Tabletop Director of Photography in Los Angeles

Specializing in Food, Beverage, and Product Cinematography

I’m Drew Lauer—a Los Angeles-based tabletop director of photography (DP), motion control operator, and commercial video specialist. I focus on tabletop cinematography for food, beverage, beauty, and product brands that want their visuals to taste as good as they look.

From molten cheese pulls to crystal-clear beverage splashes, I use tabletop cinematography to elevate even the simplest product into a storytelling moment. Whether you're shooting a national QSR campaign or launching a skincare serum, this is where precision and creativity meet.


What Is Tabletop Cinematography?

Tabletop cinematography is the art of capturing small-scale, high-detail scenes with style and clarity. Think:

  • A cola splash frozen mid-air

  • Lipstick twirling in slow motion

  • Frost forming on a beer can

  • Steam rising from a bowl of ramen

These shots aren’t just pretty—they’re engineered to stop your audience mid-scroll.

As a tabletop DP in Los Angeles, I build sequences that create what I call “impact frames”—micro-moments that burn into your brain and make you say:
“Whoa. I want that.”

My Approach to Tabletop Video Production

1. Pre-Visualization

We map out each shot—from timing to product movement to lighting rigs. Tabletop cinematography lives and dies by the details, so we storyboard, previz, and prototype rigs before rolling a single frame.

2. Lighting for Texture and Appetite Appeal

Lighting tabletop scenes requires nuance. From buttery highlights on a croissant to glowy reflections on a serum bottle, I use precision lighting setups that enhance texture, form, and realism—especially in food cinematography and beauty product cinematography.

3. High-Speed & Macro Cinematography

I shoot with Phantom Flex, RED, or ARRI (from media[box] camera) setups to unlock slow-motion captures and razor-sharp close-ups. With the right lenses and frame rates, your product becomes larger than life.

4. Motion Control Cinematography

Enter Colossus and MIA—my motion control robots from Motorized Precision. These rigs create perfectly repeatable moves, essential for complex splash sequences or multi-pass composites. When your campaign needs a high-impact moment, motion control cinematography takes it there.

5. Top-Tier Crew

I work with LA’s best tabletop stylists, food artists, rig builders, and prop teams. Whether styling foam on a cappuccino or prepping a glossy beauty compact, they bring the magic.

Tabletop Projects I Work On

I serve as a tabletop cinematographer for a wide range of industries, including:

Every product has a story—and I know how to light it, frame it, and make it memorable.

Why Los Angeles?

LA is home to some of the most experienced tabletop cinematography teams in the world—and I’ve built strong partnerships with stylists, set builders, and studios who know the grind.

Whether we’re shooting in a dedicated prep kitchen, product studio, or bringing in full robot rigs, we have the infrastructure to scale up or stay nimble. Fast turnarounds? No problem.

Booking a Tabletop Shoot with Drew Lauer

You can book me as:

  • A Tabletop Director + DP (full campaign creative + execution)

  • A Tabletop Director of Photography for your in-house or agency-directed shoot

  • A Motion Control Operator + Cinematographer with robot gear included

  • A Tabletop DP for social shoots, digital campaigns, or national commercials

My focus is always on high-level execution and seamless collaboration—whether you're a creative agency, brand team, or production house.