Environmental Beer Portrait

[JonA_CT]

I’ve been toiling away with a couple buddies to get a nanobrewery open, and we’re almost there. One of my tasks has been to take some beer product shots in our taproom, getting some of the aesthetics of the room involved and also lighting the beer. I have pretty minimal gear, and I’d love any feedback or ideas for lighting. The processing is pushed (and won't be to everyone's taste) because Instagram/Facebook is pretty much the target for these.

All of them are taken with a Fuji X-T2, 18-55mm, and one speed light with a flash bender (plus ambient light).

1. Cider Cans (maybe a little more DOF necessary, but I don't mind them being a little blurry)

2. Gift -- Vienna Lager (this one also has a mini flash light 45* from the back left corner)

3. Mantis -- Table Beer

4. Nightshade -- Coffee Milk Stout -- the reflections are from the spider light fixtures in the room. My partners like that it reflects the ambiance, but the opaqueness of some of the beers introduces some challenges with managing reflections from the flash too.

 

[Soocom1]

Im sorry. I may need some samples (perhaps a case of stout) in order to comment....







Seriously though I did notice some beer splashes on the bottom can.
If that is the intent of the photo.. great.

The shots look good aesthetically, and it would be cool as all getup if you have a menue or some other prop, to put in some food or such. Just not too busy.


The look of the table with the wood splits reflecting back is really nice, but I would think about the windows reflecting int he background.
Keep the table, but I personally would hide the window reflections, unless you have a sign for the pub in it.


But thats just me.

Otherwise..
LLLOOKKKINNGGGG Gooooood!

 

[SquarePeg]

Great work on these. The 2nd is my favorite. Not sure if it's the lighter shadow or where the logo falls in the frame but that one has the most brand impact for me. The first photo - can't figure out what is slightly tilted? Is the table/bar slanted slightly left to right or is it something in the background that is throwing it off or is the whole photo slightly crooked? Or is it me after a long week, unable to hold my head up straight!

 

[JonA_CT]

Great work on these. The 2nd is my favorite. Not sure if it's the lighter shadow or where the logo falls in the frame but that one has the most brand impact for me. The first photo - can't figure out what is slightly tilted? Is the table/bar slanted slightly left to right or is it something in the background that is throwing it off or is the whole photo slightly crooked? Or is it me after a long week, unable to hold my head up straight!

It’s possible there’s some tilt. There’s some perspective distortion too because I’m shooting at 18mm, and we built the bars and the taps ourselves so nothing is level, haha.

 

[Fujidave]

I`m not an expert at this but, I think No2 is the best of the lot as you have good lighting on it plus I like the light coming off the right hand side of the glass and the reflection too followed by the last image.

 

[tirediron]

That stout looks deeeeeeeeeeeeeee-lish! E-mail me a couple of pints, would you? Overall, not bad, BUT... (and especially for social media use), they're (IMO) vanilla. Product, centered, evenly lit... One like this would be okay, but honestly, I would really try and re-do this; not from a technical perspective, but rather from an advertising one. There's just nothing here that 'grabs' me.

 

[Amocholes]

Nice!

I spent a year at the Groton Sub Base (many years ago!)

 

[smoke665]

Guess it depends on how you use these going forward, if they work for you then great. I have to agree with Tirediron though they aren't something that really sells the beer. One thing in particular is the lighting. I think all of the glasses could benefit from better lighting, especially back lighting. As shot the beer in glasses has no life to it. You might be able to get by with 3 speed lights and reflectors, but it would be tough with one. Here's a link specifically on beer you might find interesting. https://www.picturecorrect.com/tips/how-to-photograph-a-bottle-of-beer/

Another thing to try if you do it again, is to mix some glycerin with water in a spray bottle, it will be more inclined to stay on the glass as beads, then run down the side.

 

[vintagesnaps]

Mmm... coffee milk stout, does that look good! Now what was the question??

I think if there are reflections of windows etc. it's a matter of figuring out how to use them/where to put them, or maybe it would be better to close the blinds to take the photos. I doubt on social media anyone would notice because peeps seem to like everything as it flits by, and FB butchers pictures anyway.

I agree, #2 is nicely done. With the first one I thought it looked straight eyeballing it but got out my handy dandy quilt ruler; each side of the bar is the same distance from the bottom of the frame. (SharonCat I think you're ready to be done with work for the weekend!) I'm kidding, I think it might be the depth of field that seems to be throwing things off (and maybe affects perception??).

I think it would work better to have all three in focus (related to depth of field, not focusing the camera) so viewers can read the lettering clearly. I guess I learned that doing sports with player names and signage etc., to make sure it's all readable.

I don't like the example on Picture Correct. To me it looks phony and not real because the inside of the bottle looks almost milky, like who put cream in a dark beer bottle?? Unless it's that type drink then it might work. That background edited in is a mess, it just isn't right. If a beer was sitting on a bar/table with city lights outside a window behind it, it would look different; in that example the perspective and distance are off.

You have a nice looking background there in your bar, and I'd want the photos to represent the ambiance inside. And I still want that coffee beer...

 

[The_Traveler]

Quite lovely.

You might consider fixing the perspective distortion of the first image and giving them a big of local contrast enhancement to make the text pop and the colors a bit more clear, particularly #2

 

[snowbear]

Nice job.
Since they are stationary, you might be able to get away with a couple of clamp-on type shop lights off to the sides.

 

[JonA_CT]

Thanks for all the feedback!

I hope to have time to reply fully tonight. We’ve had a crazy opening weekend so far. We sent about 1200 pints worth of beer (or over 5 barrels) over our bar in 8 hours yesterday.

 

[The_Traveler]

Congratulations.

 

[Soocom1]

Thanks for all the feedback!

I hope to have time to reply fully tonight. We’ve had a crazy opening weekend so far. We sent about 1200 pints worth of beer (or over 5 barrels) over our bar in 8 hours yesterday.

GREAT start!!!

It'll be good to see another small business succeed!

God Bless your work!

 

[Derrel]

Good to read about the 1200-pint day!
Awesome!