What is the difference between pan and tilt shots?

Pan shots move left or right. Tilt shots move up or down. Both are used to control what the audience sees and when.

When should I use a pan shot?

Use pan shots to build suspense, establish setting, follow a character, or connect multiple elements in a single frame.

Can I create a pan effect in editing?

Yes. With Premiere, you can simulate a pan using keyframes or motion effects, especially when working with still images or locked shots.

Pan shot: What it is and how to use the camera pan in film.

A well-timed pan shot can shift a story’s rhythm in seconds. Learn its nuances, variations, and how to use the camera pan technique to change pacing and convey tone.

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What is a pan shot in film?

What does a pan shot help establish for the audience?

Pan shot vs. tilt shot.

Different types of pan shots.

How to capture pan shots effectively.

FAQs about pan shots.

Understanding the pan shot.

A pan shot is one of the most important tools in a filmmaker’s toolkit. It’s a simple camera movement that can transform how your audience experiences a scene, conveying space, urgency, intimacy, or surprise. Whether you’re slowly scanning across a landscape or whipping to follow a character in motion, the pan shot offers endless storytelling potential.

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What is a pan shot in film?

One of the most common camera angles in film, a pan shot (short for panoramic shot) is a type of camera movement where the camera rotates horizontally from a fixed position, either left to right or right to left. Rather than physically moving the camera, the lens stays in place and swivels, mimicking the way you might turn your head to look around.

Pan shots are used to reveal information gradually, follow action, or immerse the audience in a setting. From dramatic scene reveals to subtle character moments, a well-executed pan draws viewers in and shapes how they interpret space, motion, and emotion on screen.

You’ll often see pan shots used in combination with other camera techniques — like zooms, tilts, or tracking shots — to create dynamic, fluid storytelling. But at its core, a pan is one of the simplest and most versatile camera moves in filmmaking.

What does a pan shot help establish for the audience?

A pan shot is more than just a simple movement — it’s a tool that helps guide the viewer’s focus and build narrative meaning. By controlling the speed, direction, and reveal of the camera, filmmakers use panning to shape how an audience interprets space, emotion, and intent.

Depending on how it’s used in video production, a pan shot can:

Establish a setting or geography by scanning across a landscape or interior space

Create tension or surprise by slowly revealing new information or a character in the frame

Suggest a connection between characters or locations, visually linking them through movement

Convey passage of time or change in perspective as the camera follows or anticipates action

Serve as a video transition, moving from one scene to another

The direction of the pan also plays a role. A left-to-right pan can feel natural or progressive, while right-to-left might introduce a sense of disruption or unease (subtle cues that shape the viewer’s subconscious experience).

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Pan shot vs. tilt shot.

Pan and tilt shots are both fundamental camera movements, but they operate on different axes and evoke different effects.

A pan shot moves horizontally from a fixed position, sweeping left or right across a scene.

A tilt shot moves vertically, pointing the camera up or down while remaining anchored in place.

Both techniques are used to reveal information gradually, but each creates a unique emotional rhythm:

Pans are often used to establish space, follow lateral movement, or build suspense across a wide frame.

Tilts can emphasize height, scale, power dynamics, or draw attention to vertical motion.

Think of it this way: If you’re scanning a room side to side, you’re panning. If you’re looking up at a skyscraper or down a stairwell, you’re tilting. The orientation of the movement shapes how we interpret what’s on screen — and what it means.

Different types of pan shots.

While all pan shots involve horizontal camera movement, filmmakers use a variety of techniques to create different emotional effects and storytelling rhythms. From slow, steady reveals to quick, dramatic turns, each type of camera pan brings something unique to the frame.

Here are five common types of pan shots used in film and video:

Slow pan shot

Whip pan shot

Reveal pan shot

Tracking or following pan shot

Establishing pan shot

In the next sections, we’ll break down what each one is, when to use it, and how to apply it effectively, whether you’re shooting on set or editing in Premiere.

Slow pan shot

A slow pan is a gradual, deliberate sweep that lets the audience take in details over time. It’s often used to build anticipation, heighten emotion, or reveal information slowly. This technique can be especially effective in drama, suspense, or dialogue-heavy scenes where subtlety matters.

Whip pan shot

A whip pan (also called a swish pan) is a fast, sudden movement that blurs the image momentarily as the camera transitions from one subject or space to another. It’s a high-energy technique often used in action sequences, comedy, or to create a sense of urgency or chaos.

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Reveal pan shot

Reveal pans slowly expose a new subject or detail that was initially off-frame. This type of shot adds suspense or surprise, allowing directors to withhold key information until the exact moment they want the audience to notice it.

Tracking or following pan shot

A follow pan (also called a tracking shot pan) is used to keep a moving subject, like a person walking or a car driving, centered in the frame as they travel across a space. It creates a sense of movement and continuity, helping viewers stay oriented in the scene. If the camera itself physically moves along with the subject instead of just rotating, it is a dolly shot, a technique used for dynamic movement through space.

Establishing pan shot

An establishing shot is often used at the beginning of a scene to introduce the setting. It slowly pans across a location to give the audience a clear sense of geography, atmosphere, and tone. These shots are common in both narrative film and documentary work, and they can be used in conjunction with other shots, like the wide shot.

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Pan shot examples in film across genres.

Pan shots appear in virtually every genre of film. In thrillers, they build suspense by revealing danger slowly. In action films, whip pans convey speed and urgency. Directors like Alfred Hitchcock, Stanley Kubrick, and Wes Anderson use symmetrical panning to create visual rhythm and style, while others use pans to connect characters across a room without cutting.

Some famous pan shot examples include:

The slow pan across the Overlook Hotel’s vast interior in The Shining

The whip pan transitions in Scott Pilgrim vs. the World

The establishing pan of the New York City skyline in countless romantic comedies

How to capture pan shots effectively.

Pan shots are all about smooth motion. Here’s how to capture the perfect pan shot with precision:

Plan your pan. Decide where the pan will start and end, and which subject or motion you want to highlight.

Set up your gear. Use a tripod with a fluid head for stability, or steady your handheld setup with a gimbal or shoulder rig.

Frame your shot. Mark the beginning and end of your pan within the frame to ensure a clean visual path.

Test your movement. Practice the pan slowly to check for smoothness and consistency.

Adjust shutter speed. To create or enhance motion blur, especially for whip pans, experiment with slower shutter speeds.

Get multiple takes. Capture a few versions at different speeds and angles.

There are some common mistakes to avoid with the pan shot. You should avoid panning too quickly, moving unevenly, or shifting the audience’s attention without purpose. And always give your viewers time to follow the motion and absorb the scene.

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Edit pan shots to perfection with Adobe Premiere.

After capturing your footage, you can enhance your pan shots in Premiere. Use editing tools to:

Stabilize shaky footage

Adjust speed or timing for dramatic effect

Add motion blur or transitions

Stitch together multiple shots for a seamless pan sequence

From color correction to audio syncing, Premiere gives you complete creative control over every shot. You can fine-tune timing, enhance motion, and seamlessly integrate pans into your final cut. Its intuitive timeline and advanced editing tools make it easy to create polished, professional-grade footage that supports your story from scene to scene.

Take your film further with Premiere video editing software.