Which shot type typically frames a subject from the waist up?

• A. Close Up
• B. Medium Shot
• C. Extreme Long Shot
• D. Over the Shoulder

Answer: (B)

Framing and camera distance determine how much of the subject and the surrounding environment is visible. A medium shot sits at a middle distance and typically frames the subject from the waist up. This level of framing balances the character’s facial expressions with their posture and some background context, making it ideal for dialogue and interactions where you want both emotion and body language to come through. Close-ups tighten the frame around the face to capture detail in expression, while an extreme long shot pulls back to show a wide setting or the subject as a small part of a larger scene. An over-the-shoulder shot is taken from behind one character, framing the other from that perspective. Since waist-up framing is the hallmark of a medium shot, that’s the best answer.