When I shot and directed Bacardi spec video with my friends, I searched the web to find a really cool trick shot I could use for the shoot.

By placing your tripod on a table surface, you can create a natural swivel and jib-arm shot with your camera. Tuvy Lemberg from V-Flat World also used this technique and this is his BTS video for a coffee product he filmed.

Here are the steps we took to achieve this cool shot.

Setting the Scene: To capture the perfect coffee shot, Tuvy first arranged the products and props on the Duo Boards to add some production design. He then places the camera on a tripod, frames the shot, and makes sure his framing is correct.
Securing Stability: Tuvy extends the two front legs of the tripod and cleverly tapes them to the table. This ingenious move keeps the tripod steady, allowing for a fluid quarter-circle motion of the camera.
Focus on Precision: With the camera poised, Tuvy adjusts the lens to focus directly on the coffee mug. This step ensures that the focal point remains consistent, capturing every detail from each camera position. Quick tip: increase the f-stop or decrease the aperture diameter on your camera so you can have a deeper depth of field and more range with your focus.
Capturing the Moment: As Tuvy's assistant delicately pours coffee beans into the mug, he swings the tripod and camera down in a graceful arc. This motion mimics a jib-arm movement, adding a dynamic and engaging element to the shot.
Clever Editing: In the editing room, Tuvy fine-tunes the footage, and reverses the shot so the viewer can see the coffee beans coming out of the mug which gives the scene a unique effect.

Capturing unique camera movements is a great way for you to set your videos apart from others. This trick shot is quite simple and doesn’t require expensive equipment or a huge crew. Remember that production design is also a very important element to product videos, so hire an art director and make your shots stand out with or without cool camera movements.