3 Ways to Photograph Wine Bottles

Because we’ve got a fair number of winery clients on our roster, we shoot a lot of wine bottles. On the surface, it seems like a simple thing–the bottle is small, it doesn’t talk or move and you can put it pretty much where ever you want. While it is straightforward, it’s not simple. The bottle and the label need to express the brand and sell the wine. To do that, we’ve developed three different approaches to wine bottle photography. Here’s a few examples.

Studio shots for knockout/catalog/e-commerce

While this seems like the easiest kind of wine bottle photography, it’s actually the more challenging. Wineries invest a huge amount of money in the design of their labels and the look of their bottles, so this simple shot needs to make the best of both. In additional to flattering the bottle and label, we’re building good-looking highlights and reflections in the glass.

Styled Studio Shots

When wineries want to express a bit more about their brand, they’ll ask for a styled shot. In our studio or on location, we’ll choose surfaces, props and lighting that telegraph aspects about the wine or the brand. A big, dramatic red might call for sexy lighting and and rich surfaces while a crisp white might call for a sunnier approach. A styled bottle shot boils down to a compelling still life about that particular wine.

Location Photography

Bottle shots done on location are a great opportunity to evoke the textures and atmosphere of the tasting room experience. Working with surfaces and props on hand, the primary goal is to make the bottle look great while incorporating some of the environment. That might be a rustic barrel or a shiny tasting surface. Location wine bottle photography is often the most fun and efficient way to create a family of wine bottle images.

If you’re like more information or a quote for wine bottle photography, drop me a line here.