Different types of camera shots

By Sophie Graham

Extreme close up Extreme close up shows the expression on someone face and can show lot more detail than you would see on a close up shot. This is sometimes used for horror movie poster to show how an actor was feeling.

Close upClose up shot is a shot which tightly fits a person or object. A close up usually means a close up of someone’s face. A close is where you can see a bit of detail but not as much as the extreme close up

Head and shoulders

A head shot or headshot is a specific type of portrait (usually a photograph) that realistically demonstrates a persons appearance for branding or casting. Many head shots are promotional pictures of actors, models and authors

Bust shot

A medium close-up (MCU) is a shot cropped between the shoulders and the belt line. Also called a bust shot. MCU of an object, This is based on full size of the object

Medium shot

• Medium shots are favored in sequences where dialogues or a small group of people are acting, as they give the viewer a partial view of the background

Medium long shot

• Also known as a three-quarters shot. Frames the whole subject from the knees up. An intermediate shot between the long shot and the medium shot. Shows the subject in relation to the surroundings. May be used when you have 2 or 3 persons in the frame.

Long shot

A long shot(sometimes referred to as a full shot or a wide shot) typically shows the entire object or human figure and is usually intended to place it in some relation to its surroundings. A long shot is often used to set the scene in a film. Such scene-setting shots are known as establishing shots

Extra long shot An Extreme Long Shot can be taken from as much as a quarter of a mile away, and is generally used as a scene-setting, establishing shot. It normally shows an EXTERIOR, e.g. the outside of a building, or a landscape, and is often used to show scenes of thrilling action e.g. in a war film or disaster movie.

2 shotA two shot is a type of shot in which the frame encompasses a view of two people (the subjects). The subjects do not have to be next to each other, and there are many common two-shots which have one subject in the foreground and the other subject in the background. It is very useful if the film is about two people.

Over shoulder

The back of the shoulder and head of this person is used to frame the image of whatever (or whomever) the camera is pointing toward. This type of shot is very common when two characters are having a discussion and will usually follow an establishing shot which helps the audience place the characters in their setting.

3 shot

A Three-shot photo is A medium shot which has featuring three actors or models