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Camera shot types, angles and movements explained

Every picture on this page is the same scene: a girl waving in the park while her dad points at her. Only the camera changes, so you can see exactly what each shot, angle and movement does, what it makes the audience feel, and when to use it.

Three questions for every shot

How much is in the frame? That is the shot type. Where is the camera? That is the angle. Does the camera move? That is the movement. A storyboard records all three for every frame, and each choice changes what the audience feels: closer shots bring emotion, wider shots bring context, and angles and movement add power, unease or energy.

Shot types: how much is in the frame

Ten shot types, from closest to widest, then the ones defined by who is in the frame.

Extreme close-up: a girl waving in the park, her dad pointing
Extreme close-upECUOne detail fills the frame: eyes, a hand, a product. Builds tension or makes the audience notice something small.
Close-up: a girl waving in the park, her dad pointing
Close-upCUA face fills the frame. Shows emotion clearly and makes the audience feel close to the character.
Medium close-up: a girl waving in the park, her dad pointing
Medium close-upMCUHead and chest. The usual shot for someone talking to camera, such as a presenter or an interview.
Mid shot: a girl waving in the park, her dad pointing
Mid shotMSFrom the waist up. Shows expression and gesture together; good for conversation and everyday action.
Long shot: a girl waving in the park, her dad pointing
Long shotLSThe whole person, head to feet, with some of the setting. Shows what someone is doing and where.
Wide shot: a girl waving in the park, her dad pointing
Wide shotWSPeople are small in a large space. Shows the setting and how people relate to it; can make someone look alone.
Establishing shot: a girl waving in the park, her dad pointing
Establishing shotThe whole location, usually first in a scene, so the audience knows where and when the action happens.
Two-shot: a girl waving in the park, her dad pointing
Two-shotTwo people in one frame. Shows the relationship between them: friends, rivals, a parent and child.
Over-the-shoulder: a girl waving in the park, her dad pointing
Over-the-shoulderOTSFilmed from behind one person, looking at another. Puts the audience inside a conversation.
Point of view: a girl waving in the park, her dad pointing
Point of viewPOVWhat a character sees, as if through their eyes. Makes the audience share that character's experience.

Camera angles: where the camera is

The same long shot from five camera positions. Angle changes how the audience sees the character: as an equal, from above, from below, from the sky, or slightly off balance.

Eye level: a girl waving in the park, her dad pointing
Eye levelThe camera is level with the subject's eyes. Neutral and natural: the audience meets the character as an equal.
High angle: a girl waving in the park, her dad pointing
High angleThe camera looks down. Makes the subject look smaller, weaker or more vulnerable.
Low angle: a girl waving in the park, her dad pointing
Low angleThe camera looks up. Makes the subject look bigger, stronger or more important: the hero shot.
Aerial or bird's-eye: a girl waving in the park, her dad pointing
Aerial or bird's-eyeStraight down from above, often by drone. Shows a layout or pattern and makes people look tiny.
Dutch angle: a girl waving in the park, her dad pointing
Dutch angleThe camera is tilted so the horizon slopes. Makes the scene feel uneasy, confused or exciting.

Camera movements: what the camera does

On a storyboard, movement is drawn as an arrow on the frame and written under it. These are the arrows Storyboard Studio draws, on the same mid shot each time. Notice the difference between moves where the camera stays put and turns or zooms (pan, tilt, zoom) and moves where the whole camera travels (track, dolly, crane).

Static: a girl waving in the park, her dad pointing
StaticThe camera does not move, usually on a tripod. Calm and clear; the action does the work.
Pan: a girl waving in the park, her dad pointing
PanThe camera turns left or right on the spot. Follows action or reveals more of a place.
Tilt: a girl waving in the park, her dad pointing
TiltThe camera tips up or down on the spot. Reveals height, such as a tall building or a person from feet to face.
Zoom: a girl waving in the park, her dad pointing
ZoomThe lens zooms in or out while the camera stays put. Draws attention to a detail quickly.
Track: a girl waving in the park, her dad pointing
TrackThe whole camera moves alongside the action, often on rails. Keeps pace with someone walking or running.
Dolly: a girl waving in the park, her dad pointing
DollyThe whole camera moves towards or away from the subject. Feels smoother and more physical than a zoom.
Crane: a girl waving in the park, her dad pointing
CraneThe camera rises or falls on a crane or drone. Opens out a scene, often at the start or end.
Handheld: a girl waving in the park, her dad pointing
HandheldThe operator holds the camera, so it shakes a little. Feels real, urgent or chaotic, like news footage.

Putting them together

Good sequences change shot size for a reason. A typical advert opens on an establishing shot, moves to a long shot of the main character, then a mid shot or two-shot as they do something, and a close-up for the moment that matters. A low angle on the winner, a handheld shot in the chase, a slow crane up at the end. The how to make a storyboard guide works through a full 30-second advert built this way.

Quick quiz: name the shot

Five pictures from the same scene. Pick an answer for each; it checks straight away, in your browser.

  1. Question 1

    Quiz picture 1: the park scene through a different camera
    Which shot type is this?

  2. Question 2

    Quiz picture 2: the park scene through a different camera
    Which camera angle is this?

  3. Question 3

    Quiz picture 3: the park scene through a different camera
    Which shot type is this?

  4. Question 4

    Quiz picture 4: the park scene through a different camera
    Which camera angle is this?

  5. Question 5

    Quiz picture 5: the park scene through a different camera
    Which shot type is this?

0 of 5 answered

Camera shot questions people ask

What is the difference between a shot type and a camera angle?

A shot type is how much of the subject is in frame (close-up, mid shot, long shot). A camera angle is where the camera is compared with the subject (eye level, high, low). Every shot has both: a close-up can be filmed from a low angle or a high one.

What is the difference between a zoom and a dolly?

A zoom changes the lens, so the picture is magnified while the camera stays still. A dolly moves the whole camera closer or further away. A dolly changes the perspective and feels more natural; a zoom is quicker and cheaper.

What is the difference between a pan and a track?

In a pan the camera stays in one place and turns. In a track the whole camera travels alongside the action, often on rails, so the background slides past.

Which shot should a video start with?

Usually an establishing shot or a wide shot, so the audience knows where they are. Many adverts and films then move in closer (long shot, mid shot, close-up) as the story builds.

How do I show camera movement on a storyboard?

Draw an arrow on the frame in the direction the camera moves (a straight arrow for a pan or track, a vertical arrow for a tilt, arrows pointing in for a zoom in) and write the movement under the frame too.

How many shot types do I need to know for GCSE or Creative iMedia?

Know the ten shot types, five angles and eight movements on this page, what each one makes the audience feel, and when you would use it. Exam questions often ask why a shot suits a product or audience, not just its name.

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