Have you ever seen a character in a movie shot from head to toe, where you can admire their clothes as well as the location surrounding them? These types of shots are usually chosen for posters, desktop backgrounds, and cover photos, and this is because they are awesome. And this type of shot is called a full shot, and it is one of the most foundational, versatile, attractive, and exciting camera framing techniques in cinema.
Definition
The full shot in film is defined as a camera framing technique where the audience can see the entire subject in the frame. If we are talking about humanoid subjects, they are framed from the top of the head and above to the bottom of the feet and below.
In comparison to long shots where the camera is further away from the character where we can witness the background and scale more, full shots retain the subject as the main focus.
Visual Characteristics of the Different Types of Full Shots
Framing the Entire Body
You can see the full body of a person in the picture or video.
Balanced Subject-Environment Interaction
If the character is actively interacting with the environment, you need to have enough room to see the action. A full shot is the perfect choice to show it while keeping the character in focus.
Neutral Yet Powerful Composition
Composing each frame is like composing an orchestra. In an extreme close-up, you have only a few things the audience can notice. In a full shot, while you can still notice some facial expressions, scene composers need to consider each pixel in the background and make a scene where each part of the screen complements the other.
Medium Shot vs Full Shot vs Long Shot: What's the Difference?
The full shot is one of the three most important subject-focused camera framing techniques that you can learn about. Here's a quick comparison table between the three.
Medium Shot
Full Shot
Long Shot
Waist up
Head-to-toe framing
Entire body with more background
Emphasizes facial expression
Emphasizes movement and posture
Emphasizes scale and setting
Used in dialogue
Used in entrances, choreography, and group scenes
Used in establishing shots and isolation
5 Full Shot Examples in Cinema
Here are some of the most artistic full shots in Hollywood movies. Each is carefully constructed, showing off the full shot's versatility and artistic potential.
The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014) – The Accusation
Wes Anderson movies can be an excellent resource for full-shot examples. He is famous for his fully organized, perfectly symmetrical scenes. In this scene, the main character is being accused of something he is not guilty of, and the accuser is declaring his intention to sue by talking loudly. The full shot indicates how both characters feel in the situation.
Joker (2019) – Staircase Dance
This is one of the most iconic moments in recent cinema history. The character is going through a mental breakdown that manifests as him becoming the Joker, one of the most dangerous villains in the DC Universe. This shot shows his descent into madness, and it uses a full shot to show the character's now iconic costume, body language, and transformation.
La La Land (2016) – Highway Dance Scene
This is the perfect example of how a full shot is used to show a dance choreography. Unlike Joker's dance, which is chaotic and scary, this example from the Oscar-winning musical La La Land is a whole different story. It is wholesome, beautiful, and it shows two people falling in love while singing and dancing. Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling are in their prime.
Kill Bill Vol. 1 (2003) – Swordfight Standoff
Tarantino borrows from old Japanese movies and westerns to create one of the most thrilling action movies of all time. Just like in every showdown, we need a full shot of the character getting ready for the fight. As we can see, the main character is tired but also determined to face a huge foe. All this is done with a two-second full shot.
The Matrix (1999) – Lobby Shootout
If you want the best example of how a full shot can be used to show a character moving through a chaotic location (in slow motion), then the best example is this scene from The Matrix, showing the main character, Neo, running through a gunfight where the odds are stacked against him. In this scene, the environment is as much a character as Neo.
When and Where to Use Full Shots
The full shot is suitable for any story, and you can combine it with different techniques, but some are more common than others. We will look into this and provide some artistic tips that will help you approach this shot correctly and professionally.
Genre-Specific Applications of Full Shots
Character Introduction
To introduce new characters by showing their complete appearance, clothing, and physical presence.
Example: A detective arriving at a crime scene - full shot shows their professional attire and confident stance
Action Sequences
To capture the characters running, walking, dancing, or fighting, or show complete gestures, movements, and physical reactions.
When you are making Choreography, to display full dance routines, martial arts, or complex physical performances
Costume and Production Design
Showcase important wardrobe changes or costume reveals
If you are shooting a fashion clothes vlog, you can use the full shots to display what the clothes look like when worn.
If you begin your scene with a full shot and use the dolly-in technique to zoom into the subject, you can increase the emotional intensity of the story. If you go with a dolly-out, you could achieve a sense of emotional withdrawal.
If the character is fully in frame and begins moving through the location, you can track their movement with the camera, but keep the framing intact. The audience will feel like they are tracking the character, which is impactful.
A Couple of Artistic Considerations for Full Shots
Spatial Awareness
To help the audience understand the location of the scene better, use the full shot to show where the subject is in relation to other characters, objects, or settings. This works especially well with ensemble casts.
Framing Balance
Depending on the tone of your shot, you can use symmetry or offset object placement. Offset placement can add tension, while centered full shots suggest stability. Experiment with negative space to make the scene more memorable.
How to Create a Full Shot from a Wide Shot in Filmora
If you have recorded a wide shot and placed the camera far away from the subject, but you realize that a full shot would be a better fit for the story, you can take care of that with ease using a tool called Filmora.
Step-by-Step Guide to Creating the Perfect Full Shot
To begin the editing process, download and install Filmora on your desktop or laptop (Windows and Mac), open the program, create a new project, and import the wide shot you wish to edit. Then, follow these three simple steps.
Step 1
Drag the video to the editing timeline.
Step 2
Right-click on the clip in the timeline and select Crop and Zoom from the menu.
Step 3
Adjust the frame to zoom in and convert a wide shot into a full shot, then click on Apply when you're finished.
Take a look at this comparison video of the original footage on the left and the zoomed-in full shot on the right.
Fixing Common Problems with Full Shots
Cropping Limbs by Accident
After reviewing your footage, you noticed that the subject's head or feet are cut off, and you think that the audience won't read the body language.
Solution
Always frame your scene a bit wider away than originally planned. This will give you a very important buffer around the head and feet, and you can later remove anything that you deem to be excessive to construct the perfect scene.
Flat or Empty Background
Full shots can sometimes have very boring compositions when the background lacks details and depth, and the entire scene just looks bad.
Solution
Consider the scene like a canvas, and if you notice unnecessary empty space, use foreground elements, lighting tricks, or props to make the scene feel more real. Empty scenes look artificial, and when you add details, you add life to the scene.
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