← References Reference · Visual guides

See it once, remember it on set.

Five clear graphics for the things that are easier to see than to read: shot sizes, camera angles, vertical framing, lighting and mic placement. Save any of them for your phone or Pinterest.

5 guides
Save as 2:3 images
From the book

Camera

Shot sizes

How much of the subject fills the frame changes how a moment feels. On a small phone screen, closer usually wins.

EWS Extreme wide: A big area; people are tiny. Feels: here’s the world. Use it for setting the scene, showing scale.
WS Wide: The whole person, head to toe. Feels: watching. Use it for body language, action, a whole setup.
MS Medium: Waist up. Feels: chatting. Use it for talking with gestures.
MCU Medium close-up: Chest up. Feels: personal. Use it for most talking-to-camera videos.
CU Close-up: A face, or one object filling the frame. Feels: intimate. Use it for emotion, reactions, key details.
ECU Extreme close-up: Eyes, mouth, a tiny detail. Feels: intense. Use it for big moments, textures.

Shot List & Storyboard →

Chapter 24 of Worth Watching goes deeper.

Camera

Camera angles

Where the camera sits changes what the shot means. Pick the angle for the job, not by habit.

Eye level: Camera at the subject’s eye height. Natural, equal, honest.
Low angle: Camera below, looking up. Subject seems big or impressive.
High angle: Camera above, looking down. Subject seems small, or you feel in charge.
Overhead: Straight down. Neat and clear: hands, food, layouts.
Tilted: Camera tipped sideways. Uneasy, chaotic. Use rarely.

Shot List & Storyboard →

Chapter 24 of Worth Watching goes deeper.

Composition

Framing for vertical

A 9:16 frame is tall and narrow, and the app covers parts of it. Compose for that on purpose.

1 Eyes on the top third: Put the eyes on the upper grid line, not in the middle.
2 A little headroom: A small gap above the head. In close-ups, trimming the top of the head looks natural.
3 Lead room: Leave more space on the side the person looks or moves toward.
4 Clear of the buttons: Keep faces and text out of the bottom and the right-hand buttons.
5 Stack, don’t spread: Face above, hands and object below, instead of side by side.

Safe Zone Checker →

Chapters 24 and 47 of Worth Watching go deeper.

Light

3 lighting setups

You don’t need pricey gear. Know where the light comes from, how soft it is and what color it is.

Window and a white card · Free: Face the window, or turn it to one side for more shape. A white board on the far side bounces light into the shadows. Thin curtain over harsh sun.
One light, one bounce, one lamp · Starter kit: LED panel or softbox as the key, about 45° to one side. White foam board opposite as fill. A small lamp in the background for depth.
Three-point lighting · Classic: Key: main light, about 45° to one side. Fill: softer, opposite side, fills the shadows. Back light: behind, often above, for a glowing outline.

Camera Settings Helper →

Chapter 28 of Worth Watching goes deeper.

Sound

Mic placement

Get the mic close to the mouth and the room goes quiet. Distance matters more than price.

Voice mic on a stand: 1 to 2 hand-widths from the mouth. Angle it slightly off to the side. Pop filter for “p” and “b” sounds. Boomy? Back up. Roomy? Move closer.
Clip-on mic: Mid-chest, a hand’s width below the chin. Point it up toward the mouth. Clear of collars, necklaces, hair and scarves. Turn your head toward the mic side.
Shotgun mic on a boom: Just out of frame above, aimed at the mouth. As close as the frame allows. Point the tip at the mouth, not the chest. Keep it steady: no swinging.
A second phone as the mic: About a hand’s width away, just out of frame. Bottom mic (near the charging port) toward the mouth. Clap once at the start to sync. Record in a closet or soft room.

Mic Check →

Chapters 34 to 36 of Worth Watching go deeper.

How to use them

Save the ones you need on your phone and look before you film: pick the shot size for the moment, check the angle, place the light, and put the mic where it belongs. A minute of setup saves an hour of fixing in the edit.

Each image is 1000 × 1500 pixels, the 2:3 shape Pinterest shows best, and you’re welcome to share them. Please keep the Worth Watching name on them.

Go deeper

Chapters 24, 28 and 34 to 36 of Worth Watching cover framing, light and sound step by step, with what to do on your next video.

Read the free sample →