Extreme wide shot (EWS)
The subject is small or barely visible and the environment dominates the frame, often used to establish scale or location.
Search example“wide aerial shot of a city skyline at dusk”
Film craft glossary
Video Shot Types: A Visual Glossary
A shot type describes how much of the subject is in the frame and from what angle. This glossary covers the common terms, with an example of how you would find each shot in your own footage with ShotMind.
Why shot types matter
Knowing the vocabulary helps you plan a shoot, talk to collaborators, and find footage later. The same terms you use on set are the terms you can search by afterwards.
Shot sizes (how much of the subject is in frame)
Wide shot (WS) / Long shot
Shows the full subject within their surroundings, balancing the person and the space around them.
Search example“wide shot of a person walking across an empty parking lot”
Full shot (FS)
Frames the subject's entire body from head to toe, filling the frame vertically.
Search example“full shot of a dancer mid-jump on a plain background”
Medium shot (MS)
Frames the subject roughly from the waist up, a natural distance for conversation.
Search example“medium shot of a presenter talking to camera”
Medium close-up (MCU)
Frames from the chest or shoulders up, closer than a medium shot but not a full close-up.
Search example“medium close-up of an interviewee in soft window light”
Close-up (CU)
Fills the frame with the subject's face or a single detail to emphasize emotion or importance.
Search example“close-up of hands typing on a keyboard”
Extreme close-up (ECU)
An even tighter detail, isolating a small part such as the eyes, a logo, or a button.
Search example“extreme close-up of an eye reflecting neon light”
Angles and framing
Over-the-shoulder (OTS)
Framed from behind one person's shoulder looking toward another, common in dialogue scenes.
Search example“over-the-shoulder shot during a tense conversation”
Point-of-view (POV)
Shows what a character sees, as if the audience is looking through their eyes.
Search example“POV shot walking through a doorway into a bright room”
Two-shot
Frames two subjects together in a single shot to show their relationship.
Search example“two-shot of two people laughing at a cafe table”
High-angle shot
The camera looks down on the subject, which can make them feel smaller or vulnerable.
Search example“high-angle shot looking down at a person on a staircase”
Low-angle shot
The camera looks up at the subject, which can make them feel larger or more powerful.
Search example“low-angle shot of a tall building against the sky”
Shots by function
Establishing shot
Opens a scene by showing the location and context before moving closer.
Search example“establishing shot of an office exterior in the morning”
Insert / cutaway
A detail or secondary shot cut into the main action to add information or smooth an edit.
Search example“cutaway insert of a phone screen lighting up”
Reaction shot
Captures a subject's response to something happening off-screen.
Search example“reaction shot of a surprised face”
FAQ
What are the main types of camera shots?
The common shot sizes are extreme wide, wide, full, medium, medium close-up, close-up, and extreme close-up, plus angle and function shots such as over-the-shoulder, POV, establishing, and reaction shots.
What is the difference between a close-up and an extreme close-up?
A close-up fills the frame with a subject's face or a detail; an extreme close-up is tighter still, isolating a small part such as the eyes or a single object.
How do I find a specific shot type in my own footage?
With ShotMind you search your local videos by describing the shot, for example 'close-up of hands' or 'wide establishing shot of a street', instead of scrubbing through files.