The 9 Camera Movement Phrases

Same subject, different camera phrase — completely different shot. These are the 9 movements every AI video model understands, with copy-paste wording. Seen our Shorts? This is the page.

Push & pull

Slow dolly in toward the subject

DOLLY IN — builds intimacy or tension; ends on what matters

The camera pulls back in a smooth dolly out, revealing the surroundings

DOLLY OUT — reveals context; great for endings and "bigger picture" moments

Movement around & above

The camera orbits slowly around the subject

ORBIT — adds depth and a "hero shot" feel; keep it slow for realism

The camera cranes upward, revealing the scene from above

CRANE UP — from detail to geography; strong opening or closing move

An FPV drone flies through the scene at speed, weaving past obstacles

FPV FLYTHROUGH — maximum energy; models love foreground objects to weave past

Following & texture

Tracking shot, the camera moves alongside the subject at matching speed

TRACKING — for anything in motion: running, driving, walking

Handheld camera with subtle natural shake

HANDHELD — documentary realism; pairs well with "35mm film grain"

Static camera on a tripod, the scene moves within the frame

STATIC — underrated; lets action and light do the work, most "cinematic" of all

A fast whip pan sweeps to the subject

WHIP PAN — energetic transition; use once per video, not more

How to use these phrases

Want full scene prompts, not just camera phrases? Grab the 48 free model-specific prompts.

Related free tools

FAQ

Do these phrases work on every AI video model?

Yes — dolly, orbit, crane, tracking, FPV and pan are standard film vocabulary that Seedance, Veo, Sora, Kling and Runway all learned from their training data. Wording varies slightly per model; the copy buttons give you the most portable phrasing.

Why does my camera movement come out warped or jittery?

Usually the prompt asks for too much: two movements at once, or a fast move on a complex scene. Use one movement, add a speed word like "slow" or "smooth", and keep the scene description under ~60 words.