Remy Martin x Just Don
Beverage Styling Case Study
Project Overview
Rémy Martin partnered with Just Don for a commercial portrait shoot exploring the intersection of heritage spirits and contemporary fashion. I served as the Beverage Stylist, responsible for drink presentation, faux ice selection, visual continuity, and ensuring the hero glass photographed cleanly across multiple lighting setups.
The assignment required balancing exacting visual standards with evolving creative direction under an extremely compressed production timeline.
Objectives
The primary goal was to deliver a camera-ready hero drink that remained visually consistent and optically clean throughout the shoot. This included sourcing realistic faux ice on short notice, achieving a natural hand-cut aesthetic, maintaining precise liquid levels and cube placement, and coordinating closely with props, lighting, and photography teams to ensure seamless execution.
Challenges
The production launched without a predefined budget for ice or beverage supplies, while creative direction shifted repeatedly between cube styles and sourcing preferences. High-quality faux ice availability in Chicago was limited, and original options required expedited shipping from Los Angeles. All styling choices needed to hold clarity and shape under intense studio lighting with no condensation or visual distortion.
Solutions Implemented
I sourced and evaluated multiple acrylic ice options through ISS Chicago, assessing clarity, scale, and performance under lighting. A visual comparison deck was created to align stakeholders on aesthetic outcomes. I prepared contingency plans using real ice molds and hand-picking techniques while maintaining full continuity control during the shoot.
When the agency introduced their own faux ice mid-production, I adapted immediately, integrating the new elements without disrupting visual consistency. Throughout the shoot, I managed hero drink color, fill level, and cube positioning to ensure continuity across all setups.
Outcome
The final faux ice solution was approved and used exclusively. The hero drink photographed cleanly and consistently across all scenes, and the shoot concluded without styling delays. The project strengthened my working relationship with ISS Chicago and reinforced trust with the photographer and production team, who noted the adaptability and precision brought to the set.
Key Takeaways
Beverage styling requires equal parts aesthetics, optics, and composure under pressure. Commercial production environments reward flexibility, contingency planning, and calm decision-making. Clear communication across agency, production, props, and camera departments is essential to successful execution.
Skills Demonstrated
Beverage and ice styling
Prop sourcing and vendor coordination
Continuity management
Lighting-aware styling techniques
Creative problem solving
Rapid decision-making
Cross-team communication
Prop sourcing and vendor coordination
Continuity management
Lighting-aware styling techniques
Creative problem solving
Rapid decision-making
Cross-team communication