Framing and Composition- Different Types of Shots

Full-  A full shot shows the entire subject's body from head to toe. It's used to give a subject context in their setting. In the video above we see Guy Silagi standing outside on a sidewalk and with that information we can see how he's physically relating to his surroundings. Full shots are sometimes used as establishing shots. An establishing shot tells you where the story takes place, also known as the setting.

Medium - A medium shot shows the subject from about the hips or waist up. It's useful for a when a subject is conveying information and it still allows you to still see them interacting with their environment. With a medium shot the setting has already been established in prior shots and more emphasis is being placed on the subject.

Close - A close shot, also called a close up, focuses on the subject's face. As noted in the video above, you don't want to give too much headroom, bring the shot in close to show the head, neck, and a bit of the shoulders. This type of shot places emphasis on the subjects facial expressions to help convey the emotion in a story. If you zoom in even more you can get what's called an extreme close up. For example, a shot of a subjects' eyes or mouth will show and emphasize an expression during an important moment.