The Project:
Beer can product photography for Vietnamese craft lager collaboration
We photographed Lạc Long Lager, a collaborative summer beer from Anh and Chi restaurant and Powell Brewing in Vancouver. The project began as a collaboration with an art director to create refreshing, energetic visuals for the brand's launch. This Vancouver beer product photography captured the lager's Vietnamese heritage and premium positioning through a controlled visual approach that emphasized both cultural storytelling and crisp refreshment.
The brand's design references the Dragon Lord Lạc Long Quân from Vietnamese mythology, with packaging that features green-blue tones and scale-like patterns. Our photography needed to present these details clearly while keeping the focus on the product itself. The images were designed to work as both campaign photography and practical product photos that the brand could use across different channels.
Working from Vancouver, we built the shoot around creating images that felt energetic without losing clarity. The collaboration with the art director helped us establish a visual direction early. We focused on making the can's metallic label readable and vibrant, showing the dragon motif and brand colors accurately. The approach centered on precision rather than effects, letting the product design carry the cultural narrative.
The Execution:
Lighting control for metallic surfaces and cultural authenticity
We used even lighting to eliminate glare on the metallic surfaces while preserving the richness of the green and blue label colors. Beer can product photography presents specific challenges with reflective aluminum and curved surfaces. Small adjustments in light placement make the difference between a label that reads clearly and one that gets lost in highlights. We positioned lights to shape the can's contours without creating hot spots, keeping the dragon graphic and brand name sharp at any reproduction size.
Condensation detail was important for communicating the lager's refreshing quality. We captured real droplets on the can surface, controlling how water beads caught light. This required managing both the can's temperature and the lighting setup to show moisture without making it look heavy or artificial. The condensation reads as cold and clean, reinforcing the summer beer positioning without overwhelming the label graphics.
Composition variations for flexible brand application
We shot the cans in multiple orientations to give the brand flexibility. Centered compositions provided clean product photos for online stores and press use. Diagonal arrangements added energy and movement for campaign images. Each setup used textured green backdrops and color-matched elements that connected to the brand's Vietnamese identity through subtle visual cues rather than literal props. The backgrounds introduced depth while keeping the can isolated and clear.
The green environments referenced the pomelo and jasmine rice ingredients in the lager's recipe without requiring additional styling. Scale-like patterns in some backgrounds echoed the dragon mythology theme. These choices let the photography reinforce the brand story through color and texture rather than objects that could feel forced or clichéd. The cultural connection stays present but not overstated.
The Result:
Campaign ready product photography with consistent color accuracy
We maintained consistent color accuracy across the full collection of images. The metallic label renders with the same blue-green tones in every shot, whether tightly cropped or shown in a wider composition. This consistency matters for brand recognition and gives the team images they can mix and match without worrying about color shifts. The photography provides a unified visual language that works whether they're posting on social media, updating their website, or sending images to media contacts.
The brand purchased the images after seeing the results. The collection gave them product photography that balanced the technical requirements of showing a beer can clearly with the creative goal of expressing their Vietnamese-inspired collaboration. The photos work as both practical e-commerce imagery and campaign visuals that communicate the brand's cultural positioning and premium quality.
The Takeaway:
Precision photography that supports cultural brand narratives
This type of beer can product photography demonstrates how lighting control and color precision create usable images for brands that need both marketing and technical clarity. As a Vancouver product photographer, I've found that supporting cultural storytelling through restrained visual choices enhances rather than competes with the product design. If you're launching a craft beverage collaboration in Vancouver and need photography that presents your product clearly while supporting your brand narrative, let's discuss how we can create images that work across your marketing channels.
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