Ladron de Manzanas | Beverage Lifestyle Photographer Mauricio Candela for Heineken & Sra. Rushmore

Mauricio Candela
Jan 11, 2020
4 min read

Updated: 2 days ago

Beverage lifestyle photography — Ladron de Manzanas apple cider campaign by Mauricio Candela

Beverage Lifestyle Photographer Behind the Lens: The Cider, the Fox, and the Creative Vision

When it comes to capturing a brand's personality through photography, few assignments are as energizing as working with a product like Ladron de Manzanas. Popular across Spain, this apple cider drink from Heineken is more than just a beverage — it's a visual and emotional experience. With its playful branding and eclectic audience, it presented a unique storytelling opportunity for a beverage lifestyle photographer.

In 2019, Miami-based photographer and director Mauricio Candela was selected by the Spanish agency Sra. Rushmore to direct and shoot the still photography for their new digital campaign for the brand. Over two intense but exhilarating days, the team created a full library of lifestyle imagery and content for social media, digital platforms, and advertising assets.

This campaign became a perfect example of how color, character, and composition come together to reinforce a brand's identity — and how the right beverage lifestyle photographer can transform a tight timeline into a successful, high-impact campaign.

Heineken Ladron de Manzanas lifestyle advertising still — beverage photographer Mauricio Candela Spain

Setting the Tone: How a Beverage Lifestyle Photographer Uses Color as Storytelling

Ladron de Manzanas — which translates to "apple thief" — is as much about personality as it is about product. The brand stands out with a playful, rebellious attitude that's reflected in its name, logo (a fox), and overall visual identity.

One of the first creative goals was to capture this character through a distinct color palette. The brand's reds, greens, and warm neutrals weren't just a guideline — they were central to the storytelling. Every wardrobe selection, background element, and prop was carefully curated to echo this palette, creating visual harmony across the entire campaign.

In today's digital ecosystem, visual consistency matters more than ever. Audiences scrolling through Instagram or a landing page instantly connect with brands that speak a clear, cohesive visual language — and this campaign was built to do exactly that.

Beverage lifestyle photographer Mauricio Candela — Ladron de Manzanas campaign Sra. Rushmore

The Team Behind a Successful Beverage Advertising Campaign

Creative projects like this succeed not just because of great ideas, but because of flawless teamwork. Sra. Rushmore brought a sharp creative strategy and a deep understanding of the brand — their direction was clear, collaborative, and open to creative exploration.

On the production side, Timing Produccion Grafica assembled a crew of talented stylists, producers, set designers, and assistants. Every team member understood the goal: bring the spirit of Ladron de Manzanas to life without over-polishing or staging it beyond recognition.

This spirit of collaborative agility was critical. The team had to generate a large volume of material — dozens of unique setups, models, and compositions across multiple environments — all within just two days. That required careful planning, but also the flexibility to adapt and move quickly when the moment called for it.

Candid and Real: Beverage Lifestyle Photography That Connects with Audiences

For a product like apple cider — especially one associated with youth, fun, and spontaneity — the photography needed to feel real and relatable. This wasn't about studio lighting or picture-perfect table setups. It was about capturing people in genuine moments: laughing, lounging, sipping, and socializing.

This is the kind of work Mauricio does best as a beverage lifestyle photographer: imagery that prioritizes emotion and authenticity over perfection. The approach leaned on natural light, handheld shots, and letting the talent interact naturally rather than posing them rigidly.

The shoot took place in environments that felt like real places people would enjoy a cider — urban rooftops, casual indoor gatherings, and open-air spaces — allowing the team to build believable narratives that invite audiences into each scene.

Apple cider lifestyle photography — Ladron de Manzanas digital campaign Spain by Mauricio Candela

Shooting for Digital Platforms: The Smart Asset Strategy of a Beverage Lifestyle Photographer

From a technical perspective, this wasn't just about beautiful photography. The assets needed to function across multiple formats: Instagram carousels, Facebook ads, landing pages, digital banners, and more.

That meant paying close attention to negative space for text overlays, ensuring vertical and square format coverage, and shooting alternate takes with varied compositions. The team also captured loop-friendly footage and short stop-motion sequences to give the brand additional tools for social storytelling.

Working in today's advertising world means thinking beyond the single image — it's about versatility. Every frame created was a potential piece of content for multiple touchpoints across the brand's digital ecosystem.

Beverage advertising photography — Ladron de Manzanas Heineken campaign lifestyle shot

A Brand, a Fox, and a Shoot to Remember

At the heart of the Ladron de Manzanas campaign is the fox — the visual emblem of the brand's playful "thief" identity. Quick, curious, and full of character — just like the shoot itself.

While the campaign required focus and discipline, it also left room for improvisation and instinct — two qualities that define Mauricio Candela's approach to commercial and beverage lifestyle photography. Whether adjusting a prop, repositioning a model, or catching a burst of laughter mid-frame, the energy on set was contagious and real.

Photography has the power to connect products to people. This campaign is a reminder that even a bottle of cider, when approached with genuine creativity and the right visual eye, can become the hero of a story worth telling.

Next time you’re in Spain…

If you find yourself in Madrid, Barcelona, or anywhere else in Spain, look for the fox. Pick up a bottle of Ladron de Manzanas and enjoy it the way we imagined it—cool, casual, and surrounded by good company.

Photography has the power to connect products to people. And this campaign is a reminder that even a bottle of cider, when approached creatively, can become the hero of a story worth telling.