5 Cinematography Tricks for better Visual Storytelling

Published on May 19, 2021

Cinematography & Filmmaking

Cinematography, visual storytelling

Visual Storytelling

The art of visual storytelling comes down to creating specific compositions or camera movements that help tell the story of the script. Think about emotions and how you can enhance them with the camera.

When you look up to a bigger person, you can visually enhance that by also filming from a low angle. This makes the subject feel bigger and more imposing.

Camera Movement

Apart from composition or camera placement, the camera movement plays an important role as well. A gentle and slow camera movement feels calm or build tension. Heavy camera shake on the other hand enhances an action and gives more adrenaline.

So it’s very important to think about the camera style you’re going for. Like seen in the video tutorial on top, a camera movement often times has a start and a beginning.

When moving towards the talent, it’s clearly noticeable were that movement has to end. It kind of works like a progress bar. When we hit the end of that progress bar the audience expects something to happen. A wonderful thing to play with.

We can hold longer, building up the tension even more and make a creative transition. That’s up to the cinematographer to decide 🙂

Full Sail University

Big thanks to Full Sail University for sponsoring this video. Check out their Film bachelor’s degree program or the Digital Cinematography online bachelor’s degree program at fullsail.edu/Cinecom.