Use this cheat sheet to familiarize yourself with basic shot types, terminology, and more.
Static shots are shots that you hold or lock in one place. This list does not contain every type of static shot that exists, merely the ones you’ll want to know.
NOTE: These shots are taken from the perspective of Camera 1. However, they apply to all angles and are merely about vertical spacing (from the top of the frame to the bottom!)
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WIDE SHOT
A shot that encompasses the entire environment. This one is often used in movies to “set a scene” or to provide some level of impact.
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FULL SHOT
A full shot shows the entire subject from top to bottom. Best used in pan shots or shots with multiple subjects.
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COWBOY SHOT
This type of shot was used in old westerns to show a gunslinger’s holster at their waist. It usually covers the subject from knee-level and up.
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MEDIUM SHOT
A medium shot covers a subject from the waist up. These are great for solo singing parts or when you’re capturing an instrumentalist!
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CLOSEUP SHOT
This shot type is best used in emotionally impactful moments, usually covering the torso/chest and up. This is great for prayers and in-betweens.
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ESTABLISHING SHOT
This shot is typically used to set the scene narratively. It tells us where we are and some possible context for what’s happening.
This often takes the form of a wide or extreme wide shot, but it can take other forms as well.
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Dynamic shots are shots that involve movement.
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This shot involves shifting your shot to the left or to the right. You should pan in 1 direction only. Don’t switch directions mid-pan!
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This means shifting your shot up or down. Like the pan shot, only tilt in 1 direction.
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This shot involves zooming one-directionally towards or away from a subject.
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A shot that follows the subject as they move.
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This shot involves coming into focus on a subject or going out of focus, for effect.
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