Camera Movements to Make Your Work More Cinematic

You can have the lighting, the settings, and the subject perfectly aligned, all with the best camera money can buy, but your videography may still lack that something special if every shot is too static. Here are some simple movements you can make during your shots to improve the results.

Sometimes the simplest concepts can have the most profound impact when it comes to videography and cinematography. When I am watching anything from a YouTube video through to a blockbuster, it's not often I notice the movement of the camera, but it can play a significant role. Not only can the movement of the camera add a dimension of interest to each shot, keeping the viewer engaged, but it can aid in storytelling too.

In this video, Vuhlandes goes through some camera movements that have been effective in his work. For me, the type of movement that grabs my attention the most is the tracking shot. In this video, Vuhlandes shows a video he created of a skateboarder, and the tracking shot keeps up alongside the subject and then moves in front. He says it's quite easy to do, but it's perhaps a little more difficult than he is letting on and it is expertly executed here.

What is your go-to movement in your videos?