Music videos employ a variety of camera techniques, movements, and editing styles to represent the song's meaning. Camera shots vary from long to close-ups to emphasize the artist and emotions. Camera movements like pans and tracks showcase the artist, background, and dancers. Mise-en-scene, including positioning of people and props as well as location and lighting, conveys the song's message. Editing frequently uses jump cuts and transitions to transition between scenes quickly. Lighting and sound effects also enhance the mood and immersion of the video.

1. Conventions of a music video

2. Camera shots
• Many music videos include a massive range of shots, from long to
close ups and even birds eve view shots all with one similar aim which
is to emphasize the artist the emotions and the surrounding. Close
ups are also used to show the artist singing the lyrics.

3. Camera movement
• The movement of cameras during music videos is usually a lot. It is
used to typically show the artist, background, dancers, and band. The
movement can be done using pans, tracking shots, crane shots etc.

4. Mise-en-scene
• This includes the positioning of dancers, the band, props, outfits and
the location of filming. Mise-en-scene is used to represent the
meaning of the song. The lighting also has a massive effect for
example in Rudimental’s “not giving in” is about a poor boy from a
slum who has a disadvantaged background but he refuses to give in
to the oppression placed upon him. Which gives the connotations to
the audience that if you do come from a disadvantaged background it
should not be allowed to affect you and you should go out and make
a life for yourself.

5. Editing
• Jump cuts is the most common feature of a music video. This is
because it allows for quick change between scenes. Transitions are
also used like fade to black at the end of a music video and others
such as dissolve.

6. Lighting
• Lighting has a massive effect on a music video, if it is a bright and
upbeat song typically there will be lots of colour but if the song is
supposed to be very emotional its typically black and white, a great
example of this being Cry by Godley and Crème.

7. Sound
• Music videos are typically just the vocals and music of the song but in
some cases sound effects and foley can be added for other effects
such as creating a further more immersive feel to the video. An
example being Summer in the city by The lovin’ s.poonful who use
sounds of classic cars to make you feel like you are in 1920s America.