As a food photographer, one of my favorite items to capture are cocktails. Photographing drinks is always a colorful and dynamic experience, and I love experimenting with lighting techniques to make every element—from the shimmering liquid to the vibrant garnishes—come alive.
Recently, I had the pleasure of shooting the new winter cocktail menu at Vinnie’s in South Asheville. The drink lineup was filled with fun pink and amber tones, alongside an array of glassware choices and a variety of garnishes/finishing touches.
In this post, I’ll share some of the creative decision-making steps and techniques I use to help create memorable cocktail photos for clients here in Asheville and beyond.
Cocktail Photography Tips:
Here are a few key techniques I use when photographing cocktails.
Lighting is Everything: The right lighting can transform a good shot into a great one. Backlighting, for example, makes the liquid glow, emphasizing its translucency and color gradients. Side lighting is also another great way to highlight a drink’s color and depth. Meanwhile, top lighting brings attention to the surface of the cocktail, great for capturing garnish details like herbs, citrus wheels, or foam. Here, I used a combination of direct sunlight and diffused light to craft both clean and moody photos. The direct sunlight created striking, deep shadows that added drama and depth, while the diffused sunlight, softened through a thin curtain, provided a gentle, even glow across the full lineup of drinks.Watching for Reflections: Lighting is both one of the most important factors when photographing drinks and also one of the most challenging. Glass and liquid surfaces are highly reflective and can distract from the drink. It’s important to adjust the angle of your light source to minimize hotspots on the glass, and to just generally pay attention to where the reflections are falling. You can also position black or white cards strategically to absorb or redirect reflections.Show the Details: Cocktails are all about the little details—whether it’s the delicate garnish or the bubbles rising in a glass. Close-up shots of these elements help to tell a story and bring the drink to life. They also add variety to the gallery you’ll deliver to the client. Sometimes it’s fun to include shots of the bartenders in action, too. As a food photographer, my goal is to create images that make people want to reach for a drink (or a bite). This latest shoot was an absolute pleasure, and I’m already looking forward to the next lineup of drinks that finds its way in front of my lens.
About the Photographer:
Grace here of GraceD Photography. I specializes in food and beverage photography, with a focus on creating vibrant, compelling images that showcase the story and craft behind every dish and drink. Whether it’s a seasonal cocktail or a beautifully plated entrée, my goal is to bring food to life in a way that makes people want to learn more.
cocktails
south-asheville
cocktail-photography
drink-photography
food-photographer
Asheville-NC
