The Wine Spa
Soak It In: Behind the Lens at The Wine Spa PDX
Some shoots feel like work, and others feel like a gift. This one was the latter — and it smelled incredible.
When The Wine Spa PDX reached out ahead of their Portland opening, I knew this was going to be something special. They're the first and only dedicated wine spa in the United States, bringing the ancient European tradition of vinotherapy to the Pacific Northwest and partnering with Willamette Valley wineries to do it sustainably. As someone who's spent nearly 20 years photographing brands across the country and around the world, I don't say "one of a kind" lightly. This place really is.
We started with their signature Caudalie facials — the Wine Spa is the only spa in Oregon to offer these treatments, with estheticians trained by a team that flew in from Paris. Photographing skincare work is all about timing and trust; you have to move quietly and let the experience unfold. From there, we moved to product work: a dropper suspended mid-pour, a single bead of product catching the light. These details matter enormously to a brand where the ingredients are the whole story.
Then came the wine bath. The Wine Spa has built its entire concept around harnessing the antioxidant power of grape and vine for skin and wellness, partnering with local wineries to upcycle wine that would otherwise go to waste. Their vinotherapy rooms are fully private and designed for total relaxation. Photographing the bath required a light touch — the overhead angle, the foam, the deep red of a wine glass against white bubbles. I wanted the images to feel decadent without being over-styled.
I've spent a lot of time in the wine world over the years — photographing bottles, winemakers, and vineyards up and down the West Coast, and even designing labels. So there was an extra layer of excitement to this one. Wine in a bathtub is not something I'd ever photographed before, and I loved exploring such a familiar subject from a completely unexpected angle. Twenty years in, and a single phone call can still put you somewhere entirely new.
The Wine Spa was recently named one of Time Magazine's 100 Greatest Places in the World to Visit in 2025 — well deserved. If you're a wellness brand or hospitality business looking for photography that captures the feeling of your space, I'd love to connect.
Leah Flores is a Portland-based commercial photographer with nearly 20 years of experience working with brands including Nike, National Geographic, and VICE News. She specializes in adventure, outdoor, and lifestyle brand photography across the Pacific Northwest and beyond.
Portland commercial photographer, spa brand photography, vinotherapy photography, The Wine Spa PDX, wellness brand photographer, spa photography Portland Oregon, commercial brand photography PNW, beauty and wellness photographer
