Reference
Camera Movement Glossary for AI Video Prompts
Definitions, emotional effects, and copy-ready prompt phrases for every major camera movement used in AI video generation.
Dolly In
Prompt phrase: a slow dolly push-in
What: Physically moves camera forward — changes perspective. | Effect: Tension, focus, intimacy.
Dolly Out
Prompt phrase: a slow dolly pull-back
What: Camera glides away from subject. | Effect: Isolation, release, scale.
Fast Dolly In
Prompt phrase: a fast dolly rush-in
What: Rapid charge toward the subject. | Effect: Shock, urgency, impact.
Vertigo Dolly Zoom
Prompt phrase: a Vertigo dolly-zoom
What: Camera back + zoom in simultaneously. | Effect: Disorientation, dread.
Orbit Shot
Prompt phrase: a 180-degree orbit
What: Camera circles the subject. | Effect: Hero energy, dimensionality.
Crane Up
Prompt phrase: a crane rise
What: Camera ascends on a mechanical arm. | Effect: Grandeur, finality, scale.
Crane Down
Prompt phrase: a crane descent
What: Camera descends from above. | Effect: Arrival, intimacy after scale.
Whip Pan
Prompt phrase: a fast whip-pan with motion blur
What: Pan so fast the frame blurs. | Effect: Speed, kinetic energy.
Handheld
Prompt phrase: raw handheld with natural shake
What: Operator-held, organic wobble. | Effect: Urgency, authenticity.
Rack Focus
Prompt phrase: a rack focus between planes
What: Shifts focus through depth. | Effect: Redirects attention.
Dutch Angle
Prompt phrase: a canted Dutch-angle roll
What: Camera rotated on lens axis. | Effect: Unease, wrongness.
Drone Fly-Over
Prompt phrase: a high drone fly-over
What: Aerial sweep from altitude. | Effect: Geography, scale.
Drone Dive FPV
Prompt phrase: an aggressive FPV drone dive
What: Fast downward aerial plunge. | Effect: Adrenaline, arrival.
POV Walk
Prompt phrase: a first-person POV walk
What: Eye-height with head-bob. | Effect: Immersion, embodiment.
Static Shot
Prompt phrase: a locked-off static frame
What: No camera movement. | Effect: Stillness, observation.
Steadicam Glide
Prompt phrase: a smooth Steadicam glide
What: Smooth weightless following. | Effect: Dreamlike, immersive.
Over the Shoulder
Prompt phrase: over-the-shoulder framing
What: Scene framed past foreground figure. | Effect: Grounds dialogue.
Side Tracking
Prompt phrase: a lateral side-tracking shot
What: Camera moves alongside subject. | Effect: Parallax depth.
Fisheye
Prompt phrase: a fisheye lens
What: Extreme wide-angle, bends lines. | Effect: Distortion, surreal.
Leading Shot
Prompt phrase: a leading shot backward
What: Camera retreats as subject approaches. | Effect: Momentum, connection.
Following Shot
Prompt phrase: a following shot trailing behind
What: Camera stays behind subject. | Effect: Journey, immersion.