Filmmaking 101: Shots Every Videographer Should Know

Every scene in movies, television and even YouTube videos contains a variety of shot types. These shots can tell a story, conveying a sense of place, a subject's range of emotions, and much more. 

Read on to learn more about these shots, including how to achieve them and when to use them. For this shoot, we used a Sony FX6 with various lenses.

It's important to note that each lens’ focal length is more significant than the brand. We'll pay special attention to how focal length plays a key role in each shot.

Shots are generally divided into three main sizes relevant to the subject: wide, medium and close shots. While wide shots and close shots are on opposite ends of the spectrum, medium shots fall somewhere between, allowing a mixture of focus on the subject and the environment.

Wide shots, also known as long shots, are mainly used to emphasize place, location, and distance. The lens is often far from the subject to draw attention to the scene’s surroundings. Typically, you'll want to choose a wider focal length for a wide shot. For these examples, we used a combination of wide lenses, including a Rokinon XEEN 35mm T1.5 FE, a Sony FE 24mm f/1.4 GM and a Zeiss 35mm T1.5 FE CP.2 Super Speed. 

Extreme Wide Shot

These are most commonly used for establishing shots, focusing mainly on the location or to detail the expanse of a setting.

It may be useful if you're opening on a scene and want to show where you are or draw attention to the location. You want to use a wide lens for an extreme-wide shot or an establishing shot, so grab a 16mm, 24mm, or even a 35mm.

Wide Shot

Typically this shot shows our subject from head to toe while keeping the location as the scene's focus. These shots can be used to show loneliness, isolation or the concept of being small in a big world.

Full Shot

This shot is as it sounds. It includes the subject fully from head to toe, with the subject roughly filling the frame. Typically this shot is used to emphasize action and movement rather than emotion.

Medium Wide Shot

While similar to the full shot, the medium-wide shot cuts the subject off at the knee, emphasizing the subject more. This shot is also known as a 3/4 shot.

Cowboy Shot

A special type of medium-wide shot is the cowboy shot. Made famous in Western films, it was created to keep the cowboy’s gun and holster within the frame and usually begins at mid-thigh up. With a slight angle upwards, it can convey a feeling of confidence, power or danger.

Medium Shot

We also have a medium shot, a bit closer at the waist up. These shots still heavily feature the environment but bring us closer to the subject.

Medium Close Up

The medium close-up shot features the environment but focuses more on the subject and starts from the chest up. This allows you to see facial expressions while still getting a glimpse of the background.

Close Up

In close-up shots, the subject's head and face take up most of the frame, drawing attention to a character's reaction or emotional state. This can be used in filmmaking to create an underlying powerful moment in a scene.

We used a Sigma Cine 50-100mm T2 E zoom lens for our close-shot examples.

Extreme Close Up

Beyond the close-up is the extreme close-up, which emphasizes the smallest details on an object or a subject's face. These shots are intense and typically call for a long focal length.

Choker 

Chokers are similar to extreme close-ups but are identified by framing the subject from above the eyebrows to right below the mouth.

This very intense shot could be used to underline a reaction or convey a feeling of suspense.

Camera Placement

Some more advanced camera shots can be identified by the camera angle and placement relevant to the subject. These shots can be used to further affect the tone or mood of a film.

Low Angle

A low angle is when the frame is positioned below the eye line level, looking up at the subject above. This angle can create a sense of power or make a subject appear larger.

High Angle

Another cinematography technique, a high-angle shot, points at the subject from above. This shot makes a subject appear vulnerable, powerless or weak.

Eye Level

The most straightforward camera placement may be at eye level, where the camera is level with the human eye. This neutral placement gives you plenty of room to play with composition.

Dutch Angle

A slightly more stylized shot, the Dutch angle features a tilt and skew to the horizon. This shot is common in expressionist filmmaking, and it's effective when trying to create an uneasy tone.

Now you know most of the shots that every filmmaker starts with. Apply them to your next project and see what works best for your scene and story.

Think about the emotion you want to convey in every moment. This will help you decide what shots or combination of shots to use and what type of lens or focal length to employ.

For more filmmaking tips and techniques on the MPB Content Hub, read these helpful related articles:

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