Music Video Recording Techniques

Music Video Project


For a personal project i have decided to try and create a music video and explore different ways of filming.


Below is a list of filming techniques


Camera Angles

The Zolly

Zooming in whilst moving the camera away

Dolly speed needs to be the same as the zoom

For action be creative with camera placements, more movements makes it more dramatic, but don’t over do it

1.       High camera useful perspective over the heads of crowds, But for a compassion stand point great for making patterns in the image

2.       Low camera angles the opposite imparting dynamic engagement  with the action

3.       Establishing shot sets up the setting of a scene, it is usually at the start of a scene

4.       Close up shot either focus on a person or an object, in order to show detail or emotion

5.       Extreme close up shot, focusing on the eyes

6.       Medium shot show from the head to waist down, used more to show body movement and less specific detail

7.       Long shot is a shot that shows the whole person in relation to their surroundings typical filmed from a long distance a way

8.       Tracking shot follows the action at a constant distance away, keeping the subject on screen

9.       Aerial shot shows the entire image from a high position, sometimes referred to as a birds eye view shot

10.   Dolly shot a camera is placed on a dolly and is moved away at a constant speed, it does not necessarily follow the action

11.   Hand held shot the camera man holds the camera, so usually is a bit shaky, so therefore is used to show the subjects perceptive or feelings

12.   Zoom shot either zooms in to show detail of subject, or zooms out to show entire subject

13.   Swish shot camera moves quickly from one subject to another

14.   High angle shot subject is filmed from above their head, so it looks like there being looked down on. Used to show who is more powerful character

15.   Low angle shot is shot from the knees up, usually done to show the power of the subject

16.   Reverse angle used to show conversation between two or more people, camera switch from other side of each subject, usually when each character is speaking

17.   Arch shot camera moves around subject in circular shapes in order to show object in more positions.

18.   Match cut joins two scenes that have some relationship together in a seamless way, through a fast transition as if they were in the same scene

19.   Point of view shot that shows the camera angle through the subjects eye

20.   Head on shot is when the action comes straight towards the camera

21.   Eye level shoot

22.   Overhead shot

23.   Undershot

24.   Pan shot example spinning view of sky

25.   Tilt shot raise from ground to eye level

26.   Over the shoulder shot

27.   Two shot, close up of two peoples faces in a shot

Composition shots

28.   Pyramid, three people in shot one at top two at the bottom

29.   Rule of thirds

30.   Golden section

32.   Symmetry

33.   Leadlines