A library of 15 camera movements

Move Crash zoom in

Camera action Punch the lens rapidly in on the main target.

Pace Very fast and aggressive.

Lock Keep the target readable through the sudden jump in scale.

Resolve A bold, tight close framing on face of subject.

Move Earth zoom out

Camera action Rise and pull away from the starting point through street, city, landscape and planet scale.

Pace Fast, continuously expanding.

Lock Keep the origin point dead center as the scale grows.

Resolve A planet-scale view with the starting point still implied at center.

Move Slow dolly in

Camera action Glide the camera straight forward toward the main subject.

Pace Smooth, controlled push.

Lock Hold camera height, lens direction and subject placement steady as the distance closes.

Resolve A tighter final framing on face of subject.

Move Dolly out

Camera action Glide the camera a short distance straight backward away from the subject, as if the operator takes a few steps back on the ground. A modest pull, not a big reveal.

Pace Smooth, controlled pull, gentle and restrained.

Lock Stay at eye level on the ground with lens direction steady. Keep the subject large and centered — only a little more of the surroundings comes into view.

Resolve A slightly wider framing, the subject still dominant.

Move Truck left

Camera action Move the whole camera sideways to the left, parallel to the subject.

Pace Steady, even glide.

Lock Hold distance and height while near and far layers shift with parallax.

Resolve The subject repositioned across the frame.

Move Low tracking

Camera action Run the camera low near the ground, following alongside the subject.

Pace Steady, gliding.

Lock Hold the subject in frame from a low angle as the ground streaks past below.

Resolve Still moving with the subject at low height.

Move Pan right

Camera action Rotate the camera horizontally to the right from a fixed spot.

Pace Even and controlled.

Lock Let the subject slide toward the left edge as new scene enters from the right.

Resolve The frame resettled around a new center.

Move Whip pan right

Camera action Snap the camera hard to the right in a fast horizontal sweep, smearing the scene as it moves.

Pace Explosive, with heavy motion blur.

Lock Start and end on a clear framing; only the middle blurs.

Resolve Settle sharply on a new framing to the right.

Move Tilt up

Camera action Rotate the camera upward from a fixed spot.

Pace Slow and deliberate.

Lock Travel from the lower scene up past the subject toward what rises above.

Resolve An upward look at the top of the scene.

Move Orbit clockwise

Camera action Circle the camera fully around the subject, clockwise.

Pace Steady, continuous orbit.

Lock Keep the subject centered as the surroundings wheel around it.

Resolve A full revolution back around the subject.

Move Crane up

Camera action Lift the camera smoothly up into the air.

Pace Slow and weighty.

Lock Tilt down slightly to hold the subject in frame as height builds.

Resolve An elevated look down over the scene.

Move Drone push in

Camera action Fly the camera forward through the air toward the subject from a distance.

Pace Smooth, gliding approach.

Lock Keep the subject centered as the surroundings fall away past the edges.

Resolve A close aerial framing on the subject.

Move Drone pull back

Camera action Retreat the camera up and backward through the air, away from the subject.

Pace Smooth and accelerating.

Lock Keep the subject centered as more of the surroundings open up.

Resolve A wide aerial view with the subject small at center.

Move Handheld

Camera action Hold on the subject with subtle, natural hand motion and no travel.

Pace Gentle and organic.

Lock Keep the subject roughly centered through small drifts and corrections.

Resolve A steady settle on the subject.

Move First-person view

Camera action Start on the hands, lift to the scene ahead, then move forward at eye height as if walking in, with subtle natural sway.

Pace A brief look down, then a natural walking pace.

Lock Once walking, keep the horizon steady and the path ahead centered.

Resolve Arrive deeper inside the scene.