Cinematographers learn 12 camera moves in film school.
Most AI creators don't know a single one. Because nobody told the camera what to do.
.
.
Here they are:
→ Push-in — moves toward the subject
Builds tension. Creates intimacy. Use it slowly.
→ Pull-back — retreats to reveal
Isolation. Scale. Endings. The reveal shot.
→ Pan — horizontal rotation, camera stays fixed
Suspense lives in what you haven't shown yet.
→ Tilt — vertical version of the pan
Tilt up on a hero. They look powerful immediately.
→ Tracking shot — camera travels with the subject
Energy. Forward motion. You feel like you're there.
→ Arc / orbit — circles the subject
Hero moments. Product showcases. Keep it under 30 degrees.
→ Crane / jib — sweeps vertically on a boom
Grandeur. Scale. The "god-view" of cinematography.
→ Zoom — focal length changes, camera doesn't move
Flatter look than a dolly. Fast zoom = music video energy.
→ Dolly zoom — camera goes one way, lens goes the other
Background warps. Subject stays still. Pure psychological dread.
→ Whip pan / crash zoom — extreme speed for transitions
Shock. Comedy. Stops the scroll every time.
→ Handheld — natural shake, no stabilisation
Add "subtle" or the model goes full earthquake.
→ Static + angles — low, high, Dutch, bird's-eye, worm's-eye
Low angle = power.
Dutch angle = unease.
Bird's-eye = scale.
The mistake everyone makes: stacking multiple moves into one prompt. One move. One clip. Always.
And add "slow" to almost everything. Slow moves hide what AI can't render cleanly. Fast moves expose every flaw.
Cinematographers learn 12 camera moves in film school.
Most AI creators don't know a single one. Because nobody told the camera what to do.
.
.
Here they are:
→ Push-in — moves toward the subject
Builds tension. Creates intimacy. Use it slowly.
→ Pull-back — retreats to reveal
Isolation. Scale. Endings. The reveal shot.
→ Pan — horizontal rotation, camera stays fixed
Suspense lives in what you haven't shown yet.
→ Tilt — vertical version of the pan
Tilt up on a hero. They look powerful immediately.
→ Tracking shot — camera travels with the subject
Energy. Forward motion. You feel like you're there.
→ Arc / orbit — circles the subject
Hero moments. Product showcases. Keep it under 30 degrees.
→ Crane / jib — sweeps vertically on a boom
Grandeur. Scale. The "god-view" of cinematography.
→ Zoom — focal length changes, camera doesn't move
Flatter look than a dolly. Fast zoom = music video energy.
→ Dolly zoom — camera goes one way, lens goes the other
Background warps. Subject stays still. Pure psychological dread.
→ Whip pan / crash zoom — extreme speed for transitions
Shock. Comedy. Stops the scroll every time.
→ Handheld — natural shake, no stabilisation
Add "subtle" or the model goes full earthquake.
→ Static + angles — low, high, Dutch, bird's-eye, worm's-eye
Low angle = power.
Dutch angle = unease.
Bird's-eye = scale.
The mistake everyone makes: stacking multiple moves into one prompt. One move. One clip. Always.
And add "slow" to almost everything. Slow moves hide what AI can't render cleanly. Fast moves expose every flaw.