Music videos employ a variety of camera techniques to convey emotion and establish connections with audiences. Common techniques include close-ups, mid shots and long shots of the artist, as well as camera movements like tracking, tilts, pans, zooms and crane shots. Most pop videos also tell a narrative story with a theme through a series of scenes. Additionally, many videos feature strong performance elements of singing, dancing and playing instruments. Costume choices help artists portray a role or message and create their unique identity.

1. CONVENTIONS OF THE
MUSIC GENRE
CHELSEA SPENCER ADVANCED PRODUCTION

2. CAMERA TECHNIQUES
• Music videos tend to have a
range of shots; from close ups,
to mid shots, to long shots.
• Close ups convey emotion of
the artist and help to establish
a link with the audience.
Mid shot
Close up
• Mid shots contain the artist in
their surroundings.
• Long shots show the artist in
their greater surroundings,
possibly to create a sense of
realism.
Long shot

3. CAMERA TECHNIQUES
•
A variety of camera movements are
used in music videos; tracking, tilts,
pans, zoom, reverse zoom and crane
shots are particularly frequent.
• Tracking, tilts and pans follow the
artist or the acting agent in the video.
• Zooms and reverse zooms attracts the
attention of the audience on a
specific focal point in the video.
• Crane shots are used to show the
artist in their surroundings.

4. NARRATIVE
• Most pop videos have a narrative structure in order to develop a story line. These can be moral or emotional and they generally
focus around a theme.
A “geeky” girl
is in love with
the popular
boy next door
In order to get
him she must
complete a
transformation
She changes
from a “geek”
into a prettier
girl
The boy notices
her and falls in
love with her
too
In the end she
achieves her goal
and lives happily
ever after

5. PERFORMANCE
• Some videos have a strong performance element in them. This can include dance, singing and
instrumental visuals.
Singing focuses on the artist entirely
and conveys some of the emotional
meaning behind the song
Dance can be used to
make the video exciting
and visually appealing
Artists who can play instruments
like to display these skills, often
giving them a USP.

6. MONTAGE
• A montage is where there is little or no structure to a video. So the images are more than often stylistic and
rely on editing to bring the video together.
Cutting from one scene to
another livens up the video
Some editing techniques are:
• Iconography
• Graphic match
• Cross cutting
By having a visual of a
lyric in the song it
makes the song more
memorable. Like in
Nelly’s ‘Hey Porsche’

7. COSTUME
• Costume is really important as it helps the artist to either take on a certain role, reflect the message of
the music video or to create their separate identity.
This is Kylie’s costume for the
music video ‘Hand on your
heart’ She has a heart on the
dress reflecting the lyrics.
This is Madonna’s costume
for her music video
‘Vogue’. It is fashionable
and risqué emulating the
fashion world
Although Madonna has a phone
on her head and the song is called
‘telephone’ it is still incredibly
outrageous and gives her a USP