5 Delicious Drink Photography Tips Guaranteed to Add Some Extra Fizz to Your Photos

Being a food and drink photographer might just be the best job in the world. Whether it’s capturing a refreshing Aperol Spritz on a hot summer evening or the cosy feel of a warm spiced mulled wine in winter – it’s tremendously tasty fun! Drinks photographers are experts in bringing liquids to life. Knowing how to make a tipple transform from a basic looking beverage to a work of art is a lot harder than it seems. From capturing its complex taste to creating delicious looking imagery, great drink photography should captivate your consumers taste buds at first glance by telling their story in one great shot. 

Whether you’re a well-loved tipple or new beer on the block, if you’re trying to cut through the clink of glasses, then getting damn good drink photography matters. If you want to raise your drinks game with some jaw-dropping images, then check out my top 5 drink photography tips guaranteed to add some extra fizz to your photos! 

1. Let it be Playful! 

Play around with your photography. There’s a drink to match every type of occasion, from intimate gatherings to bigger celebrations. Whether your drink is different or quirky, comforting or nostalgic, deep dive into what makes it original and let the consumer in on its secret. 

Playful drinks photography allows you to convey your chosen vibe in one shot. Try using splashes, pours or swirls to add a fabulous playful energy to your imagery which can be captured using fast shutter speeds and a high ISO to keep everything nicely in focus. Experiment with shooting at different angles as it forces you to think differently about your composition. Play with different lighting techniques for different effects and see how it changes the look and style of your drink. Don’t be afraid to switch things up a bit!

2. Be Ready for Spontaneity 

Drinks photography is a great time to be fluid (no pun intended!). Every good photographer will always be armed with a comprehensive shot list to help the day run smoothly but don’t rule out a bit of spontaneity! After all, with daring flavours and eye-catching colours adding a splash of serendipity into the mix is never a bad thing. 

My top tip is don’t be afraid of a new technique or trying to capture something you’ve never shot before. Sometimes your best work can come from unexpected places. Drinks photography naturally lends itself to spontaneous shooting – especially action shots of splashes or pours. No matter how well thought through your plan is, there’s always an element of the unknown. 

3. Use Seasonality 

Some drinks can be enjoyed all year round, but some are naturally intertwined with the seasons. Flexing flavours and in-season ingredients is a wonderful way to naturally tap into your consumers mood and mindset. From Christmassy cinnamon and nutmeg to refreshing summer flavours like watermelon or strawberry, awesome drinks photography cleverly uses ingredients as a tool to evoke some serious seasonal vibes. 

Seasonality isn’t just about flavour though. Utilising colours is another simple yet effective way to add extra oomph to your imagery and convey a season’s style. Colour theory can help your photos pop - think rich and inviting colours of autumn and winter or the bright brilliant hues of summer. 

With every season also comes a change in light - so use it to your advantage. Crisp clear light for sweltering summery vibes to dark moodier light for those wintery shots. Artificial light is always your friend to recreate any seasonal look. Strong lighting helps to make your colours pop and capture little details like condensation on the glass but other techniques like backlighting can give sheen, texture and dimension to drinks looking to convey a moodier more sophisticated vibe. 

4. Think About Props 

Capturing the story behind a beverage, conveying the complexity of its taste, AND creating delicious looking imagery comes from mastering all the little details! Glasses might be my obsession. From interesting vintage pieces to sleek modern styles, the size and shape of your glass can easily become shorthand for the enjoyment of the drink. Iconic martini glasses, with their long stems and throw back to the art deco era or lowball glass with its short squat style for strong bold fiery flavours can easily help convey your drinks personality with a glance. 

Including ingredients in the shot helps create a mouth-watering image! Not only does it help convey to consumers what they should be tasting when they see the image, but it adds interest and creates depth to the dimensions of your photo. It’s worth remembering though that not all props are equal. If you’re keen to include ice in your drink photography, my top tip is to use good quality fake ice. Real ice picks up light beautifully, but you’ll get better reflections and have more time (before it melts) if you use the fake stuff. Getting a good stylist on set can step-up your prop game, especially if you’re new to the drink photography scene. They’ve loads of little tips and tricks up their sleeves guaranteed to help you achieve all your drink photography dreams! 

5. Don’t be afraid of the Splash or Pour! 

If you really want to pack a punch, then including dynamic movement in your photos is one way to make a splash (literally). Adding kinetic energy to a photo certainly adds extra attention plus is totally on trend! To get the fantastic effect, using a tripod, capture the action by using a high continuous shoot mode. Take it up a notch by creating a stunning Stop-Motion of your splash or pour to create an engaging Reel on socials! 

Carefully plan your composition and opt for a plain uncluttered background so it isn’t distracting and keeps the focus on the areas of movement. Aim your camera focus where you want to showcase the splash and make sure you’re at a decent distance away not to get any gear wet!! Yes, there’s going to be mess but it’s all part of the fun! 

From froth topped pints to steaming cups of coffee, dynamic, delicious drinks photography should always be on the menu! Why not check out my portfolio for more examples or if you’re looking to add some fizz to your photography then why not drop me a line? No Dutch courage required!