The verdict in three sentences
For a hospitality interiors studio in Nassau, the decision between a local agency and a remote studio mostly depends on photo logistics: a lodge in Exuma or a restaurant on Harbour Island costs a flight, a night and a photographer's day, whoever builds the site. A remote studio such as Kolonell (Growth at USD 4,900, Premium at USD 8,900) builds the site, writes in native English and delivers in 3 to 4 weeks while you organise shoots with a Bahamian photographer. A Nassau agency is preferable if it runs all visual production in the Out Islands and you want it at every client presentation.
Who does what, phase by phase?
Buyers of a hospitality interiors studio in the Bahamas are boutique hotel owners on Cable Beach, restaurant groups on Bay Street, residential developers on Paradise Island or spa operators in Lyford Cay and Old Fort Bay. The site has to win them over in a few images. Here is the typical split of tasks.
| Phase | Local agency in Nassau | Remote studio | What you need to decide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scoping and workshops | In person, 2 to 3 meetings | Video calls, project manager reachable in your time zone | Number of workshops in the contract |
| Copywriting | Local writer, English | Native English or French copywriting included | Review rounds |
| Photo and video | Often coordinated, sometimes subcontracted | Local photographer hired by you (third-party cost) | Licence and credits |
| Design and development | 6 to 10 weeks | 3 to 4 weeks | Launch date tied to an opening |
| Go-live | Accounts sometimes held by the agency | Domain and hosting in your name | Ownership clause |
| After launch | Monthly retainer is common | 3 months of support included, then on quote | Exit clause and handover of access |
What does a portfolio cost when projects sit on several islands?
Web prices in Nassau are 2026 ballpark figures from typical local agency quotes, not a survey. Travel costs are third-party costs you will pay in any case.
| Item (2026 ballpark) | Local agency | Local freelancer | Kolonell Growth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portfolio website build | USD 8,000 to 22,000 | USD 3,000 to 7,500 | USD 4,900 |
| Photographer day in Nassau (third-party cost) | USD 1,500 to 3,000 | USD 1,500 to 3,000 | USD 1,500 to 3,000 |
| Out Island shoot: flight, night, transport (third-party cost) | USD 600 to 1,200 extra | USD 600 to 1,200 extra | USD 600 to 1,200 extra |
| Maintenance (market assumption) | USD 150 to 350 a month | USD 50 to 125 a month | 3 months included, then on quote |
| 3-year total, site and maintenance only | USD 13,400 to 34,600 | USD 4,800 to 12,000 | USD 4,900 + maintenance on quote |
The line that really matters is the Out Islands one: if half your projects are off New Providence, budget that travel before you even compare web providers.
When is a local agency the better choice?
- It has an in-house photo and video team handling flights, equipment and filming permissions on hotel sites.
- Your clients are hotel groups who want the agency in meetings in Nassau.
- You want a monthly content retainer for Instagram and Pinterest, with filmed site visits.
If you already work with a trusted photographer and your visuals are ready, a remote studio is enough. Tier details are on the international offer.
Which requirements belong in the brief?
- A portfolio by project type (boutique hotel, restaurant, bar, spa), WebP or AVIF images, lazy loading and light project pages for island mobile networks.
- Rights and credits: a written photo licence covering web and social media, with a visible photographer credit.
- Owner consent before anything is published, and the option to anonymise a project ("12-key lodge, Exuma").
- A qualifying form: venue type, number of keys or covers, budget range, opening date. Nothing superfluous.
- A process and fees page in general terms, a press page with real coverage only, links to Instagram, Pinterest or Houzz, and partners and suppliers presented plainly.
In the Bahamas, the Data Protection (Privacy of Personal Information) Act 2003 governs the collection of personal data. In practice: a privacy notice, the purpose of each field, a retention period and an identified host. Aim for WCAG 2.2 AA accessibility. This is not legal advice.
Questions to ask both providers: who is my project manager and at what hours, will the domain be in my name, what weight do you target per project page, who holds the image licence, what do you hand over at the end of the contract?
Need a professional website?
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Mini case study
Illustrative example: Tamika runs a hospitality interiors studio in Nassau. She wants to publish 10 projects, 4 in the Out Islands and 6 on New Providence, all needing photography.
- Photographer: 3 days in Nassau at USD 2,000, plus 4 trips averaging USD 900, each with a shoot day at USD 2,000: 6,000 + 4 × 2,900 = USD 17,600 in third-party costs.
- Site: a local agency quote of USD 15,000 versus Kolonell Growth at USD 4,900, a USD 10,100 difference.
- Decision: she gives the site to the remote studio and reinvests the difference in photography, grouping two islands per trip to save one journey (USD 900).
FAQ
Is Nassau's time zone workable with a remote studio?
Nassau follows US Eastern time (UTC-5 in winter, UTC-4 in summer). Kolonell assigns a project manager reachable in your time zone, with 2 to 3 check-ins a week over 3 to 4 weeks.
Do all projects need photographing before launch?
No. Launch with 6 to 8 well-photographed projects and add the rest as shoots happen: one quality project beats three galleries taken on a phone.
What does Bahamian law expect from my form?
The 2003 Act requires fair and limited collection: 5 to 7 fields are enough, with a clear privacy notice. This is general information only.
Which tier should I pick?
Starter at USD 2,900 for a compact portfolio, Growth at USD 4,900 for a full portfolio by project type with a journal, Premium at USD 8,900 for large catalogues or several languages (the multilingual tier, languages set in the quote).
How do I get started?
Gather your 6 to 8 best projects and your copy, then request a free quote: the 3 to 4 week schedule is set around your shoot dates.
Let's scope your project. Multi-island hospitality portfolio, qualifying form and launch in 3 to 4 weeks, from USD 4,900. See the international offer or request a free quote: detailed reply within 48 hours.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.