The 11 camera moves
1
Dolly in / outThe whole camera glides toward the subject or away from it. In builds tension and pulls you close, out reveals the wider world or leaves them small and alone. slow dolly in on her face as the news sinks in
2
Truck left / rightThe camera slides sideways while staying level, like walking past a shop window. Great for revealing a scene one piece at a time. the camera trucks right past a row of glowing market stalls
3
Pedestal up / downThe camera rises or lowers straight up and down without tilting. Use it to travel from feet to face, or to drop to a child's eye level. camera pedestals up from the muddy boots to the tired face
4
Pan left / rightThe camera stays planted and swivels sideways, like turning your head. It shows how two things in a scene relate to each other. slow pan left across the empty, smoking battlefield
5
Tilt up / downThe camera stays planted and pivots up or down, like a nod. Tilt up to reveal scale and awe, tilt down to reveal a secret at their feet. camera tilts up to reveal the towering glass skyscraper
6
Crane / jibThe camera sweeps up and over on a boom arm, one big graceful vertical arc. This is the classic epic reveal that ends a scene. sweeping crane shot rising up and back over the wedding crowd
7
Orbit / arcThe camera circles around the subject while keeping it centered. Perfect for showing off a car, a hero, or a product from every side. camera orbits 180 degrees around the parked sports car
8
Tracking / followThe camera moves along with a moving subject and holds them in frame. It puts the viewer right next to the action. tracking shot following the runner from the side, matching her speed
9
HandheldLoose, slightly shaky, like a real person is holding the camera. It adds urgency, realism and a documentary feel. handheld camera, subtle natural shake, run-and-gun documentary feel
10
Zoom in / outThe lens magnifies the image with no physical move. Flatter than a dolly, and can feel abrupt, retro or urgent depending on the speed. fast zoom in on the phone as it starts to ring
11
Whip panA very fast pan that smears the frame into motion blur. Use it as a snappy transition to hide a cut between two shots. whip pan to the left, heavy motion blur, then cut to the next scene
Speed and pacing
Slow motionTime is stretched so every splash, spark and glance lingers. Best for impact, beauty and emotion. slow motion, water droplets suspended in the air
TimelapseHours are squeezed into seconds, so clouds race and shadows sweep across the ground. Best for change over time. timelapse of the city skyline from day into night
Real-timeNatural speed with no manipulation. Say it out loud when you want a grounded, calm, believable clip. real-time, natural pacing, no slow motion
Speed rampThe clip starts in slow motion then snaps to full speed (or the reverse) at the key beat. A signature action look. speed ramp from slow motion into real time on the punch landing
Pick a move for the feeling
| Tension or dread building | slow dolly in |
| A big reveal, scale, awe | tilt up or crane up |
| Loneliness, or show the bigger world | dolly out |
| Energy, chaos, raw realism | handheld |
| Show off an object or hero | orbit / arc |
| Stay with the action | tracking / follow |
| Snappy cut between shots | whip pan |
| Calm, watchful, observational | locked-off (no move) |
| Nostalgia or a sudden focus | zoom |
How to order a video prompt
The order below reads the way a director thinks: who, what they do, how the camera moves, then the look. Keep it to one camera move per clip.
[subject] [doing an action], [one camera move], [lighting and mood], [style, speed and detail]
Weak prompt
a woman in a citySame idea, cheat-sheet order
a woman in a red coat walking through neon-lit rain, slow dolly in, moody cinematic lighting, shallow depth of field, real-time, film grain, highly detailedFour rules that make it look pro
One move per shotPick a single camera move for each clip. Two moves at once confuses the model and the result looks messy and drunk.
Name the move, not "cinematic"The AI knows exactly what "dolly in" means. It has no idea what you picture when you just say "make it epic".
The dolly zoom is the secret weaponDolly in while zooming out and the background warps behind a still subject. Say "dolly zoom, vertigo effect" for dread or realization.
Match the move to the lengthBig crane and orbit moves need a few seconds to breathe. On a short 4-second clip, keep it to a slow push or a gentle pan.
Questions
Is this cheat sheet free?
Yes, free to read, save, print and share, with no signup to view it. For a downloadable copy plus five ready-made video prompts, grab the free 5-Pack.
Which AI video tools does it work for?
The moves are real film-camera terms, so they work across Sora, Veo, Kling, Runway, Luma and Pika. Naming a move like dolly in or orbit gives any of them a clear instruction instead of a guess.
Do I need to know film terms to use it?
No. Copy the example phrase next to each move and drop it into your prompt. Naming a real move is what turns a random result into a shot that looks intentional.