Photographing Claret Wine Shop & Bar

Commercial, interior and food photography on Pakington Street, Geelong West.



A beautiful wine bar, shelves filled with delicious things and a whole lot of burgundy.

Meet Claret Wine Shop & Bar, tucked along the bustling Pakington Street in Geelong West.

Owned by Zara and Conor, Claret combines a carefully stocked wine shop with a welcoming wine bar. Alongside their extensive wine selection, you'll find specialty pantry goods, chocolates, cheeses, charcuterie essentials and thoughtfully curated gift boxes.


I spent four hours photographing Claret, creating a versatile collection of images for their website, social media, newsletters and future promotions.


We'd had a chat beforehand about what was most important to Zara and Conor, and I'd put together a shot list to make sure we covered everything. With two different spaces and plenty to photograph, having a little direction was helpful, but we kept things flexible and worked our way through the shoot as naturally as possible.


Starting with the wine shop

The shop was our priority.

We began with wider interior photographs to show the layout, shelving and impressive range of products before moving into more detailed lifestyle photography.

Conor helped showcase the wine selection, we then moved on to the delicious things available in store — from specialty pantry goods to cheeses and charcuterie essentials.

Their gift boxes were particularly important, so we dedicated time to photographing both the packaging and the lovely selection of products inside.

Before starting, we also made a few small styling adjustments to an area that would feature prominently in the photographs.

Interior of a modern bottle shop with wine racks lining the walls and a red central display counter stocked with packaged snacks.
Man in a navy jacket browses bottles on a wine shop shelf beneath a Grenache & Blends sign.
Person in a navy jacket holds a dark wine bottle with a gray label and gold line design in front of a shelf of wine bottles.
Man in a navy jacket browses bottles on wooden shelves in a wine shop, with Claret boxes and a Gamay and Juicy sign above.
Man in a navy jacket browses a can in front of glass-door coolers stocked with craft beer under Pale Ale and Lager signs.
Hand holding a Supreme coffee bag with a red label above shelves of boxed goods, tinned products and Chips de Mais snack bags in a shop.
Hand reaching for jars of Acide pickled vegetables displayed on a red and white shop counter with wine bottles and shelves behind.
Shopper holding a round wooden box of cheese in a specialty food store aisle with shelves of canned goods, jars, and packaged deli items.

Working around a busy business

The shop remained open throughout our session, although we'd deliberately scheduled the photography for the quieter morning hours.

Because I was using additional lighting, we agreed that I'd simply pause or move my equipment whenever customers came in.

It's something worth considering when planning commercial photography for retail spaces, cafés or restaurants.

You don't necessarily need to close your business for a photoshoot. With a little preparation and flexibility, we can often work around your usual operations.


Man in a navy jacket stacks red Claret gift boxes in a wine shop with shelves of red wine bottles and Grenache & Blends signs.
Hand placing a bottle of red wine into a burgundy Claret gift box with jars of preserves, set on a wooden table beside fresh pink tulips.
Man in a navy jacket closes a red Claret wine gift box on a red counter in a bottle shop with shelves of wine behind him.

A little change of atmosphere

Next, we moved into the adjoining wine bar.

And what a lovely space!

Rich burgundy walls, exposed brickwork, warm timber, beautiful lighting and little decorative details give Claret its inviting, slightly moody character.

The bar was closed for the day, which gave us the freedom to move furniture and position my lighting without interrupting customers.

I photographed the wider interiors first, followed by smaller details.

We then created some lifestyle photographs of Zara behind the bar, pouring wine and interacting with the space, before bringing Zara and Conor together for a few portraits.

I always love including the people behind a business in a commercial gallery. It's a lovely way to give a brand a more personal touch and help customers connect with the faces behind it.

Cozy restaurant interior with a long wooden table, black bentwood chairs, burgundy wainscoting, candles, and a chandelier with amber shades.
Cozy restaurant corner with a wooden banquette, black bentwood chairs, burgundy wainscoting, fresh tulips, wine bottles and a pendant lamp.
Wooden sideboard with wine bottles and tulips against a red wainscot wall, with a glassware shelf above and twisted wooden stools.
Pink tulips in a dark green vase on a marble-topped wooden cabinet against a burgundy wall, with wine glasses on a shelf above.
Cozy restaurant interior with burgundy wainscoting, wooden bentwood chairs, a corner banquette, pendant lamps and a wine bottle bar.
Cozy bar corner with a wooden counter, black stools, red wainscoting, a vintage Campari poster, round mirror and eucalyptus in a vase.
Cozy wine bar interior with a curved timber counter, wooden bar stools, exposed brick wall, pendant light and shelves of wine bottles.
Hand lifting a sparkling wine bottle from a brass ice bucket on a rustic wooden bar with champagne glasses and a brick wall behind.
Rosé wine pours from a dark bottle into a stemmed glass on a wooden bar, with wine glasses and a brass ice bucket against a brick wall.
Smiling woman stands behind a rustic wooden bar with champagne glasses, exposed brick walls, wine bottle shelf and pendant lights.
Rustic bar with exposed brick walls, curved timber counter, wine bottle shelf, brass ice bucket, leafy centerpiece and leather bar stools.
Stylish restroom with dark patterned wallpaper, white wall-mounted sink, red door with gold accessible signage and a pink vase on a twisted

Finishing with something delicious

We wrapped up the session with food photography, capturing three dishes from Claret's menu.

The food was prepared shortly before I was ready to photograph it, so everything looked fresh and inviting.

Throughout the session, I adjusted my lighting as we moved between the shop, bar and food setups, keeping the photographs consistent while preserving the atmosphere of each space.

Because Zara and Conor already had photographs of some of their wines and the exterior, we didn't need to spend time recreating images they already had.

Instead, we focused on filling the gaps in their existing content.

Silver serving tray with potato chips, green olives and crackers beside a glass of rosé wine on a rustic wooden table.
Cheese plate with sliced cheeses, cornichons and red relish beside a glass of rosé wine and a tray of olives on a wooden table.
Glass of rosé wine on a coaster beside a plate of pâté with pickles and mustard, olives, chips and cheese on a wooden table.
Hand reaching for a cracker from a silver dish beside green olives, a glass of rosé wine, and plates of cheese and pâté.

Four hours, plenty of possibilities

By the end of our four-hour commercial photography session, we'd captured interiors, products, gift boxes, lifestyle photographs, portraits and food.

The result was a varied gallery that Zara and Conor can draw from whenever they need fresh content — whether that's updating their website, promoting a product, sharing something delicious from the menu or putting together their next newsletter.

And that's always my aim with commercial photography.

Not just to create beautiful photographs, but to create a collection of images that genuinely works for your business.

Smiling man and woman stand behind a wooden bar with rows of wine glasses, a bottle shelf and an exposed brick wall behind them.
A smiling man and a blonde woman sit side by side at a wooden table in a cozy restaurant with wine bottles, tulips and a framed photo.
A man and woman pose together at a wine bar with exposed brick walls, a wooden counter, and shelves of wine bottles behind them.

Commercial Photography in Geelong & the Bellarine Peninsula

I offer commercial photography for restaurants, cafés, wine bars, retail spaces and independent businesses across Geelong, the Bellarine Peninsula and beyond.

Whether you're after interior photography, food and beverage photography, product images, business portraits or a little bit of everything, I'd love to help you create photographs that reflect your brand and give you plenty of content to work with.