What This THC Drinks Shoot Was Actually Like
When High Spirits reached out about a brand photography shoot for their THC drinks, they didn’t want a sterile studio setup with perfectly placed cans and fake smiles. They wanted the real thing — a bunch of friends hanging out, cracking open some drinks, playing games, and just vibing. That’s exactly what we gave them.
As someone who runs Herbal Profiles, a newsletter covering the THC drinks and cannabis beverage space, I’m already deep in this world. I’m not just a photographer showing up to shoot a product I don’t understand — I actually drink these beverages, follow the brands, and talk to the people making them. That context makes a huge difference when you’re trying to capture something authentic.
The Concept: Organic, In-the-Moment Hangs with Friends
High Spirits wanted their brand photography to feel like you stumbled into a great hangout. Not posed. Not stiff. Just people genuinely enjoying themselves with THC drinks in the mix. The whole brief was basically “make it look like the best version of what already happens when friends get together.”
The biggest challenge was actually logistics — finding the right venue and coordinating a big enough group of people who’d be natural on camera. Once we got everyone in place, though, it was smooth. The energy was real because the hangout was real. People were actually playing games, laughing, passing drinks around. My job was just to be there and capture it.
How I Shot It: Scene by Scene
The Card Table
One of my favorite setups was the card game scene. A group crowded around a table, drinks within arm’s reach, focused on the game but relaxed. This is where THC drink photography gets interesting — you want the product visible and part of the moment, but you don’t want it to feel like a commercial. The drinks were just there, the way they’d be at any real hangout. I shot wide to get the whole scene and tight on hands holding cards with cans nearby.
The Living Room
The couch hangs were probably the most natural to shoot. People sprawled out, drinks on the coffee table, conversations going. This is the kind of lifestyle brand photography that actually performs on social media because it looks like something you’d see on a friend’s Instagram story, not a brand’s ad.
The Beach Walk
We took it outside for some golden hour shots — friends walking on the beach with High Spirits in hand. South Florida gives you these incredible backdrops without trying. The light was perfect and the whole thing felt effortless, which is exactly the vibe a THC drink brand wants to project.
Why THC Drink Brands Need This Kind of Photography
Here’s what I’ve learned from being in the cannabis and THC beverage space through my work at Protis Global and through Herbal Profiles: consumers in this market can smell inauthenticity from a mile away. These aren’t people buying based on a polished ad — they’re buying based on whether a brand feels real.
Stock-looking product shots on white backgrounds don’t cut it for THC drinks. The whole point of these beverages is the social experience — the relaxation, the connection, the good time. If your product photography doesn’t capture that energy, you’re missing the entire selling point.
What Makes Good Beverage Photography for Cannabis Brands
You need someone who actually understands the product. I’ve been covering THC drinks through my newsletter, trying different brands, going to industry events. When I’m on set, I know what these drinks represent to the people drinking them. That’s not something you can fake.
Compliance awareness matters. Cannabis and THC products have specific rules around how they can be marketed. Having a photographer who knows the space means you’re not going to end up with a gallery of gorgeous shots that your legal team rejects.
Storytelling over staging. The best beverage photography for THC brands tells a story about a moment — not about a product. High Spirits understood this, and that’s why the shoot worked so well. Every image has context. There’s a reason people are gathered, a reason they’re smiling, and the drink is part of that story, not the whole story.
South Florida as a Backdrop for Cannabis Brand Photography
I’m based in Delray Beach, and South Florida is honestly an incredible location for this kind of work. Between the beaches, the light, and the overall lifestyle down here, it’s a natural fit for cannabis and THC beverage brands that want to project warmth, relaxation, and good vibes. We’ve shot at spots all over — from The Ray Hotel in Delray Beach to the Surfcomber Hotel in Miami Beach — and every location brings something different to the table.
Want to Shoot Something Like This?
If you’re a THC drink brand, cannabis company, or CPG brand in the cannabis space and you need photography that actually connects with your audience, let’s talk. I bring both the photography skills and the industry knowledge — and honestly, shoots like this are some of the most fun I have behind the camera.
Check out my cannabis photography services or my product photography portfolio for more examples of this kind of work.
FAQ: Brand Photography and THC Drinks
How much does a THC drink brand photoshoot cost?
It depends on scope — how many scenes, how many people, location costs. For a lifestyle shoot like the High Spirits project, check out my product photography pricing for a starting point, and we can build a custom quote from there.
Do you photograph other cannabis products besides drinks?
Absolutely. Flower, edibles, vape products, pre-rolls — I shoot across the full spectrum of cannabis products. Flower is actually my favorite to photograph because the nugs are gorgeous, though it comes with its own challenges for social media.
What’s different about photographing THC drinks vs. regular beverages?
Honestly, the biggest difference is in the brand story and compliance considerations. The actual photography techniques overlap a lot, but you need to understand the culture and the regulations. That’s where having a photographer who’s embedded in the cannabis space pays off.
Related: Check out our cannabis product photography prep guide for more details.