How to Create Stunning Wine Bottle Photos: Step-by-Step Techniques

Lighting is critical when photographing products, perhaps nowhere more evident than working with a wine bottle. It’s about creating a striking rim light, illuminating the label, and managing reflections, and this helpful video tutorial will show you how.

Coming to you from Karl Taylor with Visual Education, this detailed video demonstrates how to photograph wine bottles using accessible techniques and equipment. Taylor begins by discussing his setup, which includes a 100mm lens, softboxes, and a glossy acrylic surface as the base. While Taylor uses high-end Broncolor lights and modifiers, he emphasizes that these techniques are adaptable to any lighting system, including speedlights. His approach focuses on creating a clean, professional look with rim lighting around the bottle, which adds depth and highlights the shape.

One of the standout techniques in the video is the use of a black card cutout to block excess light and define the bottle’s edges. Taylor explains how to adjust the softbox’s distance to control the width of the rim light. Adding diffusion material to soften the light further improves the aesthetic, giving the bottle a polished glow. He also demonstrates the importance of positioning flags to block flare from lights positioned directly behind the bottle.

Taylor moves on to address a common challenge: illuminating the label. Using a Pico light with a focusing attachment, he directs a precise beam onto the label. This ensures the text is readable without overexposing the rest of the image. He also explains how to defocus the light for a softer look, which creates a professional and visually pleasing result.

Another segment covers photographing a wine glass as part of the composition. To avoid interfering with the bottle’s lighting, Taylor shoots the glass separately. By using the same techniques for rim lighting, he ensures the two elements match when composited in post-production. He also provides tips on creating a realistic wine effect in the glass, including using food coloring for the liquid instead of actual wine, which can appear too dark on camera. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Taylor.

If you would like to continue to learn about product photography, check out "The Hero Shot: How To Light And Composite Product Photography With Brian Rodgers Jr.!"