Shoot Like a Pro: Mastering Cocktail Photography for Social Media

You’ve mixed the perfect drink. The dilution is spot on, the garnish is pristine, the chill is just right. It looks incredible… in person. But capturing that magic for your Instagram feed, blog, or just to show off to friends? That’s a different challenge altogether. We’ve all been there: snapping a quick pic only to find the photo looks flat, dark, or just plain unappetizing.

Making cocktails that look as good as they taste online is a skill, blending a bit of art with some practical know-how. It’s about understanding light, knowing how to arrange your scene, and using the tools you have, often just your phone, effectively. Whether you’re a home bartender documenting your creations or a seasoned pro looking to elevate your social media game, getting the photography right makes a huge difference. Let’s walk through how to take cocktail photos that truly capture the spirit of the drink.

Key Takeaways

• Light is Paramount: Prioritize soft, indirect natural light near a window. If using artificial light, opt for continuous LEDs with diffusion (like softboxes) to mimic natural light. Side lighting often works best.

• Style Intentionally: Choose surfaces, glassware, and props that complement the drink and tell a story. Keep it clean and avoid clutter; the cocktail is the star. Ensure glassware is spotless and garnishes are fresh.

• Composition Matters: Experiment with angles like overhead, 45-degree, and straight-on. Use composition guides like the Rule of Thirds and leading lines to create balance and draw the viewer’s eye.

• Control Reflections: Manage reflections on glassware by adjusting light position, using diffusion, and employing black cards (negative fill) to block unwanted light. Aim for controlled highlights, not total elimination.

• Edit Thoughtfully: Use mobile apps like Snapseed or Lightroom Mobile to make basic adjustments (brightness, contrast, color balance, sharpness). Enhance the photo to match your vision, don’t drastically alter it. Presets can be starting points, but learn manual controls.

• Contextual Details: Including relevant elements like the primary spirit bottle (perhaps a distinctive Maker’s Mark bourbon, a classic Jim Beam Black, elegant Hibiki whisky, clean Haku vodka, botanical Roku gin, or versatile Hornitos Plata tequila) can add authenticity, but ensure it doesn’t overpower the cocktail.

Why Bother with Great Cocktail Photos?

In a world saturated with images, a good photo cuts through the noise. For cocktails, it’s about more than just aesthetics; it’s about conveying flavor, temperature, texture, and mood. A well-lit shot of a Negroni can almost make you taste the Campari bitterness; a frosty picture of a Daiquiri evokes refreshment.

On social media platforms like Instagram, visuals are paramount. A stunning photo stops the scroll, draws people in, and encourages engagement. It makes someone think, “I want to make that” or “I want to order that.” For home bartenders, it’s a way to document your journey, share your passion, and connect with a like-minded community. If you’re building a personal brand or even just a detailed record of your mixology experiments, quality photos add immense value. It shows care, attention to detail, and respect for the craft. Let’s face it, that blurry, poorly lit photo doesn’t do justice to the effort you put into balancing your Sazerac.

The Foundation: Light is Everything

If there’s one element that separates mediocre photos from great ones, it’s light. Understanding how to find, shape, and manipulate light is the cornerstone of good photography, especially with reflective, translucent subjects like cocktails.

Natural Light: The Gold Standard

Ask most food and drink photographers, and they’ll tell you natural light is their preferred source. Why? It’s generally soft, full-spectrum, and renders colors beautifully and accurately. Plus, it’s free!

• Finding the Sweet Spot: The best natural light is usually indirect. Think near a window, but not in direct, harsh sunlight unless you’re going for a very specific, high-contrast look. North-facing windows often provide soft, consistent light throughout the day. East-facing windows are great in the afternoon, and west-facing windows work well in the morning.

• Time of Day Matters: “Golden hour,” the hour after sunrise and before sunset, casts a warm, magical glow but can be fleeting and change rapidly. Overcast days are actually fantastic for cocktail photography because the clouds act as a giant natural diffuser, scattering the light evenly and reducing harsh shadows and reflections. Bright, midday sun can be challenging, creating strong highlights and deep shadows.

• Controlling Natural Light: Even soft window light can sometimes be too strong or directional.

  • Diffusion: Hang a thin white sheet or sheer curtain over the window to soften the light further. You can also buy inexpensive collapsible diffusers online.

  • Blocking/Flagging: Use black foam core or cardboard (a “flag”) to block light from certain areas, increasing contrast or controlling reflections.

  • Bouncing: Use white foam core or even a piece of white paper (a “bounce card”) opposite your light source to fill in shadows and brighten the darker side of your cocktail.

The main downside of natural light? It’s inconsistent. It changes with the time of day, weather, and season, and you can’t exactly shoot beautiful window-lit cocktails at 10 PM.

Artificial Light: When Nature Doesn’t Cooperate

Sometimes, natural light just isn’t an option. Maybe you mix drinks in the evening, your apartment lacks good windows, or you need absolute consistency for a series of shots. This is where artificial light comes in. Forget your camera’s built-in flash; it’s harsh and unflattering. We’re talking about continuous light sources, specifically LEDs.

• Continuous LEDs: These lights stay on, allowing you to see exactly how the light is falling on your subject in real-time. This is much easier for beginners than using strobes (flashes). LED panels have become affordable, versatile, and energy-efficient.

  • Pros: Consistent, controllable intensity and sometimes color temperature, usable any time of day.

  • Cons: Can be harsher than natural light if not modified, requires power, initial cost. Cheaper LEDs might have poor color rendering (look for a high CRI, Color Rendering Index, ideally 95+).

• Types of LEDs: You can find small, portable LED panels, larger studio panels, and even LED ring lights, although ring lights can create distinct circular reflections in glassware.

• Modifiers are Key: Just like with natural light, controlling artificial light is crucial.

  • Softboxes: These attach to the front of your light, diffusing and softening the output, mimicking the effect of window light. They are essential for most cocktail photography.

  • Umbrellas: Another diffusion option, though they can spill light more broadly than softboxes.

  • Grids: Attach to softboxes or reflectors to narrow the beam of light for more dramatic, focused lighting.

• Placement: Start with one light source and experiment. Try placing it to the side or slightly behind your cocktail, similar to how you’d use window light. Use bounce cards to fill shadows.

Light Direction: Shaping Your Shot

Where the light comes from dramatically impacts the look and feel of your photo.

• Side Lighting: Light coming from the left or right of your subject. This is often the most flattering for cocktails. It creates dimension, highlights texture on the glass and garnishes, and makes the liquid glow.

• Backlighting: Light coming from behind the subject (relative to the camera). This can make the drink itself luminous and emphasize the silhouette of the glass. Be careful, though, as it can also create unwanted flare or leave the front of the drink too dark without fill light (using a bounce card in front).

• Front Lighting: Light coming from near the camera position. Generally avoid this for drinks. It flattens the subject, minimizes texture, and often creates distracting reflections on the front of the glass.

Experiment! Move your drink, move your light (or yourself relative to the window). See how the highlights and shadows change. Often, a combination of side and slightly back light, sometimes called “side-back” or “three-quarter back” lighting, offers a beautiful balance. This illuminates the liquid while still defining the shape and texture of the glass.

Setting the Scene: Props & Styling

Your cocktail is the star, but the supporting cast (the surface, glassware, garnishes, and background elements) sets the stage and tells the story.

Choosing Your Surface

The surface your drink sits on is a major part of the image. Consider texture and color:

• Wood: Warm, rustic, classic. Dark wood can feel moody, while light wood feels bright and airy. Watch out for overly busy wood grains that might distract.

• Marble/Stone: Elegant, cool, clean. White marble is popular for its bright, neutral look. Slate or darker stone offers sophisticated contrast.

• Fabric: Linens or textured fabrics can add softness and color. Be mindful of wrinkles!

• Metal: Can look industrial or sleek, but prone to reflections.

• Solid Colors: Simple painted boards or even large sheets of art paper offer maximum control over color.

Choose a surface that complements the drink and the mood you want to create. A smoky Scotch cocktail might look great on dark wood, while a vibrant tequila drink could pop against a bright, textured surface.

The Supporting Cast: Garnishes & Glassware

These aren’t just afterthoughts; they’re integral to the drink’s presentation.

• Garnishes: Always use fresh, vibrant garnishes. A tired-looking lime wheel or wilted mint sprig can ruin an otherwise great photo. Choose garnishes appropriate for the drink. Think about color and shape: a bright red cherry in a Manhattan, a green olive in a Martini, a complex citrus twist for an Old Fashioned. Get close-ups sometimes to highlight that perfect peel or plump berry.

• Glassware: Use the right glass for the cocktail! This shows you know your stuff. A classic Old Fashioned, perhaps featuring a robust bourbon like Maker’s Mark or even a reliable choice like Jim Beam Black, belongs in a sturdy rocks glass. A Japanese Highball, crisp and potentially made with Hibiki Harmony or a clean vodka like Haku, looks best in a tall, slender highball glass. A delicate coupe suits classic sours or Champagne cocktails. Ensure the glass is impeccably clean and free of smudges or water spots.

Beyond the Glass: Background Elements

Subtly adding other elements can enhance the scene, but be careful not to overcrowd.

• Bar Tools: A vintage jigger, elegant bar spoon, or stylish shaker can add context. Use them sparingly because one or two well-placed tools are often enough.

• Ingredient Bottles: Including the bottle of the main spirit can add authenticity and visual interest, especially if it’s aesthetically pleasing. A glimpse of a distinctive bottle, like Japanese whisky Hibiki or perhaps the clean lines of Roku Gin, can provide context. Just ensure the label is facing appropriately and doesn’t dominate the shot. You might show a secondary ingredient too, like a bottle of bitters or a bowl of fresh citrus. For something like a Margarita or Paloma, having the Hornitos Plata bottle nearby makes sense.

• Raw Ingredients: A few coffee beans scattered near an Espresso Martini, some fresh berries beside a Bramble, or a halved lime next to a Gimlet can reinforce the flavors.

Storytelling Through Props

Think about the vibe of the drink. Is it a summery spritz? Maybe add a striped napkin or a pair of sunglasses slightly out of focus in the background. A cozy winter warmer? Perhaps a textured coaster, a cinnamon stick, or a hint of a knitted throw. Props should feel intentional and connected to the cocktail’s identity or the season.

Less is More: Avoiding Clutter

The biggest mistake in styling is often doing too much. Every item in the frame should serve a purpose. If it distracts from the cocktail, remove it. Leave some “negative space” (empty areas) around your subject to let it breathe. A clean, focused composition is usually more impactful than a busy, cluttered one. Start simple with just the drink on a nice surface. Then, add elements one by one, evaluating their contribution.

Finding Your Angle: Composition Techniques

How you frame your shot (what you include, what you exclude, and how elements are arranged) is composition. Good composition guides the viewer’s eye and creates a more pleasing, impactful image.

Rule of Thirds

Imagine dividing your frame into nine equal segments with two horizontal and two vertical lines. The Rule of Thirds suggests placing key elements, like the cocktail itself, the rim of the glass, or a prominent garnish, along these lines or at their intersections. This often creates a more dynamic and balanced image than simply centering the subject. Most phone cameras and DSLRs have an option to display a grid overlay to help with this.

Leading Lines

Use lines within the scene, such as the edge of a bar top, the line of a napkin, or a bar spoon handle, to draw the viewer’s eye towards the main subject, the cocktail. These lines create a sense of depth and direction.

Negative Space

Don’t feel the need to fill the entire frame. Negative space is the empty area around your subject. Using it effectively helps the cocktail stand out and gives the image a sense of calm or focus. It prevents the photo from feeling cramped.

Common Angles: Overhead, 45-Degree, Straight On

• Overhead (Flat Lay): Shooting directly down onto the scene. This is popular for showcasing intricate garnishes, the surface texture, and multiple elements arranged artfully (like the drink plus some ingredients or tools). It eliminates most glassware reflection issues but can flatten the drink itself, losing the sense of its height and shape. This angle is best for drinks with interesting top views, like those with foam or elaborate garnishes.

• 45-Degree Angle: A versatile and common angle, shooting slightly down towards the drink. It shows both the top/garnish and the side profile of the glass and liquid, offering a good sense of depth and shape. This is often a great starting point.

• Straight On (Eye Level): Shooting parallel to the surface the drink is on. This angle emphasizes the height and silhouette of the glassware and can feel quite dramatic or intimate. It works well for tall drinks or when you want to focus on the layers within a cocktail or the texture of the glass itself. Be extra mindful of reflections with this angle.

Try different angles for the same drink setup. You might be surprised how changing your perspective transforms the photo.

Color Theory: Making Your Palette Pop

Color plays a huge role in the mood and visual appeal of your photograph. Understanding basic color relationships can help you choose backgrounds, surfaces, and props that make your cocktail shine.

Understanding the Color Wheel

You don’t need an art degree, but knowing the basics helps:

• Complementary Colors: Colors opposite each other on the wheel (e.g., red and green, blue and orange, yellow and purple). Placing these next to each other creates high contrast and makes elements stand out. Think of a green lime wheel against a reddish-brown spirit or a bright orange Aperol Spritz against a blue background.

• Analogous Colors: Colors next to each other on the wheel (e.g., blue, blue-green, green). Using these together creates a harmonious, cohesive feel. Think of a yellow cocktail with orange and yellow garnishes on a warm wooden surface.

• Monochromatic: Using different shades and tints of the same color. This approach can be very sophisticated and moody.

Choosing Backdrops and Props

Use color theory intentionally. If your drink is vibrantly colored (like a bright pink Cosmopolitan), a neutral background (grey, white, wood) might let it be the star. Alternatively, a complementary color backdrop (like a soft green) could make it pop even more. If the drink itself is fairly neutral (like a clear Martini or a brown Old Fashioned), you can introduce color through the background, surface, or props.

Matching Colors to Mood

Colors evoke emotions. Warm colors (reds, oranges, yellows) often feel energetic, cozy, or passionate. Cool colors (blues, greens, purples) tend to feel calm, refreshing, or sophisticated. Think about the feeling of the cocktail. Is it a warming winter drink? Maybe lean into warm tones or deep blues. Is it a zesty summer cooler? Bright, cool, or citrusy colors might work well.

Tackling Reflections: The Glassware Challenge

Glass is inherently reflective, which is beautiful but can be a nightmare for photographers. Unwanted reflections, like your own face, your camera, or harsh light spots, can distract from the cocktail.

Understanding Reflections

Light bounces off curved surfaces predictably. Think about where your light source is relative to the glass and your camera lens. The angle of incidence equals the angle of reflection.

Positioning Your Light

Often, moving your light source slightly higher, lower, or more to the side/back can shift distracting reflections out of the camera’s view. Side and backlighting tend to cause fewer direct reflections on the front surface of the glass compared to front lighting.

Diffusers and Bounce Cards

• Diffusion: Softening your light source (as discussed earlier) is crucial. A large, soft light source creates gentler, less defined reflections that are easier to manage.

• Bounce Cards: White cards placed strategically can fill in shadows, but they can also create bright white reflections if not positioned carefully.

• Black Cards (Flags): Sometimes, the reflection isn’t from the light source itself but from bright surroundings. Using black cards around the glass, just outside the frame, can absorb light and eliminate unwanted reflections from the sides or front. This technique is called “negative fill.”

Embracing (Some) Reflection

Not all reflections are bad. Subtle highlights help define the shape and texture of the glass, giving it dimension. The goal isn’t usually to eliminate all reflections, but to control them so they enhance rather than distract. Look for long, soft highlights that follow the curve of the glass.

The Matte Spray Trick (Use Sparingly!)

Professionals sometimes use dulling or matte spray on parts of the glassware (usually the back or sides, away from the liquid) to cut down extreme reflections. This is an advanced technique. It can look artificial if overdone, and you need to be careful not to spray it in the drink or where it might be obvious. Use this with extreme caution, if at all. Often, better light control is the real solution.

The Final Polish: Editing Apps & Presets

Shooting a great photo is only half the battle; editing is where you refine and enhance it. You don’t need complex software like Photoshop; powerful editing tools are available right on your phone.

Why Edit?

Editing isn’t about faking reality; it’s about making the photo look its best and overcoming the limitations of the camera sensor. Minor adjustments can make a huge difference in bringing out the detail, color, and mood you intended to capture. The goal is usually enhancement, not transformation.

Popular Mobile Apps

• Snapseed (Free, by Google): Powerful and intuitive, offering a wide range of tools from basic adjustments to selective edits.

• Adobe Lightroom Mobile (Freemium): Industry standard. The free version offers excellent control over light, color, detail, and geometry. The paid version adds features like selective adjustments and syncing with the desktop app.

• VSCO (Freemium): Known for its film-like presets (filters), but also has solid manual editing tools.

Key Adjustments

Learn to use these basic tools first:

• Brightness/Exposure: Controls the overall lightness or darkness of the image.

• Contrast: Adjusts the difference between light and dark areas. Increasing contrast can make an image pop, but too much can lose detail in shadows and highlights.

• Highlights/Shadows: Allows finer control than overall brightness. Lower highlights to recover detail in bright areas (like reflections); raise shadows to reveal detail in dark areas.

• Saturation/Vibrance: Saturation boosts all colors equally. Vibrance is more subtle, boosting less saturated colors more, which is often better for avoiding unnatural skin tones (if hands are in the shot) or overly intense colors. Use sparingly! Cocktails should look appetizing, not radioactive.

• Sharpness: Enhances fine detail. Useful for making garnishes or glass edges crisper, but too much looks artificial and noisy.

• White Balance/Temperature: Corrects color casts. If your photo looks too blue (cool) or too yellow/orange (warm), adjust the temperature. Tint adjusts the green/magenta balance. Aim for neutral whites and accurate colors.

• Cropping/Straightening: Recompose your shot slightly, straighten tilted horizons or vertical lines.

Using Presets Wisely

Presets (or filters) apply a pre-defined set of edits with one click. They can be a great starting point or help achieve a consistent look across your photos. However, rarely does a preset work perfectly out of the box. Apply a preset you like, then tweak the individual settings, especially exposure and white balance, to tailor it to your specific photo. Relying solely on presets without understanding the underlying adjustments limits your growth.

Consistency is Key

As you shoot and edit more, you’ll develop a personal style. Maybe you prefer bright and airy photos, or dark and moody ones. Try to maintain some consistency in your lighting, composition, and editing approach. This makes your social media feed or portfolio look more cohesive and professional.

Putting It All Together: A Sample Shoot

Let’s imagine photographing a classic Old Fashioned.

1. Preparation: Gather your ingredients and tools: Your Old Fashioned (made with, say, Maker’s Mark for its wheated softness or Jim Beam Black for a bit more spice), a rocks glass, a large clear ice cube, and an orange peel garnish. You might also want the bourbon bottle, a jigger, and bitters for background props.

2. Find Light: Set up near a window with indirect natural light coming from the side (e.g., the 9 o’clock position relative to the drink). Place a white bounce card opposite the window (3 o’clock position) to soften shadows on the right side.

3. Surface & Props: Choose a dark wood surface for a classic, warm feel. Place the filled glass slightly off-center, following the Rule of Thirds. Express the orange peel over the drink and place it artfully on the rim or next to the glass. Position the Maker’s Mark bottle further back and slightly out of focus. Add the jigger nearby, angled slightly. Keep the scene clean and uncluttered.

4. Angle: Start with a 45-degree angle to show the drink, garnish, and surface. Take a few shots. Try a straight-on angle to emphasize the glass and ice. Maybe consider an overhead shot if the orange peel is particularly nice. Check for distracting reflections and adjust the glass rotation or slightly move the bounce card if needed.

5. Shoot: Take multiple shots, slightly varying the focus point (on the rim, on the garnish, on the ice).

6. Edit (e.g., in Lightroom Mobile):

   • Open the best shot. Check exposure and adjust slightly if needed.

   • Increase contrast a touch to make it pop.

   • Maybe lift shadows slightly to show detail in the dark wood, but keep it moody.

   • Lower highlights if the ice or glass rim looks blown out.

   • Check white balance; ensure the whites of the ice/reflections are neutral, not too blue or yellow.

   • Add a little vibrance to make the orange peel and amber liquid richer, but don’t oversaturate.

   • Add a touch of sharpness, focusing on the details.

   • Crop or straighten if necessary.

Compare the before and after images. The edits should enhance, not fundamentally change, the well-lit, well-composed shot you captured.

Taking compelling photos of your cocktails isn’t about having the most expensive gear; it’s about understanding the fundamentals of light, composition, and styling. Start with the light because it’s the most crucial element. Practice setting up simple scenes, paying attention to details like clean glassware and fresh garnishes. Experiment with different angles and compositions. Use editing tools thoughtfully to enhance your images.

Like mixing drinks, photography is a craft improved by practice and experimentation. Don’t be afraid to try new things, see what works for your style, and develop your eye. Soon, your photos will look as delicious as the drinks themselves, ready to capture attention and share your passion with the world. Cheers to that.

Common Questions & Expert Answers

Q1: What’s the best budget-friendly lighting setup for cocktail photos at home?Answer: You can get professional-looking results without investing heavily—start by using indirect natural light from a window, perhaps diffused through a sheer curtain. When that’s not available, consider an affordable continuous LED panel (look for a high CRI above 90) and pair it with a fabric softbox or even a DIY white sheet for diffusion. Brands like Neewer and Godox make great budget lights, but even a household lamp with a daylight bulb can work in a pinch—just remember to diffuse and control for reflections.

Q2: How do I make sure my spirits bottle features in the shot without taking attention away from the cocktail?Answer: Position the bottle just behind or to the side of your main glass, partially out of focus (using your phone’s portrait mode, if possible) so it hints at the identity of the spirit without hijacking the scene. For example, the elegant hexagonal bottle of Roku gin or the iconic red wax of Maker’s Mark adds context and story, just be sure the label faces out and avoid crowding the frame—less is more for supporting props.

Q3: What’s the secret to getting the liquid in my glass to “glow” like in professional photos?Answer: The trick is backlighting or side-back lighting—set your light source behind the drink and slightly to the side so it shines through the liquid, making colors pop and the drink look vibrant and inviting. This works especially well for cocktails with richly colored spirits like Jim Beam Black bourbon or Hibiki whisky. Use a white card in front to gently fill shadows and help the glass edge stand out.

Q4: How do I avoid ugly reflections or my phone appearing in the glassware?Answer: Control reflections by placing your light source to the side or slightly behind the glass, using soft, diffused light. Hold or place a black card (even matte black paper or foam core) just out of frame to block reflections from yourself or other bright areas. This “negative fill” is a pro technique—especially useful for showy glassware or clear drinks like those using Haku vodka.

Q5: What are some creative but simple ways to style a cocktail photo if I have limited props?Answer: Sometimes, less is more. Focus on a beautifully clean glass, a fresh garnish, and a handsome surface like wood or marble. Add just one or two thoughtful props: a stylish jigger, a textured napkin, or the signature bottle (like Hornitos tequila for a Margarita), spaced so the drink remains the focal point. Don’t worry about elaborate backgrounds—intentional minimalism feels modern and professional.

Q6: Is there a right glass for every cocktail photo, or can I get creative?Answer: There are no hard rules, but using traditional glassware (a coupe for sours, a rocks glass for an Old Fashioned, a highball for fizz-based drinks) signals respect for cocktail history and helps viewers instantly recognize the drink. That said, experimenting with unexpected glassware—like serving a Negroni in a stemless wine glass or using Japanese-style glasses for Roku gin cocktails—can create fresh visual intrigue while still feeling intentional.

Q7: What smartphone editing apps do you recommend for beginners, and what adjustments matter most?Answer: Snapseed and Lightroom Mobile are excellent starting points, both user-friendly and powerful. Focus on the basics first: adjusting exposure/brightness, contrast, white balance (to correct color), and sharpening. Use vibrance sparingly to enhance the natural color of cocktails—especially for ruby Negronis or golden Maker’s Mark drinks—without overdoing saturation, which can make drinks look artificial.

Q8: My drink is mostly clear or pale—how can I make it visually interesting in photos?Answer: Enhance interest by choosing a contrasting or textured background—think dark wood against a clear Martini or colorful linens with a Haku vodka Collins. Use vibrant or sculptural garnishes (a lemon twist, a bundle of herbs) and play with lighting to create soft highlights and sparkle on the glass. Even clear drinks can shine with thoughtful surface and prop choices.

Q9: How should I approach composing shots with multiple cocktails or a full bar setup?Answer: Arrange drinks at different heights and depths, staggering them to create natural movement and avoid blocking any one glass or bottle. Use the Rule of Thirds and leading lines—maybe a Maker’s Mark bottle on one “third,” a cluster of glasses on another—for visual balance. Limit props so the setup doesn’t feel cluttered, and use similar or harmonious glassware for a cohesive look.

Q10: Any tips for pairing cocktail photos with food for a cohesive Instagram grid?Answer: Match the mood (color temperature and vibe), surface style, and editing across shots to create harmony in your feed. For example, pair a luminous Hornitos Margarita with vibrant tacos or zesty ceviche on rustic pottery; let the citrus and green accents tie the food and drink together. When shooting, place both elements in the frame using consistent side lighting and similar editing so they naturally complement each other—and don’t forget to keep both garnishes and glassware crisp and fresh.