The Project:
Holiday beverage photography for Swan Dive sparkling hard tea
I photographed Swan Dive's Hibiscus Rose Rooibos sparkling hard tea for their holiday campaign. The brand approached me to create two images for their website and publications to advertise the drink during Christmas. They also needed photos to support a cocktail recipe they were publishing. The sparkling hard tea combines hibiscus, rose, and rooibos in an alcoholic format. Working from Vancouver, I focused on creating beverage product photography that showed both the can and the serve moment in a seasonal context.
The Strategy:
Subtle seasonal cues without overwhelming craft positioning
The brief called for restraint. Swan Dive needed holiday imagery without overwhelming their craft positioning. I built the shoot around subtle seasonal cues: a red curtain backdrop, a small wrapped gift, and minimal ornaments. The drink remained the focus. The floral ingredients in the tea meant the pink-rose palette could feel genuine rather than forced. I kept props minimal to avoid cliché and maintained a sophisticated tone that matched the brand's premium craft positioning.
The Execution:
Precision lighting on metallic packaging and controlled glassware
I photographed the can with precision lighting to keep the label readable and true to color. Metallic surfaces require controlled gradients to avoid distracting reflections. The label needed to look straight and crisp for publication use. I lit the aluminum to show texture and premium production quality without muddying the Swan Dive branding. Each frame maintained condensation cues that signal cold refreshment. The effervescence needed to read clearly in the glass pour while keeping the liquid looking clean and appealing.
Compositional flow linking can to cocktail serve
The composition linked can to cocktail through a pour sequence. I used directional framing with a hand guiding the eye from can to glass. The cinnamon stick reinforced the recipe angle without cluttering the scene. I managed specular highlights on the glassware to preserve sparkle and show the drink's clarity. The curtain provided rich texture in the background while keeping the product in sharp focus. Tight prop discipline meant each element earned its place in the frame.
The Outcome:
Multi-use images balancing festive context with craft credibility
I delivered the two images designed for multiple uses. The brand needed photos that worked for web banners, social posts, and print publications. I composed with negative space to accommodate headlines and calls to action. The holiday drink photography balanced festive context with the product's craft credibility. The pink-rose tones from the hibiscus came through naturally, connecting the visual to the flavor profile. Each image communicated the sparkling hard tea format and the cocktail versatility the brand wanted to emphasize.
The photos showed Swan Dive's Hibiscus Rose Rooibos as a premium seasonal option that works beyond the can. Lighting choices kept the metallic packaging looking refined. The pour linked product to usage in a way that felt celebratory without losing the craft beverage positioning. Seasonal cues integrated subtly enough to support holiday marketing while keeping the drink as the primary focus. As a Vancouver product photographer, I found the images balanced editorial restraint with clear product communication.
Photographing seasonal craft beverages requires showing the product clearly while building context that supports the marketing moment. If you need beverage product photography in Vancouver that balances brand positioning with seasonal campaigns, reach out to discuss your next project.
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