Two Shot Camera Angle Explained

The two shot is a common camera framing in filmmaking, and knowing how to frame this shot properly is a fundamental skill of the craft.

What Is a Two Shot ?

A two shot is a shot that comprises two actors. The number in a camera shot type usually refers to the number of subjects composed in the frame a two shot has two people, a three shot has three people, a four shot has four, and so forth. The exception to this is the term “one shot,” which usually refers to a long, uninterrupted shot without any cuts.

A two shot is typically a medium shot, though it can also be a close-up or a wide shot. The subjects in a two shot may be next to each other or relatively far apart or even filmed at various focal lengths. A director may capture a wide two shot from far away, showing two characters against a landscape, or they may use a close-up two shot to emphasize the characters’ faces.