Plan your shots

Before you start filming, it helps to visualise your project. Storyboards and shot lists allow you to plan the narrative flow, choose camera angles and transitions. Defining a visual style early in pre‑production guides how you capture and edit each scene.

Common shot types

• Wide shot (long shot): shows the subject in its surroundings to establish context.
• Medium shot: frames the subject from the waist up, balancing the person and environment.
• Close‑up: focuses tightly on the subject’s face or a key detail to emphasise emotion.
• Extreme close‑up: highlights a very small detail, such as an eye or hand, for dramatic effect.
• Over‑the‑shoulder shot: looks past one character’s shoulder at another character, creating tension in dialogue scenes.
• Point‑of‑view (POV) shot: simulates the viewpoint of a character to immerse the audience in their experience.

Mixing different shot sizes and angles helps you craft a dynamic sequence that maintains viewer interest and supports your story.