video production terms 101

Do video production terms sound like your first day on Duolingo? Feel clueless on a set? We get it — we were once there, too. Thus, we’ve put together a non-exhaustive list of video production terms to help you out. Think of this as your cheat sheet for video lingo (you’re welcome). 

A-roll
The primary footage or interview that tells the story in a video. Typically features the main subject or narrative content of the production.

Aperture
The opening in a camera lens that controls the amount of light entering the camera. It's measured in f-stops, and a wider aperture (lower f-stop number) allows more light, affecting exposure and depth of field.

Aspect Ratio
The width-to-height ratio of a video frame. Common aspect ratios include 16:9 (widescreen), 4:3 (standard), and 1:1 (square, popular in social media).

Auto Focus
A camera feature that automatically adjusts the lens to keep the subject in sharp focus without manual intervention.

B-roll
Supplementary footage used to enhance a story. B-roll can include cutaways, background visuals, or anything that supports the A-roll content.

Bitrate
The amount of data processed per second in a video or audio file, usually measured in kilobits per second (kbps) or megabits per second (Mbps). A higher bitrate means higher quality but larger file sizes.

Bokeh
The aesthetic quality of the out-of-focus areas of an image, often used to emphasize a subject with a soft, blurred background. It's most noticeable in shots with a shallow depth of field.

C-47
A common grip tool, also known as a clothespin. It's used to clip gels or diffusers to lights or other rigging equipment.

C-stand
A versatile, heavy-duty stand used in film and video production to hold lighting equipment, modifiers, or other tools like reflectors and microphones.

Chroma Key
A technique used to replace a specific color (usually green or blue) with another image or video. Commonly known as "green screen" technology, used in visual effects and weather broadcasts.

Clapperboard
A tool used in film production to mark the start of a take. It includes scene, shot, and take numbers, and the clapping sound helps synchronize audio and video.

Color Correction
The process of adjusting the color of video footage to achieve a natural or desired look, ensuring consistency across all shots.

Color Grading
A post-production process that enhances or stylizes the color of footage. This can give a film its unique visual mood or tone.

Compression
The reduction of file size by eliminating redundant or unnecessary data. In video, compression helps manage large files, but excessive compression can reduce quality.

Composition
How elements are arranged within the frame of a shot. Good composition guides the viewer's eye and enhances the storytelling of a scene.

Crop Sensor
A type of camera sensor smaller than a full-frame sensor. Crop sensors result in a narrower field of view compared to full-frame cameras with the same focal length lens.

Deep Depth of Field
A large area of the shot, from foreground to background, is in sharp focus. It's often achieved with a smaller aperture and is common in landscape or wide shots.

Depth of Field (DoF)
The range in a shot that appears sharp and in focus. Depth of field can be shallow (only a small portion in focus) or deep (most of the shot in focus).

Diffuser
A material used to soften and spread light, creating a more even and natural lighting effect. Common diffusers include softboxes, diffusion gels, or reflectors.

Dissolve
A transition between two clips where the first image gradually fades out while the second image fades in. It's often used to indicate a passage of time or a change in location.

Dolly
A wheeled platform that allows the camera to move smoothly across the ground. A dolly shot involves physically moving the camera toward or away from the subject, often giving a dynamic sense of motion.

DSLR
Digital Single-Lens Reflex camera. A type of camera that uses a mirror mechanism to reflect light from the lens to an optical viewfinder. Popular for both photography and video due to its versatility.

Establishing Shot
A wide shot at the beginning of a scene that shows the location or environment, helping to establish context for the viewer.

Exposure
The amount of light allowed to hit the camera sensor, determining how bright or dark an image appears. Proper exposure is crucial for capturing a well-balanced image.

F-stop
A numerical measurement of aperture size. A lower f-stop (e.g., f/1.8) means a wider aperture and more light entering the camera, while a higher f-stop (e.g., f/16) means a narrower aperture and less light.

Fade
A gradual transition to or from black (or another color). A fade-in starts with a blank screen and gradually shows the image, while a fade-out is the reverse.

Fly In
A type of motion graphic or text animation where an element appears by "flying" into the frame from off-screen.

Frame Rate
The number of frames captured per second in a video. Common frame rates include 24 fps (film-like), 30 fps (standard video), and 60 fps (smooth motion).

Gaff Tape
Heavy-duty, non-reflective tape commonly used in film and video production to secure cables, props, or set pieces. It doesn't leave residue when removed.

Highlights
The brightest areas in an image. Preserving detail in highlights is important to avoid overexposure.

ISO
The sensitivity of the camera's sensor to light. A higher ISO increases sensitivity, allowing for better low-light performance, but too high an ISO can introduce noise into the image.

Key Light
The main light source in a lighting setup, responsible for illuminating the subject. It sets the overall tone and mood of the scene.

Lens
An optical device attached to a camera that focuses light onto the sensor to capture an image. Lenses come in various focal lengths, such as wide-angle, telephoto, and prime.

LUT (Look-Up Table)
A preset file used in color grading that adjusts the color of video footage. LUTs can be applied for a specific look or style, such as a filmic or vintage aesthetic.

Manual Focus
A mode where the camera operator adjusts the focus of the lens by hand, allowing for precise control over what is in focus.

Mirrorless
A type of camera that lacks the mirror mechanism found in DSLRs. Mirrorless cameras are typically more compact and use electronic viewfinders instead of optical ones.

Over-the-Shoulder Shot
A common framing in conversation scenes where the camera is positioned behind one character, looking over their shoulder at the other character.

Pan
A horizontal movement of the camera, rotating on a fixed axis. A pan is often used to follow a subject or reveal more of a scene.

Pillarbox
The vertical black bars that appear on the sides of a video when a 4:3 aspect ratio video is displayed on a 16:9 screen.

Prime Lens
A lens with a fixed focal length, meaning it doesn’t zoom. Prime lenses often have a larger maximum aperture than zoom lenses, making them ideal for low-light situations and achieving shallow depth of field.

Rack Focus
A technique where the focus shifts from one subject to another in the same shot, drawing the viewer’s attention to a different part of the scene.

Reflector
A tool used to bounce light onto a subject, often used to fill in shadows or add highlights. Reflectors come in different colors, such as white, silver, gold, and black, for different effects.

Resolution
The amount of detail in a video, measured in pixels. Common resolutions include 1080p (Full HD), 4K, and 8K.

Rule of Thirds
A compositional guideline that divides the frame into a 3x3 grid. Important elements of the scene are placed along the gridlines or at their intersections to create a balanced and visually appealing shot.

Sandbag
A heavy bag used to stabilize stands, tripods, or other equipment by weighing them down and preventing them from tipping over.

Sensor
The part of the camera that captures light and converts it into an electronic image. Sensors come in various sizes, such as full-frame, APS-C, and Micro Four Thirds.

Shadows
The darkest areas of an image. Balancing shadows and highlights is important for maintaining a well-exposed image.

Shallow Depth of Field
When only a small part of the image is in focus, often used to isolate the subject from the background. This effect is achieved with a wide aperture (low f-stop number).

Shot List
A document that outlines every shot planned for a production, helping the director and crew stay organized and ensure all necessary shots are captured.

Shutter
A mechanism inside the camera that controls how long the sensor is exposed to light. When the shutter opens and closes, it allows light to hit the sensor and create an image.

Shutter Speed
The length of time the camera’s sensor is exposed to light. A faster shutter speed (e.g., 1/1000) captures quick motion with less blur, while a slower shutter speed (e.g., 1/30) can introduce motion blur.

Slider
A device that allows the camera to move smoothly along a track for steady, linear shots, often used for cinematic movements.

Stick
A colloquial term for a tripod, which supports the camera and keeps it steady during shooting.

Stock Assets
Pre-made video, images, or audio available for use in production. Stock assets are often used to save time or enhance a project when custom shooting isn't possible.

Storyboard
A series of sketches or images that outline the key scenes and shots in a production. Storyboards serve as a visual script to help plan camera angles and shot compositions.

Three-Point Lighting
A standard lighting technique that uses three sources: key light (main light), fill light (to soften shadows), and backlight (to separate the subject from the background).

Timecode
A numerical code assigned to specific frames in a video, allowing for precise syncing and editing in post-production. Timecode is essential for organizing footage in large productions.

Tilt
A vertical camera movement, rotating on a fixed axis. Tilting the camera up or down can reveal new parts of a scene or follow a subject's movement.

Tracking Shot
A continuous shot where the camera moves through the scene, often following a subject. This can be done using a dolly or handheld rig.

Transcoding
The process of converting video from one format or resolution to another, often to optimize the video for different playback platforms or reduce file size.

Tripod
A three-legged stand used to stabilize the camera during shooting. Tripods come in various sizes and materials, often with adjustable height and head controls for precise framing.

Truck
A lateral movement of the entire camera, typically on a dolly or track. It moves the camera from side to side, maintaining the same shot angle while covering new ground.

Two-shot
A camera shot that features two subjects in the frame, often used in interviews or dialogue scenes.

VFX (Visual Effects)
Digital effects added in post-production to create environments, characters, or actions that would be difficult or impossible to film live. Includes CGI, green screen compositing, and motion tracking.

Whip Pan
A fast panning movement of the camera, usually creating a blur. Whip pans are often used as transitions or to convey a sudden shift in action.

White Balance
The camera setting that adjusts for the color temperature of the light in the scene, ensuring that whites appear truly white and the overall color balance is accurate.

Wipe
A transition between two shots where one image is replaced by another via a sliding motion or geometric pattern. Wipes are often used in older or stylized productions.

Zoom
A camera technique where the focal length of the lens is adjusted to magnify or shrink the image. Zooming can change the viewer’s perspective on the subject without physically moving the camera.

.mp4
A digital multimedia format commonly used to store video and audio. It’s widely compatible with most devices and platforms, making it a popular choice for sharing and playback.

.wav
An uncompressed audio format known for its high-quality sound. WAV files are larger than compressed formats like MP3 but are often preferred for professional audio production.

.mp3
A compressed audio format that reduces file size by eliminating some audio data. While smaller in size, MP3 files maintain decent sound quality, making them ideal for music and podcasts.

.mov
A multimedia format developed by Apple that supports video, audio, and text. MOV files are high-quality but can be larger in size, often used in professional video editing.

4K
A video resolution that is approximately 4000 pixels wide (usually 3840x2160). It offers four times the detail of Full HD (1080p) and is increasingly the standard for high-quality video production.

Now that you’re a video production genius, we hope you’re ready to dive into making video content for your business or personal brand. We wish you the best of luck, and if you need help, you know who to call (psst… it’s your friends at m dash media).