What changes
The subject or detail occupies most of the frame, reducing the surrounding area visible in the composition.
CLOSE-UP · foundation
Close-up
A close-up frames a person from roughly the shoulders to the top of the head, or isolates a comparably small detail.
On-set method
- Choose the face, body part, or object detail the shot must show.
- Frame a face from about the tops of the shoulders to the top of the head.
- Check headroom and avoid unintended cuts through natural joints.
Useful for
- Make a face or detail large in the composition
- Create visual intimacy by placing the subject apparently close
Common mistakes
- Leaving excessive or cramped headroom
- Cutting a body part unintentionally at a natural joint
05
Practice
Record the same subject as a medium shot and a close-up, then compare how much surrounding context remains.
06
Compare
A close-up shows less surrounding area than a medium shot and makes the subject appear nearer.
FAQ
Does a close-up require one focal length?
No. Close-up names a composition; filmmakers can change camera placement or focal length to obtain that framing.
Supporting sources
- Humanities LibreTexts, Video Production Handbook, §8.1 “Basic Shot Sizes”
- Columbia University Film Language Glossary, “Close-Up”
- Humanities LibreTexts, Video Production Handbook, §8.5 “Video Composition”
- Humanities LibreTexts, Tokyo in Film, §3.3.1 “Framing the Shot”
- Columbia University Film Language Glossary, “Medium Shot”
Further discovery
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