This Showcase features the latest campaign of Barcelona-based still life photographer Kunal Rajput.

“This five-day liquid shoot came with a unique challenge and an interesting set build: capturing the product underwater, surrounded by the cichlids (an exotic fish, sourced from Iceland for this campaign), to create a deep blue ocean look with sunlight beaming through—all in real time!

Typically, for commercial campaigns, we create 1-2 highly detailed product photos a day, often shooting in plates (composites) to showcase the product in its best light. But this project took a different approach. We aimed to capture everything in a single, in-camera shot by building an underwater set in real time—no composites, staying true to life!

To enhance realism, the bottle was shot underwater in a vertical custom-built glass tank, creating photos in both 4:5 and 9:16 aspect ratios for this digital campaign - straight in camera. I opted for continuous lighting over flash, mimicking how our eyes perceive sunlight in the real world. We also chose not to retouch certain imperfections on the product to maintain its authenticity."

Kunal Rajput is a Barcelona-based product photographer who specialises in capturing the essence of drinks and liquids with unparalleled detail. From the tantalising fizz of a perfectly poured beer to the glistening beads of condensation on a chilled cocktail, his photos invite you to experience the taste sensation with more than just your eyes.

Of late, he is using AI with his traditional workflow to craft hyper-realistic backgrounds that are placed in the physical sets along with the products and the foreground elements during the shoot, where everything is captured in-camera in real-time for a seamless integration.

For over 13 years, he has been shooting advertising campaigns collaborating with top brands, ad agencies and luxury boutiques like Diageo, The Body Shop, L’Oréal Paris, Oriflame Sweden, Oud Arabia Dubai, Publicis, HS Ad, Edelman, and more.

For a deeper look into his work and behind-the-scenes processes, one can visit his website, or if you have a project in mind where you would like to discuss his AI-Production workflow, please drop him a line – let's bring your vision to life!

Of late, Kunal has been employing AI as a tool in his production process, utilising it to create environments (backgrounds) that seamlessly blend with actual sets alongside products and foreground elements. This approach allows for real-time, in-camera shooting, ensuring a seamless integration of all elements. The integration of AI in his workflow has opened up endless possibilities for efficiently placing products in different settings and backgrounds.

His artistic style is characterised as realistic, bold, and expressive, with a focus on evoking emotions in viewers and instilling a desire to own products or indulge in experiences. Best known for his highly detailed visuals of drinks and cosmetics, his portfolio exudes a grand and rich feel, eliciting admiration.

With over 13 years of experience, he has collaborated on advertising campaigns with top brands and ad agencies such as Diageo, The Body Shop, L’Oréal Paris, Oriflame Sweden, Publicis, HS Ad, and Edelman, encompassing projects of various scopes and sizes.

For a deeper look into his work and behind-the-scenes processes, one can visit his website. He eagerly looks forward to connecting and collaborating on upcoming campaigns.