Canadian photographer Dustin Dolby has published a new video on his YouTube channel Workphlo that shows how to capture a poster-style beer photograph, from beginning to end.
Throughout the 17-minute video, Dolby takes a step-by-step approach to show how each change he makes to the scene has an effect on the image captured. This, in combination with his articulate narration, makes for an easy-to-follow tutorial.
A behind-the-scenes shot showing the setup used to capture the final image.
If you think an expensive setup was required to capture these images, you might be in for a surprise. The lighting gear Dolby used to capture this scene is fairly affordable. Dolby used a collection of $85 Yongnuo speedlights and a $45 Yongnuo trigger shot through Godox strip lights and diffused white nylon. Although he doesn’t specifically mention it in the video, one thing we noticed is that Dolby is using black gloves throughout the process to ensure he doesn’t transfer fingerprints to the glass’ reflective surface.
In addition to explaining the setup and capture process, Dolby also shows the post-production workflow he uses to get from the final capture to the final product shot. Dolby clearly emphasizes beer in this scene, but many of the tips he shares throughout the video would apply to other beverages and liquids shot inside glass containers.
Everything is fine: Like your tips and explanations, but if we talk about the poster, then the shadow image in it seems different. Still, this is a good article: For those people who want to learn and understand photography well.
I used to do product shots like these a few times a year. In these type of shots the client will usually demand that the product looks cold so one has to add lots of droplets and "mist" with a sprayer (usually containing a mixture of glycerin and water) plus some "crushed ice" (ice powder gel) and that makes the retouching part a LOT more difficult but the final image will be much more appealing. All that said this tutorial is a great starting point for someone trying to do these shots at home and on a tight budget.
Beer looks a bit cloudy, but otherwise very good. I doubt if I could do any better.
Workphlo is spelt wrong at the foot of the article. The Workphlo product platforms are a good idea. I use something similar which I made myself. It's useful to have free space around a small subject rather than it being marooned on a massive light table.
From past experience, if you think the logo on a beer glass is something you can just add because you think it might look better ...... prepare to be shot ! Something like branding is decided way further up the tree, and would involve a multidisciplinary team and many, many meetings All that head and no bubbles ? Even the top of the beer is down to the location and target. Chez audiences demand a bigger head both in and out the glass, do that in the UK and though it preserves the freshness of the beer by limiting the air contact, you would be accused of delivering a shot measure ! Looks easy but it is a mine field.
@knappe Have a peek at the commercial shot of the beer and the image linked here https://www.mcclellandbeers.ca/erdinger-weissbier and at the logo on the glass. Note the huge difference between the official glass logo and the one grabbed by the photographer with the speed light boxes ! As you say tradition and official corporate branding are not to be decided by the photographer!
Oh so thats why he comments on using a generic glass and dropping clients logos on ..... this was a pseudo pro statement for the glory of the audience , and for the reasons given inaccurate.
I think it is better but not really way better there is more contrast and I like the condensation, the head is a bit messy. My only issue with Dustins image it lacks a bit of contrast. I would do a bit more processing on Dustins image and add a background I think it would be great.
You could make the bootle and the glass look different from each of these two examples too, but the goal with the video is learning the basic about how to set the lights to photoraph glass with translucent fluid. So for the intended task, Dustins video is great. After making the basic steps you can fine tune everything your way, to match the result to your personal taste, or your customers.
Very interesting tutorial. Well made. I think the result has a better composition than the McClelland version. Also the catchlight in the McClelland version are distracting.
But the lack of droplets and lack of bubbles are drawbacks. The beer does not look cold and fresh, which it should.
And it seems better to use a glass with a real logo.
I remember when I tried my hand at beverage-in-glass photography. Glass is a pain to handle for beginners but once I grasped the correct lighting setup, it becomes hugely satisfying.
Of course, there are fans of condensation and bubbles out there who may expect the classic sweaty product shot. But I think it was one good way of doing it and I liked the no nonsense explanation.
I’ve tasted this beer before, I find Erdinger to be very good. The picture looks good enough to me. The white background is perhaps not the most attractive but it sure is practical when it concerns paper advertisment.
Yeah, I didn't like the pattern of the bubbles, but I expected him to combine bubble patterns from a few shots to make it more lively. This does look rather plastic. There also is some spilled beer under the right edge of the glass that I'd have fixed. Overall, it was still a pretty good overview of how to make a standard white-background commercial shot with partially translucent products....
PS: It might not be OK to have more than one bottle's worth of beer in the glass -- potentially false advertising.
Who are you that you want me to disclose company internals? Do you think a nobody would get a reply from Coca-Cola if you ask them for the ingredients? If you had some brains, you would have checked the »Erdinger Weissbier« website for more information and images.
Not necessarily like urine, (that is how this beer actually look like...) but for a local magazine ad it's not that bad. It will be acceptable. I have seen way worst images from pro studios for national ad campaign.
For all those criticize @derfotograf, calm down. He’s made a good point.
You guys can’t criticize a movie because you can’t act? How about all those movie critics who never won a Oscars and yet they can criticize Al Pacino or De Nero?
I think it looks very real, maybe except the distortion of the glass. Don't forget it's a yeast beer with a lot of sediments. This kind of beer is not as crystal clear as a lager. Or water like as some other beers :)
Zeroone Movie critics might be the wrong comparison. I've seen plenty of movies that were panned by the critics, both proffesional and armchair, that I thouroghly enjoyed and critically aclaimed movies that bored me to tears. As for the beer, Erdinger Wiessbier is a very nice drop, pity import taxes in Indonesia make it so expensive. But if I had my choice I'd go with Paulaner regardless of what the picture looks like.
I agree that adding bubbles would have improved the image. Easily done in post. Or spray on some fake condensation on the glass surface. I don't think the OP is wrong.
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