Food + Beverage Motion

Cinemagraphs

Still photography with one thing moving.

Cinemagraphs, Parallax Loops, and Stop Motion

Hybrid still and motion assets, produced in the same day as the stills

A cinemagraph is a photograph where one element keeps moving and everything else stays frozen. The martini glass holds still while the pour never ends. The burger sits perfectly plated while steam keeps rising. That contrast is what stops a thumb mid-scroll, and it is why these assets hold attention longer than a static frame in the same feed placement.

We have been producing cinemagraphs for food and drink brands for over a decade. They are captured on the same set, with the same lighting, as your stills, so the motion assets and the photography look like they belong to one campaign rather than two separate productions.

Cinemagraphs + Parallax Loops
Stop Motion + Social Cutdowns
MP4, WEBM, and GIF Delivery

Captured alongside stills on the same shoot day.

The Technique

One moving element, everything else locked

We shoot high frame rate video on a locked-off camera, then mask the frame in post so only the chosen element animates. The loop point is hidden inside the motion itself, which is why a good cinemagraph never appears to restart. Liquids do this best: pours, drips, condensation, steam, and ripples all move in ways the eye reads as continuous.

Roughly 2 to 4 hours of post per finished loop

Where It Runs

Built for the placement, not just the portfolio

Every platform has its own rules for file size, loop length, and aspect ratio. We deliver each loop cut for where it actually runs: 9:16 for Stories and Reels, 1:1 for feed, 16:9 for site heroes and digital signage, plus a GIF fallback for email and programmatic display. One capture session produces the full set.

Vertical, square, and wide from one shoot

Motion Portfolio

Selected Cinemagraph and Loop Work

Cinemagraphs, parallax loops, and stop motion produced for spirits, restaurant, and hospitality brands.

Nespresso pumpkin spice latte stop motion animation with rhythmic food pacing

Trusted by Global Brands, Agencies, and Hospitality Groups

American Express Logo - Client of Brent Herrig Photography
Chase Logo - Client of Brent Herrig Photography
JP Morgan Chase Logo - Client of Brent Herrig Photography
The Wall Street Journal Logo - Client of Brent Herrig Photography
The New York Times Logo - Client of Brent Herrig Photography
CNN Logo - Client of Brent Herrig Photography
GQ Logo - Client of Brent Herrig Photography
Bon Appétit Logo - Client of Brent Herrig Photography
Food & Wine Logo - Client of Brent Herrig Photography
Shake Shack Logo - Client of Brent Herrig Photography
Nobu Restaurants Logo - Client of Brent Herrig Photography
Benihana Logo - Client of Brent Herrig Photography
Diageo Logo - Client of Brent Herrig Photography
LVMH Logo - Client of Brent Herrig Photography
Tanqueray Logo - Client of Brent Herrig Photography
Ketel One Logo - Client of Brent Herrig Photography
Belvedere Vodka Logo - Client of Brent Herrig Photography
Baileys Logo - Client of Brent Herrig Photography
Patrón Tequila Logo - Client of Brent Herrig Photography
Cincoro Tequila Logo - Client of Brent Herrig Photography
The Botanist Logo - Client of Brent Herrig Photography
Rosewood Hotel Group Logo - Client of Brent Herrig Photography
Union Square Hospitality Group Logo - Client of Brent Herrig Photography
Starr Restaurants Logo - Client of Brent Herrig Photography
Unilever Logo - Client of Brent Herrig Photography
Pepsi Logo - Client of Brent Herrig Photography
NFL Logo - Client of Brent Herrig Photography
NY Giants Logo - Client of Brent Herrig Photography
NY Jets Logo - Client of Brent Herrig Photography
Bayou Logo - Client of Brent Herrig Photography
Moët Hennessy Logo - Client of Brent Herrig Photography
Stoli Group Logo - Client of Brent Herrig Photography
Greenhook Ginsmiths Logo - Client of Brent Herrig Photography
Maille Logo - Client of Brent Herrig Photography
American Express Logo - Client of Brent Herrig Photography
Chase Logo - Client of Brent Herrig Photography
JP Morgan Chase Logo - Client of Brent Herrig Photography
The Wall Street Journal Logo - Client of Brent Herrig Photography
The New York Times Logo - Client of Brent Herrig Photography
CNN Logo - Client of Brent Herrig Photography
GQ Logo - Client of Brent Herrig Photography
Bon Appétit Logo - Client of Brent Herrig Photography
Food & Wine Logo - Client of Brent Herrig Photography
Shake Shack Logo - Client of Brent Herrig Photography
Nobu Restaurants Logo - Client of Brent Herrig Photography
Benihana Logo - Client of Brent Herrig Photography
Diageo Logo - Client of Brent Herrig Photography
LVMH Logo - Client of Brent Herrig Photography
Tanqueray Logo - Client of Brent Herrig Photography
Ketel One Logo - Client of Brent Herrig Photography
Belvedere Vodka Logo - Client of Brent Herrig Photography
Baileys Logo - Client of Brent Herrig Photography
Patrón Tequila Logo - Client of Brent Herrig Photography
Cincoro Tequila Logo - Client of Brent Herrig Photography
The Botanist Logo - Client of Brent Herrig Photography
Rosewood Hotel Group Logo - Client of Brent Herrig Photography
Union Square Hospitality Group Logo - Client of Brent Herrig Photography
Starr Restaurants Logo - Client of Brent Herrig Photography
Unilever Logo - Client of Brent Herrig Photography
Pepsi Logo - Client of Brent Herrig Photography
NFL Logo - Client of Brent Herrig Photography
NY Giants Logo - Client of Brent Herrig Photography
NY Jets Logo - Client of Brent Herrig Photography
Bayou Logo - Client of Brent Herrig Photography
Moët Hennessy Logo - Client of Brent Herrig Photography
Stoli Group Logo - Client of Brent Herrig Photography
Greenhook Ginsmiths Logo - Client of Brent Herrig Photography
Maille Logo - Client of Brent Herrig Photography

How Projects Work

A clear process from brief to delivery

01

Pre-Production

Brief, placements, shot list, styling direction, crew, and logistics. We align on deliverables before shoot day.

02

Production

Studio or on-location. Still and motion captured together when it improves efficiency and output.

03

Post + Delivery

Retouching, color, compositing, and exports organized by channel and usage.

The Formats, Explained

Cinemagraph, parallax, stop motion, and loop all get used interchangeably. They are different techniques with different costs and different jobs. Here is what each one actually is.

Cinemagraph

A photograph where one element loops and the rest stays frozen. Shot as video on a locked-off camera, then masked in post so only the pour, steam, or drip moves. Best for drinks, anything with liquid, and any placement where a static image would get scrolled past.

Parallax Loop

Stop Motion

Moving Portrait

Liquid Motion + High Speed

Social Loop + GIF

FAQ about Cinemagraphs

What is a cinemagraph?

A cinemagraph is a still photograph with one isolated element left moving on a loop. Everything else in the frame stays completely frozen. It is captured as video on a locked-off camera, then masked in post so only the chosen element animates. The effect reads as a photograph that forgot to stop.

What is the difference between a cinemagraph, a parallax, and a stop motion?

A cinemagraph freezes the frame and lets one real element keep moving, usually a liquid. A parallax takes a single still image, splits it into depth layers, and slides those layers at different speeds so it feels like a camera move that never happened. Stop motion is frame-by-frame animation, where the product is physically nudged between stills so it appears to move itself. Cinemagraph is the subtlest, parallax is the cheapest to produce from existing assets, and stop motion is the most playful and the slowest to shoot.

What is the difference between a cinemagraph and a GIF?

GIF is a file format, cinemagraph is a technique. A standard GIF usually loops a full video clip where everything moves. A cinemagraph isolates the motion to one element inside an otherwise still frame. We deliver cinemagraphs as MP4 and WEBM for social platforms, with GIF as a fallback for email and display.

Where do cinemagraphs perform best?

Paid social and organic feed placements, site hero sections, product pages, email, programmatic display, and in-store digital signage. Anywhere a static image is competing against video for attention, the subtle motion buys you extra dwell time.

How long does a cinemagraph take to produce?

Roughly 2 to 4 hours of post-production per finished loop, after capture. Capture itself is quick when it is planned into a stills day. We usually recommend batching several loops into a half day or full day so the setup and lighting cost is shared.

Can you make a cinemagraph from footage we already have?

Sometimes. It needs to have been shot on a locked-off camera or a tripod with no drift, and it needs a motion element worth isolating. Handheld footage almost never works. The results are always stronger when the shot was planned as a cinemagraph from the start.

What subjects work best for cinemagraphs?

Liquids first: pours, drips, steam, condensation, ripples, and fizz. After that, smoke, flame, fabric, hair, falling ingredients, and weather. We will point out which elements in your shot list will carry motion during planning.

What formats do you deliver?

MP4 and WEBM as standard, plus GIF where the placement needs it. Each loop is cut to 9:16, 1:1, and 16:9 so it runs in Stories, feed, and on a site or screen without another production.

Can you match our existing brand look?

Yes. We work from your brand guidelines and existing asset library so the loops sit next to your current photography rather than looking like a separate campaign. That is the main reason to shoot motion and stills on the same day.
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