This document defines and describes different types of camera shots, including extreme close-up, close-up, head and shoulders, bust, medium, medium long, long, extra long, two shot, over shoulder, and three shot. Each shot size is defined based on what body parts or amount of the subject is included in the frame. Shots range from extreme close-ups of just a face to extra long shots capturing a subject from a quarter mile away. The different shot sizes allow filmmakers to set the scene and capture varying levels of detail.

1. Different types of camera shots
By Sophie Graham

2. Extreme close up
Extreme close up shows the
expression on someone face and can
show lot more detail than you would
see on a close up shot. This is
sometimes used for horror movie
poster to show how an actor was
feeling.

3. Close up
Close up shot is a shot which
tightly fits a person or object. A
close up usually means a close up
of someone’s face. A close is
where you can see a bit of detail
but not as much as the extreme
close up

4. Head and shoulders
A head shot or headshot is a
specific type of portrait
(usually a photograph) that
realistically demonstrates a
persons appearance for
branding or casting. Many head
shots are promotional pictures
of actors, models and authors

5. Bust shot
A medium close-up (MCU) is a shot
cropped between the shoulders and
the belt line. Also called a bust shot.
MCU of an object, This is based on full
size of the object

6. Medium shot
• Medium shots are favored in
sequences where dialogues or a
small group of people are
acting, as they give the viewer a
partial view of the background

7. Medium long shot
• Also known as a three-quarters shot.
Frames the whole subject from the
knees up. An intermediate shot
between the long shot and the
medium shot. Shows the subject in
relation to the surroundings. May be
used when you have 2 or 3 persons in
the frame.

8. Long shot
A long shot(sometimes referred
to as a full shot or a wide shot)
typically shows the entire
object or human figure and is
usually intended to place it in
some relation to its
surroundings. A long shot is
often used to set the scene in a
film. Such scene-setting shots
are known as establishing shots

9. Extra long shot
An Extreme Long Shot can be taken from
as much as a quarter of a mile away, and
is generally used as a scene-setting,
establishing shot. It normally shows an
EXTERIOR, e.g. the outside of a building,
or a landscape, and is often used to
show scenes of thrilling action e.g. in a
war film or disaster movie.

10. 2 shot
A two shot is a type of shot in
which the frame encompasses a
view of two people (the subjects).
The subjects do not have to be
next to each other, and there are
many common two-shots which
have one subject in the
foreground and the other subject
in the background. It is very
useful if the film is about two
people.

11. Over shoulder
The back of the shoulder and head
of this person is used to frame the
image of whatever (or whomever)
the camera is pointing toward. This
type of shot is very common when
two characters are having a
discussion and will usually follow an
establishing shot which helps the
audience place the characters in
their setting.

12. 3 shot
A Three-shot photo is A
medium shot which has
featuring three actors or
models