The Brief
An artisanal passion fruit mezcal brand needed a vertical video ad optimized for Instagram Reels and TikTok. The goal: capture the lifestyle and ritual of the product — the pour, the bartender's hands, the atmosphere — in a format that feels native to social feeds but elevated enough to stand out.
The Approach
I went for a bartender/lifestyle aesthetic rather than a static product shot. The idea was to put the bottle in motion, in context, surrounded by the sensory cues of the drinking experience. I combined AI-generated imagery for specific atmospheric and detail shots with real product footage to keep the bottle grounded in reality.
Camera movements are intentional and dynamic — quick cuts between close-ups of the pour, the label, and the glass, creating rhythm without losing the premium feel.
The Process
Tools: Higgsfield AI for generated imagery, CapCut for editing and pacing
Timeline: ~2 hours from concept to final cut
Iterations: 2 attempts — selected the strongest video from both
Technique: Hybrid approach mixing AI-generated frames (atmospheric/detail shots) with real product as the anchor. This keeps the ad feeling authentic while expanding what's visually possible without a full set.
The Result
A ready-to-publish vertical ad (9:16) that blends AI-generated visuals with real product photography. The hybrid workflow proves you can produce scroll-stopping social content for a real brand without a studio, lighting rig, or bartender on call.
Deliverables:
1 vertical social ad (9:16, optimized for Reels/TikTok)
Hybrid AI + real product visual approach
Full edit with pacing designed for mobile-first attention spans
0 likes · 28 views · Apr 29, 2026
A vertical social media ad for an artisanal mezcal brand, blending AI-generated visuals with real product footage. Produced in 2 hours.
