Submitted by Darren on
That Gin and Cocktail Bar, Warwick Brand photo Shoot
The Gin Bar Launch
One of most recent and most delicious jobs, before the avalanche of covid-delayed weddings started to take over my timetable, was a commercial shoot with a new bar opening in Warwick, That Gin Company.
The bar opens next week on Swan Street in Warwick, not far from the castle and the marketplace. I was allowed to sample a few of their gins and gin cocktails while I was on the shoot (all in the name of research, of course), and let me tell you – you definitely want to book a table there, pronto. Everything was delish.
It makes my job that little bit easier when the brand is offering up a product I can personally get behind, and Steve, owner of the gin bar, is doing just that. I spent some time with him to get Brand images he could use anywhere he wants his brand to shine – Steve was keen to get a variety of different images to really help boost his social media pages on Instagram, facebook which are being managed by https://lauramorrisdigital.co.uk/ and of course newspapers, PR to help create a wider buzz around the launch https://chalmersnewspr.co.uk/ and striking website images– the whole lot.
When I’m doing brand photography, one of the key things that’s really important to me is finding out about not just the business but the people behind it, what their ethos is, and where their drive and passions come from. For me, it’s really important, because if I’m crafting a story through images, I need to have a handle on what it is that’s unique about the business.
120 Different GIns, great Ice Balls and a super friendly team of people.....
In this case, it wasn’t difficult to discover the unique selling point of That Gin Company – it’s Steve’s passion and knowledge, not only about gin itself, the process of creating it, and the many ways it can be creatively served and enjoyed, but also for his bar, and the service and atmosphere his customers experience when they’re in it.
Steve infuses his own gins – he has over 120 varieties, which he personally infuses with a mixture of aromatics to create unique flavours. He also stocks a range of specialist, boutique gins from around the world to cater to every taste. What’s more, to make sure he can find the perfect gin for your palate, Steve uses flavour cards to recommend particular gins to his customers depending on what other kinds of flavours they enjoy. Love strawberries? He’s got just the thing. Can’t resist olives? Steve has you covered. He really, really knows his stuff.
Obviously, as a photographer, I’m a very visual person. So whilst I loved all the personal touches that Steve offers to ensure the best ever gin experience, what I was really impressed with was his balls. His ice balls, that is. Steve serves his gin over spheres of ice – not only do these look fantastic and do the all-important job of chilling your gin, but because they melt slowly, they don’t interfere with the taste.
Presentation is second only to flavour for Steve, and his gins are garnished and served up beautifully. It’s real testament to Steve’s passion for his craft that not only has he considered all these details, but he made me care about them too! Capturing that care, thoughtfulness, and attention to detail was really important in the shoot, so in the final images everything is covered – from the gleaming bottles all lined up, to the careful process of blending and mixing, and that gorgeous presentation.
In the bar itself, Steve’s created a lovely relaxed, intimate vibe – a million miles away from a crowded high street pub, it’ll be a lovely place to go for a chill drink with friends, and I took some time getting some shots of the interior and all the thoughtful touches that make the bar charming.
Of course I took some images of Steve himself, as his personality and knowledge is so central to his brand. But a commercial shoot for me is about far more than headshots. The images should showcase everything about the brand. Together, the client and I are telling their story – who the business owner is, what their space is like, what the products are, what the mission is, what makes them unique, who their market is – it’s about getting the whole experience of the brand and its values across in the images I take.
Here’s wishing Steve and everyone at That Gin Company a storming opening week. See you there!
Coventry and Warwickshire Brand Photography
