Shot Types and Camera Angles

Welcome to the world of the Cinematographer - also known as the Director of Photography, DP or DoP -  this is the head of the camera and lighting crews, working closely with the director, and is responsible for the look of the film. They choose the lighting of a shot and will decide with the director on the shot types and angles. 

Shot Types

Shot name	Use	Image
Close Up	Focuses in on what one person has to say or shows reaction in facial expression
Medium Shot	Concentrates attention on single character, usually from the waist up
Long Shot/Full Shot	Puts one character in context in his or her surroundings, shows the whole person.
Extreme Close Up	Unreal viewpoint, focusing on a single feature of a person such as the nose, mouth, a hand etc, for effect or to draw attention to it.
Wide Shot	Puts characters in context to show their location and how they relate to it.
Establishing shot	Shows where action takes place and sets the scene at the start of an episode or event. Often pans or zooms in slowly as the scene is set.
Two-shot	Shot showing 2 characters. Used for conversation between equals where what both characters say or do is equally important.
POV shot	Point of View. Used so the audience watch the scene from a character’s eyes.
Over the Shoulder Shot	Used for conversation where one person’s speech is more important than the other.

Camera Angles

Angle name	Use	Image
Low Angle	Creates the feeling that the viewer is small and vulnerable and the character here is powerful. Also used to make small actors (e.g Tom Cruise, James McAvoy) seem taller.
Eye Level	A Neutral, natural angle.
Cowboy Shot	A shot framed from mid thigh up. So called because of its use for gunfights in westerns.
High Angle	Creates the feeling that the character here is being viewed by a more powerful presence positioned near the ceiling. Used in thriller films to show someone being watched.

Camera movements

Tracking shot/Crabbing/Dolly shot - The camera follows the action in a smooth movement usually keeping an equal distance from the subject.

Follow Shot/Steadicam shot
A smooth, fluid shoot that follows the action in one steady movement.

Panning shot
A shot that moves horizontally left or right even though the camera stays fixed.

Tilt shot
A shot that moves vertically up or down while the camera stays fixed.


For more information and for more shot types look at:

Empire's 30 shots you should know.