Big light panels

[Michaelaw]

I MUST GET SOME!!!
For the time being.

[Runmonty]

I dont think you need the light panels. I like this as is. I find it really hard to get shots of bottle and glasses etc (particulalry with beads of water) and you have done it well.

(part of my problem is I keep deciding to lower the level of wine in the glass only to change my mind and top it up again. This cycle continues many times until I cant stand)

[Marko]

Good play here - but this is hard stuff. Overall it's too dark to my eye and looks underexposed.
I agree w/RM - no lite panels needed. Reflect off of large pieces of bristol board for 2-4 dollars for larger areas. Then use Gobos (anything that blocks light) when needed and small to teeny reflectors for local areas that need pop. Use more backlighting and you'll see an even huger difference.

Way back when Jesus was a toddler we set up shots like this in photo school. We were given 4 hours for shoots like this.
3:45 minutes was spent on manipulating the light.... these shoots are very hard indeed and much patience and fiddling are required.