Is it impossible to shoot this kind of bottle 100% in camera?

It wasn't a hard edit to remove the label on the back. The hardest part was the weight/volume labeling that was affected by the label coming through. It took about as long as it did for me to set up some lights and try some tests of my own.

The left image is the original, the middle is with the label removed, and the final is blending of the liquid at the top.

Team, the issue here is the back sticker, the really large one!

We see through the bottle to the back of that massive sticker.

The question from my boss was is it possible to shoot so that is not seen (without removing it from the bottle, or removing any of the liquid). Check the video again, I explain it in a more clear manner:



I'd say the answer is no, but I am open to anyone who might have a better idea?

OK, it looks like the large black label was on the front as part of the labeling, even when I looked at the file and edited it. Strange, I didn't even see after the emails? It was that back sticker at the bottom that I (and others maybe) thought was the issue.

There isn't anything that can be done unless you light the liquid from the inside out with a dark background so no light is coming from back to front. There is nothing that can be done with photoshop's either, not reasonably or to show a true representation. You have to overpower that label in the back, but since you need a white background, and you want the liquid to look like its natural lighting state, you have a seemingly impossible task.

If there is a way to either, I would think suggestions would have come forward, but the requirements make it nearly impossible to do this.

You may have to shoot with a black background and then edit that to white afterwards but that would take some time to make it look right using a bit of masking. What is the largest viewing resolution for the customers on the site? That is easier photoshopping than cloning out labels though.

I've seen that product photographers will cut out reflective materials close to the size and shape of the bottle, that can also stand upright. They'll then place it behind the bottle. Depending on camera and light angles, that could take out the reflection of the smaller label. Since the back black label is not a reflection, I'm not sure there is a way to take that out in camera.

I have an idea. Could You put the matt black background . Light the bottle from bottom (not flash). Then remove the black backgroud in PS.

Worse case scenario, you could try lighting it from underneath so the label is illuminated, making it beige instead of black.

OK. I have just found this bottle cost is about 50USD in Poland. Go to a shop, buy one, put it to a hot water, remove labels , make image, send it to a clinet, drink it - smile .

Thanks all.

I'd say that this is the only time I've come across an instance in my photography career where it is impossible to "do it in camera".

Interesting!!

Daverose's idea of putting a black "mask" behind the bottle could work. Put enough light on the front of the bottle. black mask behind it evenly darkening the contents (but the light should be bright enough to overtake that), then also get the white background in the back. I think it is worth considering. I might try it myself, it could be interesting.

I'd be keen to see how you balance the front light to not change the colour of the liquid, but yes I agree, this might be the only real way to solve this one.

Even though the idea is logical, I tried and couldn't get a black label to blend with a black background, and also not to get the liquid to be too dark. The clearer the liquid, the more difficult. If the liquor isn't crystal clear, ie. it would work a bit better. The only thing it did was perhaps make it easier to photoshop.

I guess if the label makes the bottle more valuable, then perhaps it adds value to the purchase by having it in the photo?

Heheh! Well the label does add value, but in this case I would shoot the back of the bottle to showcase the label, the front shot should not include it

Could You tell me one think:

If You can answare: How much do You charge for this pictures?
If You can't remove the label from oryginal why can't You just buy another one. I have foud it is not most expensive whisky on the world http://www.liquorama.n​et …ourbon-whiskey-750ml.html
I think You charge much more than this is worth.
You can take a picture at the back with oryginal and take the front picture with the copy (label removed)
Sorry for my arguments but I thik it is the simple and fast way.
Client will newer know that You bought another whisky. Charge additional cost for post production and averybody win. (and You still own a $30 to $50 USD good whisky)

Thanks FFFCFF

To answer your questions:

1. I do not charge per picture, I invoice my time per shoot (usually a 6 hour shoot with 2 hours post to deliver the photos as required.)
2. I am not buying any of the bottles, they are provided by the client
3. I definitely do not charge nearly enough! I just spent a few days trying to negotiate a higher rate with my client but the end result was a resounding "NO"! (familiar tale with this industry, right?)
4. I am not able to remove the label (as already stated)

Additional info (in case you didn't watch the video in my initial post): I shoot in situ on location (mybottleshop premise: http://mybottleshop.co​m.au) and this bottle is one of approximately 80 bottles I shoot in any given shoot.

Here's a link to the types of bottles I shoot on a regular shoot for this client: https://www.facebook.c​om …61102&type=1&l=​1fc45fcec6

It should be noted that all of the final images are provided in the same format: 1000x1000 pixels, floating on a pure white background.

I do not spend any great deal of time in post, I have a LR preset applied on import and then I simply use a photoshop path to remove the bottle from the "stand" (as seen in this image) and crop out the black reflectors so it's on a 100% white. Then I crop down to 1000 x 1000 and save out as jpg.

Thank You for the explanation. I understand now.
I thought that only in Poland are weird customers

One more idea:

As I know this market (my colleague has such shop) sometimes manufacturers have high resolution photos of their products. May be it could be available for use in your client's store