What changes
This shot size keeps the upper body prominent while showing more of the person than a close-up.
MEDIUM-SHOT · foundation
Medium shot
A medium shot commonly frames a person from the waist to the top of the head.
On-set method
- Frame the subject from about the waist to the top of the head.
- Avoid placing the lower frame edge directly through the hip joint.
- Check headroom and any needed nose or lead room.
Useful for
- Show a person’s upper-body position and gesture
- Keep more surrounding area than a close-up
Common mistakes
- Cutting the frame at a natural joint such as the hip
- Leaving too much or too little headroom
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Practice
Record one person in a medium shot and check whether the waist, headroom, and gestures remain clearly framed.
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Compare
A medium shot shows more of the person than a close-up and less than a long or wide shot.
FAQ
How does a medium shot differ from a medium close-up?
In the cited shot-size guide, a medium shot begins around the waist, while a medium close-up begins around the lower sternum.
Supporting sources
- Humanities LibreTexts, Video Production Handbook, §8.1 “Basic Shot Sizes”
- Columbia University Film Language Glossary, “Medium Shot”
- 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, “Close-Up”
Further discovery
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