Cork & Mill, a team out of Delaware, have created a great line of barware products. I was fortunate to have worked with them on a recent shoot.

Their cocktail mixing sets are offered in three finishes, black, copper and silver. Each color option, gorgeous on its own, presents its own unique set of challenges. The trick is to make the silver look silver, and the black, well… look black all all within the same set-up. Sounds easy enough. However, within a studio setting lights and reflections can drastically change a shiny product’s appearance. Not enough of a highlight and a silver strainer can look black. Too much and a black strainer can look silver. The key is to control the light and manage reflections, so the end shots are a true reflection of the product and most importantly, match consumer expectations.

Which finish is your favorite?