Sip and Snack by S’well
Brand Storytelling with Diverse Talent for Sustainable Products
Brand Overview
S’well is a leader in the sustainable hydration space, known for creating the original fashion-forward stainless steel water bottle. The brand is built on the mission of reducing single-use plastic waste while maintaining a high standard of design and performance. Their product line has expanded beyond the signature bottle to include a variety of insulated food and beverage containers, all engineered to keep contents at the desired temperature for hours. By blending technical excellence with a modern aesthetic, S’well has turned a functional necessity into a stylish lifestyle accessory.
Project Objective
The brand requested product imagery for their new Marble Collection, which features a range of products in pink, blue, green, and purple colorways. The primary directive for this project was to feature diverse models to showcase the broad appeal of the collection. To ensure the new assets integrated well with our recent back-to-school content, the objective was to create lifestyle scenes that felt youthful and energetic while highlighting the portability and durability of the containers.
Production Challenges
The main challenge for this shoot was the minimal creative direction provided by the brand. Because the marketing team was balancing a heavy workload, I took the lead on the conceptual strategy to ensure the results met their high standards. Another challenge was maintaining a logical brand narrative; since the models for the outdoor scenes were children, I had to be careful about which products they were paired with. It was important to avoid depicting kids using coffee-specific containers, so I had to plan the shoot in two distinct segments to keep the brand story consistent and appropriate for the different product types.
Creative Process
I used a local playground to set a relatable scene for the kid-centric products, using diverse models to fulfill the brand's primary request. I used simple props like a picnic blanket and snacks to create an authentic afternoon atmosphere that allowed the marble patterns of the water bottles and snack containers to stand out.
To handle the coffee thermoses, I moved the production to a kitchen counter to create a more mature, refined coffee scene. This allowed me to showcase the full collection in environments that made sense for each specific product. By separating the kid-focused playground shots from the adult-focused kitchen styling, I provided S’well with a versatile set of images for this new collection that cover multiple demographics.
“These are amazing! I already sent my team the link to preview and they're in love with these deliverables. Thanks so much for going ahead and shooting — the images are exactly what we were looking for!”
—Margaret, Digital Content Manager
Images In Use
