Blending AI with Product Photography: Outdoor Lifestyle Scenes With People for Beverage Brands

In this second entry of my blog series, I wanted to experiment with an outdoor setting featuring people to create a vibrant and engaging scene for a beverage brand. The photo below features Borrasca Prosecco Rosé, styled in a warm, celebratory dinner setting with people enjoying the moment in the background.

To achieve this look, I used a “golden hour lighting” prompt in MidJourney to create the dreamy, sunlit mood. I paired that with traditional photography techniques to highlight the product’s elegance. Fun fact: I shot the bottle outdoors around 3 p.m., just as the sun was casting a great shadow to match the AI-generated image.

A quick disclosure: due to my wrist surgery at the time, setting up flashes in the studio wasn’t an option. I had to make do with what was available, and let me tell you, the camera alone was heavy enough. Despite the challenges, I leaned on detailed retouching and compositing to tie all the elements together, creating a final image that captures the essence of celebration and joy.

Of course, working with AI wasn’t without its quirks. The generated image had its fair share of inconsistencies like objects placed in strange, random spots. But here’s the thing: that’s where the human touch comes in. Computers can create, but they can’t finesse. It’s the human element that ensures everything feels cohesive and authentic.

This kind of imagery is perfect for beverage marketing campaigns. It connects products to real-life moments, emotions, and experiences that audiences can relate to making them want to join in the celebration.

So, what do you think of this lifestyle approach? Would you like to see more behind-the-scenes details of how these visuals come to life? Let me know in the comments!