The Perfect Pint Condensation Cold Look

How do professional drinks photographers make beer look so good? All is revealed in this step-by-step class.

How do you light, craft and shoot the image? How do you get the condensation droplets right? What tricks can you use to make the liquid glow? Find all the answers other pros won’t share.

As Karl demonstrates how to prepare the product and light the shot, you’ll pick up a variety of tips and techniques to enhance your own bottle and beverage photography. Cheers!

In this class:

  • How to photograph bottles and glasses
  • Creating perfect condensation for bottle photography
  • Lighting setups for reflective items
  • How to control reflections on glass
  • Creating gradient lighting
  • Using colour checker cards to ensure colour accurate images

To learn about the retouching techniques involved in this shot, check out The Perfect Pint: Post-Production.

If you enjoy this class, try Whisky Product Shoot and Whisky Photography.

Questions? Please post them in the comments section below.

© Karl Taylor

Comments

  1. Another great tutorial. If looking to doo the condensation on a can of beer do you need the base layer first? or is that just for glass?

    1. Hi McManne, that would be just for the glass. The can should have enough texture for them to form properly.

  2. Hi Karl,

    Came back to watch this again. If you make the glucose/water mix and put it in a spray bottle, will it spoil, or can you leave it in there and use it over and over again?

    Thanks.

    1. Hi, dulling spray can work but it’s a bit greasy to work with. If it’s flat glass then you can by frosted stick on material from sign service companies. Hair spray might be another option if you’re talking about a round glass or bottle.

  4. Hi, Karl!

    I was wondering if you have any suggestions as to where I might find the gray reflective surface? I’m in the states. Is it perhaps also called PVC?

    Thank you,

    Allison

    1. Hi Alison. Yes that grey one was PVC and most of the others we use are acrylic (called Makralon or Plexiglass in the states). All of them should be available from companies that make signs for buildings or plastic suppliers.

  5. Really fantastic… thank you

  6. Hi Karl, Can you share your photo shoot tutorial,cut apple cider bottle with half cut apple inside
    behind you in this tutorial
    Thanks

    1. Hi Anish, that shoot wasn’t filmed as a tutorial, it was shoot for a client that wasn’t filmed at the time.

  7. Hello Karl, I got the stuff as you recommended, and its really great, the only problem Im getting its that Im getting very tiny “condensation” particles or drops on the bottles or glasses. I haven’t tried another spray bottle for the mix, but is there any Tip for making those bigger?

  8. Hi Karl,
    I really love your tutorials, i have learnt a lot over the past few weeks. One question though, in taking pictures of drinks and wanting to give that droplet feel on the glass, are there any other recommendations aside from Corn Syrup/Liquid glucose? I can’t seem to find those product in my locality. I saw a golden syrup though, not sure if it’ll work but i would like to have any other recommendations you have. Thanks

  9. Hi Karl…really enjoyed this tutorial. I have a couple questions:
    1. You mentioned 2 parts warm water…how many parts the other stuff?
    2. Once you have sprayed the varnish, do you need to wait for it to completely dry before you spray the glucose/water mix?

    Thank you

    1. Hi this is just a rough guide but it I found anywhere from 60% water to 40% water works but it depends on the spray bottle you are using and how good the nozzle is, sometimes they get clogged up which is why I prefer to use warm water. The varnish must be dry and then.

  11. Once the mix has been applied, will it dry hard on the glass?

      1. Thank you Karl!
        I did it and looks very real, a bit messy first time but next time I will know better 🙂

  12. Ha hah ha its as if this is also a cooking tutorial…….. wonderful love your energy Karl.
    I have tried to duplicate the droplets using a Corn Syrup instead of Liquid Glucose, not sure of the difference between the two, but, the droplets are not solidifying like yours, and it has been just under 24 hours. How long did it take your droplets to harden before the bottle could be handled? Thank you for your time Chef
    Cheers
    Gerry

    1. Hi Gerry, corn syrup should be the same. Try reducing the water percentage of your mix and make sure you treat the glass first as described in the video.

  14. Hi Karl
    I’m about to shot a beer bottle.
    I bought Krylon UV Resistant clear acrylic coating (MATT) from the art store.
    I now see that I shouldn’t have bought the UV resistant matt.
    Will there be a difference?
    I have been told not to use fixative on beer bottles.
    Thanks

  15. Some of those Grolsch cans look empty before you poured for the shot. Did you perhaps test the freshness of the beer before filming? Ha! Cheers!

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