Nekoyado is a great help in introducing inns across the country. However, even if the photo was taken by yourself, it does not necessarily mean that you can freely publish it without respecting the rules of the person in the photo or the hotel.
Neko Yado Research is soliciting photographs taken on-site for accommodation articles that use illustrative images. Image quality is not the only requirement for acceptable photos. It is important to confirm who took the photo, when and where it was taken, what it shows, and the permitted scope of use.
- Check the inn’s photography rules first
- You can only provide photos taken by yourself.
- Check the reflection of people and personal information
- Add information that can identify the cat and the accommodation
- Send while preserving the original image quality
- The situation changes even after publication
- Check before sending
- Summary
- Reference materials
Check the inn’s photography rules first
Even if you are allowed to take photos during your stay, it does not necessarily mean that you will be allowed to publish them on websites, SNS, or provide them to third parties. Read inside the inn bulletin boards and information, and if you are unsure, tell the staff that you are thinking of contributing to an inn introduction article.
Avoid entering restricted areas, moving the cat, waking a sleeping cat, and using a camera flash. Please also check Photography Etiquette at Cat Inns first.
You can only provide photos taken by yourself.
As a general rule, send photos that you have taken and that you have the authority to decide to provide. Do not forward photos of your companions or people you find on social media without their permission. There is also a distinction between whether to transfer the copyright or to grant permission for publication.
When submitting your application to Neko Yado Research, please read the terms of use indicated on the application form and check the expected usage such as site articles, lists, SNS announcements, etc. before submitting.
Check the reflection of people and personal information
Enlarge and check the faces, name tags, car license plates, reservation slips, key numbers, and reflections of other guests, staff, and companions in the mirror. If you want to publish a person, the person must understand and consent to the scope of publication.
If consent cannot be confirmed, choose a photo in which the person cannot be identified, or crop it appropriately before providing it. We are especially careful about photos that include children.
Add information that can identify the cat and the accommodation
If you just look at the photo, you might mistake it for another inn or another cat. Please include the following information:
- Inn name and prefecture
- Resident cat’s name (if known)
- Year and month the photo was taken
- Location inside the inn
- Photographer’s name or desired name when posting
- How did you confirm permission to photograph and publish the inn?
- Possibility of cropping and color adjustment
If you don’t know the cat’s name or whether the cats currently live at the inn, please mark it as “unknown” without guessing.
Send while preserving the original image quality
Images and screen shots re-saved from SNS are difficult to use due to compression and rights verification. If possible, send the original image exported from your camera or smartphone, and avoid using excessive filters or adding cats or backgrounds using AI.
If you do not want to leave your location information, please delete it before sending. However, the name of the inn required to confirm the shooting location will be written on the form.
The situation changes even after publication
Resident cat’s presence, name, and scope of disclosure may change. Even if the information is correct at the time of provision, if the inn contacts us to stop posting, we will respond promptly. Providing a photo does not guarantee a cat a permanent “customer service” role.
Check before sending
- A photo taken by yourself
- Does not violate the hotel’s photography and disclosure rules
- Confirmed consent or removal of personal information with person
- Can explain the inn name, shooting period, and shooting location.
- You have checked the terms of use and the name to be credited.
- Do not take photos that endanger the cat’s safety.
Summary
A good photo to provide is one that is cute and also explains the source and permissions. Photos that protect the inn, its cats, and its guests will serve as materials to accurately convey the appeal of the cat inn to readers from afar.
