the Beer Girl’s Guide to Better Photography!

TheCraftBeerGirl — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 13:24:34 +0000

So you love craft beer. You drink it on a regular basis, you “check-in” on Untappd, you tweet about it, maybe you even blog about it! You keep detailed tasting notes as you detect each nuance that splashes against your sophisticated palate. The most interesting man in the world has nothing on you. You’re a true intellectual, a scholar.

There’s just one thing… Your Instagram feed, I’ve seen it… and no offense, but it’s a little… uninspired.

But fear not my fellow craft beer enthusiast! I have compiled a list of photography tips that are sure to turn your camera roll into a virtual gallery, full of thoughtfully executed photographs that do that artfully crafted brew the justice it deserves.

#1. Set the Scene.

Are you enjoying a cold one at the lake? Snuggled up in front of the fire with a good book and a trusty stout? Tying one on with friends at your favorite craft beer bar? Try to give some clues about what else is going on as you’re enjoying your beer. If you’re enjoying a meal, include the dish in your photo and let your audience know how well the beer paired.

#2. Remove Clutter

Before you snap the picture, look at everything that’s in the frame. Sometimes you’re focused so much on capturing the subject of the photo that you temporarily block out objects in the background. Take a moment to consider the entire composition and remove any clutter that might take away from your desired focal point. A trick to cut the clutter? Get closer! Taking a close-up shot, even including only part of your subject, can be better than being far away and having too much clutter in the frame.

#3. Turn Off Your Flash

For the love of God people, turn off your flash! Not only does it annoy those around you, but it makes for bad photos. While natural sunlight is best (unless you’re a lighting pro and let’s face it, you wouldn’t be reading this guide if you were) it’s not always possible when taking pictures of craft beer. I’ve often found myself in a dimly lit bar or tap room trying to find just enough light to illuminate the beer label… trust me, it’s still possible to take a good photo.

#4. Try a New Perspective

Get low and look up at your subject or shoot from above… use perspective to display that delicious craft beer in a new way! If you’re using the camera on your phone (all my photos are taken with my iPhone) flip it upside down so the camera lens is looking up at your beer. It’ll make the beer seem almost larger than life and will be more interesting to your viewer than the same ol’ beer photo they’ve seen a thousand times.

#5. Be Ready!

Get your camera ready before you pour! You take pride in a good pour, one that leaves just the right amount of head. Don’t let things fall flat while you fumble around preparing for the shot.

The post the Beer Girl’s Guide to Better Photography! first appeared on The Craft Beer Blog.

The Craft Beer Aesthetic

TheCraftBeerGirl — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 13:08:42 +0000

I have to admit, I’m a sucker for marketing. They say good marketing appeals to our senses… that is true, but perhaps the best marketing appeals to our sense of self. Truly great marketing makes you feel good about yourself. You feel smarter, cooler, better, simply by making the decision to buy into whatever it is they’re selling that day. Of course I’m not the only one… an entire generation of marketing lemmings, commonly known as hipsters, are out there “liking it before it’s cool”. According to authors Joseph Heath and Andrew Potter, in their book Nation of Rebels, “Cool has become the central ideology of consumer capitalism.”

A well-designed package can get me to buy almost anything, and this phenomenon definitely holds true when it comes to beer. While it’s no secret that the beer industry and product marketing go hand in hand, the craft beer market is introducing a new aesthetic, playing to a… dare I say it?… more sophisticated beer drinker. When I’m browsing the aisles of our local beer store, a fresh label design will grab my attention right away and, more often than not, inspire me to try something new. Of course, that’s the whole idea, isn’t it?

So without further adieu, I thought I would run down a few of the craft brews that have caught my eye and found their way to my fridge through the use of nostalgic imagery and nice fonts. I’ll leave out any personal preferences in regards to taste, some of these listed below have become dear favorites, making it into our regular rotation, while others, sadly, have never been consumed again.

Here are my picks for the top 5 beer label designs:

1. Roc Brewing Co. – Rochester, NY

Ok, so I talk about beer labels and then right off the bat I pick a brewery that isn’t bottling yet, but hear me out… New to the scene here in Rochester, Roc Brewing is quickly making a name for themselves in the local beer community. You can find partners Chris Spinelli and Jon Mervine behind the wood pouring their latest brews at their new tasting room located at 56. S. Union St. These guys really know the meaning of aesthetic. Everything about the place is a perfect blend of vintage and contemporary styles with just the right amount of whimsical humor. Not to mention their tasting room doubles as an art gallery displaying the work of local artists. (LOVE THAT!) And I know I said I wasn’t going to talk taste, but we tried their new Belgian Blonde the other night and, you guys… it’s SO good!

2. Life & Limb – a Sierra Nevada and Dogfish Head Collaboration

Life & Limb is the product of a collaborative effort between Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. and Dogfish Head Craft Brewery. It’s a dark beer brewed with maple syrup and, at 10% abv, it packs a punch. The Dogfish Head website explains, “Life & Limb is dedicated to the family of beer drinkers and enthusiasts worldwide who continue to support the little guys, iconoclasts, entrepreneurs, and pioneers who risk life and limb to shape the vibrant craft-brewing community.” Now that’s a sentiment I can get behind.

3. Great Divide Brewing – Denver, CO

The bold typography and simple color palettes are what first attracted me to Great Divides wide selection of craft beers. But it’s more than just the great labels drawing people in! Great Divide has earned a whopping 17 Great American Beer Festival medals and 5 World Beer Cup awards.

4. Breckenridge Brewery – Denver, CO

When I spotted the screen-printed bottles of Breckenridge Brewery’s 471 IPA I had to have it. The design on this small batch double IPA is simple, but effective. Bold typography and clean lines provides that vintage contemporary vibe that I can’t get enough of. And just a hint: it’s a killer IPA, definitely worth a try if you come across it in the beer aisle!

5. Southern Tier Brewing Co. – Lakewood, NY

So here we are at the end of the list with my old favorite, Southern Tier. Look at this package design… they nailed it. It’s simple but bold, clean but casual, all words that could be used when describing the brewery or even the beer itself! And when you see these beers on the shelf, you know it’s Southern Tier. Cheers!

The post The Craft Beer Aesthetic first appeared on The Craft Beer Blog.

beer labels | The Craft Beer Blog