My inspiration for this class stemmed from a shot I took using direct light for a previous demo video. I loved the overall effect but wished the shadows weren't so deep and harsh and also wished the shape of the plant matched the vibe better. This is where I started:
Tailoring in my light for a more subtle and soft effect gave me easier light to work with. Casting a shadow became less finicky and mitigating deep dark shadows was minimized.

This shot was from my first attempt, I ended up not liking the large ice cubes and decided to use crushed ice going forward. I love how dramatic the color fade is on this drink too.

My next attempt was seeing what would happen if I poured the grenadine on top of the cocktail. This is when I learned that the grenadine naturally wants to sink to the bottom, so that solidified my choice to layer that element in first! 

And finally, the shot I got for the demo in class! As you saw, I wished I had run into town to get another pineapple since mine is looking spooky af. But overall that tiny orchid blossom and pretty light have me sold! Looking back I wish I'd chosen to swap out the background so I'd have more variety in my shots but it was really convenient to leave this set up and be able to just turn my light on and shoot whatever I had made throughout the week. I also never took a wide shot which is a mistake I know all too well... So if you look too closely at my class cover pic you might notice that the leaf on the right is absolutely AI generated using Photoshop. Technology is WILD.

Wow, thanks for reading :)