Shots

 What do long shots, medium shots and close up shots mean in relation to each other?

An extreme long shot is used to show the character, but it establishes the scene too. You can see the setting and background. A full shot includes the subject's entire body from head to toe. You can see a bit of background, but that isn't the main focus. A medium shot is around the waist and up. A close up is around the chest and up. An extreme close up will cut off parts of the forehead and chin. This can be very effective at conveying emotion, although you shouldn't shoot laugher like this, as it can be unsettling. The more zoomed in you get, the less you'll understand where the character is, but the more emotion you'll be able to read. A mixture of all of these shots will make sure your audience knows where your subject is in relation to the setting, and will know the subject's emotions.