Beginners Guide to Video Production

To shoot a video, you need to understand all the conventional camera terminologies and understand the language of camera shots. This beginner's guide to video production will help you understand the right camera shots and angles you’ll need for your video.

Different Camera Angles or Shot Size in Video Production

The first essential thing to determine before shooting a video is the right camera angle that best suits a particular frame. Camera framing styles and angles are meant to work side by side. For example, you may want to shoot the character from a low-angle close-up. Let's discuss the different camera angles, shot sizes and other camera shots to understand how these all work together in video production.

The Right Camera Shot Size

The shot size indicates where to cut off your character and how much zoom is needed through framing and cropping. You may want to take a close-up of your character or want to show the space around them. Let's discuss these terms:

Extreme Close-Up (ECU)

The extreme close-up shots highlight a particular element, for example, the eye on a face. Such a shot highlights an object, part of a character's face. Such a shot offers an extreme intimacy with the character and is used to show their subtle movements or expressions. An ECU can also be used for opening titles or present something mysterious.

Medium Close-Up (MCU)

The objective is to frame the characters at bust height in which the actor is shown directly and closely. A Medium Close-Up is used for shooting a character with long spoken dialogue without overwhelming the screen since they can interact with the setting or the props around them.

Such a shot intensifies the relationship with the character or allows a little more intimate communication with them. The background elements are there but not clear enough to locate the character.

Close-Up (CU)

This shot isolates a face or a detail of the action to dramatize the scene or move the viewer. A close-up on a face will create an intimate relationship. The objective is to communicate the character's feelings, which will promote the adhesion or the rejection of the spectator against it.

Medium/Mid Shot (MS)

This is the most common shot where the character is cropped at the waist. In a medium shot, there's enough room for two or more characters with the background as well. These shots are often used to present dialogue scenes between two or more subjects.

Wide Shot (WS) Or Full Shot (FS)

A wide shot presents the character's full body from head to toe with plenty of background elements. Wide shots represent a character's interaction with the environment.

Long Shot (LS)

The Long Shot is wider than a WS in which the character looks small in the environment in which they are located. You can use it in the opening scene to let the audience know about the settings.

Extreme Long Shot (ELS)

As the name indicates, environment or the atmosphere is the key in such shots, often without any character, such as city landscapes, buildings, trees, etc.

Different Camera Angle Types

Camera angle influences a shot's mood and the viewer's perception of it.

Over The Shoulder (OTS)

In this angle, the camera is placed high up behind the character, not showing their face. These are often used to let the viewers witness something together with the character.

Point Of View (POV) Shot

In a POV shot, the camera looks through the character's eyes at the scene. It is as if the viewer is stepped inside the character. We often see such shots in horror scenes or when the character's seeing through binoculars.

Low Angle Shot

In Low Angle Shot, also known as Worm's Eye Shot, the camera is close to the floor and represents the character as a giant to make them look powerful.

High Angle Shot

In High Angle Shot, the camera is placed higher than the subject, making them look small, vulnerable or inferior, perfect for showing fear.

Aerial Shot or Bird's-Eye View Shot

These are taken from extreme heights, such as tall buildings or drones, to capture the wider environment. In a Bird's-Eye View shot, the camera is perpendicular to the ground.

Dutch Angle Shot?

In such a shot, the camera is tilted slightly to make the scene look stylish or show the character in a state of anxiety.

We hope that we don’t miss out on any camera terminology that helps in video production. For professional video production that enhances your brand image and emphasizes every little detail, contact Radvine Marketing.