Bold Colors and Minimalism: Exploring AI in Beverage Product Photography
In this entry of my blog series, I wanted to explore a bold and colorful take on beverage product photography, focusing on a vibrant close-up shot. Using only MidJourney and Photoshop, I set out to create an image that felt fresh, inviting, and visually striking. The result? A bright orange cocktail garnished with fresh rosemary and a blood orange slice, set against a warm, gradient background that screams summer.
The Creative Process
At first, I envisioned featuring two cocktails to add a bit more visual interest to the scene. My original MidJourney prompt read:
"Close-up of two cocktails with an orange and grapefruit slice, a rosemary sprig garnish in the middle of each glass, a gold rim on the bottom, a peach-colored background, and sunlight shining from the right side. This is a food photography editorial-style photo. --ar 2:3"
While the idea of two drinks seemed fun, I found the overlapping grapefruit cocktail didn’t quite feel realistic enough. It added clutter instead of enhancing the composition. After sitting with it for a bit, I decided to simplify the scene by removing the second glass entirely in Photoshop. This small but impactful decision shifted the focus to the orange garnish and the main cocktail, making the image feel more intentional and cohesive.
But it wasn’t just about deleting a glass as there was so much more to refine. The original AI-generated image was a great start, but it felt flat and needed a little spark to make it come alive. That’s where the human touch came in. I manually added bubbles to the drink to make it more refreshing, reshaped the rosemary garnish to balance the shot, and removed some unwanted reflections. Every small adjustment brought the image closer to what I envisioned: a polished, professional, and inviting photo that still felt real.
The image above is entirely AI-generated, created directly from the prompt, while the second reflects hours of retouching, compositing, and creative decisions made by hand.
Fun Fact
Did you know that using the same prompt in MidJourney will often give you completely different results? No prompt works the same way twice, which adds an unpredictable layer to working with AI.
Why This Approach Works for Beverage Brands
The human touch is what truly makes AI-generated concepts shine. While AI can create great starting points, it’s the photographer’s and/or retoucher’s ability to refine, enhance, and balance the composition that brings the image to life. Close-ups like this draw attention to the product’s freshness and appeal while creating visuals that pop on social media, digital ads, and editorial campaigns. They’re simple, elegant, and eye-catching, everything a beverage brand needs to make a lasting impression.
What’s Next?
This experiment reminded me that sometimes, less truly is more. Taking the time to refine the details, enhance the textures, and balance the composition transformed this photo in ways AI alone could never achieve. It’s a great example of how blending AI inspiration with retouching can lead to something unique and impactful.
What do you think of this minimalist approach? Would you like to see more vibrant, close-up concepts like this? Let me know in the comments or reach out, I’d love to hear your thoughts!
