Why Beverage Photography Belongs in Your Portfolio (Yes, Even Yours)
Let’s talk about the underdog of the product photography world.
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Beverage Photography
(Note: all images are from former students of my beverage workshops.)
I’m not talking about the lifestyle stuff with smiling hipsters listening to Yacht rock while sipping cold brew on a rooftop.
I’m talking about studio-based, still-life beverage photography—the kind that graces billboards, packaging, and full-page ads. Glossy. Controlled. Intentional.
And wildly overlooked by most emerging photographers.
If you’re serious about building a competitive commercial portfolio that turns heads (and opens wallets), it’s time to pull out the glassware, grab the Granadine, and take beverage photography seriously.
A Niche with Serious Thirst
Beverage photography has quietly carved out its own space in the commercial world.
For years, it was a subset of food photography—a thing we would do on request, but not the main thrust of our portfolios.
Now, it's a full-blown star in its own right.
You’ve seen it: neon cocktails, artfully sweating beer bottles, elegant wine shots with a single, perfect, catchlight on the rim of the glass.
This is strategic. It’s a thing. More than a trend.
Brands pour serious money into beverage visuals. Why? Because a well-shot drink doesn’t just look good—it sells a feeling.
And feelings, in turn, sell product.
(I know, right? Who knew?)
Well-shot beverage photography stops the viewer. It says, "Look closer. You’re going to want this." It makes these products craveable—even when there’s no human hand in the frame.
From Commodity to Art Form
Beverage photography has gone from being a commodity shot to a specialty genre.
Like jewelry, fragrance, or high-end packaging photography, it's a genre that demands intentionality, deliberate attention, and a taste level that must be in evidence. Bad beverage shots are too easy and too plentiful, but the good stuff stands out as clear as a Wyoming sunrise.
(Kinda like a Tequila Sunrise but without the Tequila…)
Clients know this. They demand this.
There’s now a market of brands, big ones and boutiques, who want one thing: images that elevate their product, make shoppers want to take a taste, and create a market that demands more.
That’s everything from gin to green juice to kombucha brewed in someone’s garage.
These clients want advertising-level production—studio-based work with thought behind it. Whether you are shooting in a large commercial studio or in the kitchen after the kids have gone to bed, the production level must be top-of-the-line.
Unfortunately,there aren’t enough photographers doing it well.
And that means there’s room at the table for you.
Grab a seat and get to work.
A Portfolio Power Move
Including beverage work in your portfolio signals a few things that are important to art directors, brand managers, and boutique owners:
That you understand precision.
That you know how to work with materials that require finesse.
That you’re capable of executing complex visual ideas in a controlled environment.
Excellent beverage photography shows discipline. It proves you can shoot glass and liquid, manage reflections, build light, and art direct a scene with minimal elements.
More importantly, it makes your portfolio feel complete.
Like you’ve thought about the range of what product photography really is—and that you can deliver it with discipline and finesse.
Why It’s Hot Right Now
More brands are launching DTC (direct-to-consumer) beverage products than ever.
Just look at your Instagram feed—somebody’s always launching a sparkling adaptogenic mushroom water or a new celebrity tequila line.
Visuals are the lifeblood of these products. They need standout images for ads, social media, and packaging.
And the best part is you don’t need a Manhattan studio to do this work. You need skill, vision, and a few square feet of space to create liquid magic.
(You will also need something to clean up messes, and liquid spills. A good shop-vac is suggested. Just sayin’.)
Why This Matters for You
If you’ve never shot beverages before, here’s your cue.
Start with water, soda, or beer. Light it. Compose it. Refine it. Think in terms of advertising, not just documentation. And shoot enough variations that you can add 2–3 strong pieces to your portfolio.
You don’t need to wait for a client to ask.
In fact, it’s always better if you don’t.
Create the work now so when the inquiry finally lands, you’ve already shown you’re ready, and you have a good working knowledge of the genre.
Last Call
Beverage photography isn’t just a genre. It’s a signal. A statement.
A specialty that shows you’re deliberate, painstakingly detail-oriented, and love the aesthetics of creating something marvelous.
If your portfolio feels like it’s missing something…
It probably is.
Make room for the drinks.
Because someone, somewhere, is launching the next big thing—and they need a photographer who knows how to make it shine.
Set yourself a challenge this week: create two beverage images that could live in a magazine or a national campaign. One should be clean and minimal. The other should feel dramatic. Don't shoot for Instagram. Shoot for the wall of an ad agency. Then put the best in your portfolio and repeat the process.
I do coaching for serious photographers.
When you are ready, here’s how I can help you succeed.
Group Mentorship: a small group of photographers who meet to show images, work on their portfolio, and build their businesses with help from a wonderful group. Lifetime membership for one fee.
One-on-one Mentorship: You and me - working together in an intense 6-month push to get you on the way to over $30K in additional revenue. The work we lay down will help you increase and scale your business for years ahead.
Coming in May, a One-on-One, 6-week plan to get your marketing system in place. You will see results immediately, and by results, I mean assigned work that pays you.
This workshop is designed to introduce you to the magic of beverage photography.
We begin on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. You can find out more about it here.
I have developed 8 briefs to give you assignment level work to get you going.
These are for my Paid Subscribers.
Enjoy
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