How to use a profile shot to tell a stronger story.
Learn what a profile shot is, when to use it, and how to capture striking side-view compositions for impactful storytelling. When paired with creative techniques and intentional framing, you can convey more than words to the audience with one or multiple subjects in frame.
The powerful profile shot.
Profile shots show a person’s side view, focusing on their features and the overall mood of a scene. The shot can suddenly unveil many key moments that drive the story, from emotional distance to deep introspection.
What is a profile shot in film?
The profile shot — also known as the side profile shot or side profile view — is a cinematic technique in which the subject is filmed from the side to highlight emotion, perspective, or isolation. It’s used in various types of videos, including films, interviews, and promotional content, and when used in wider compositions, it can serve as an establishing shot.
This shot is a great storytelling element that can help with the following and more in your next film:
- Reveal physical details of a character’s face
- Establish a connection with a character
- Highlight a character’s mental state
- Emphasize the mood and tone of a scene
- Reveal hidden information
Becoming well-versed in the various shots and camera angles in film, including the profile shot, will help you immerse your audience in the story and let them feel what your characters are feeling.
When to use a profile shot vs. head-on shot.
While the two may seem similar at first glance, the profile shot and the head-on shot serve different purposes in your filmmaking.
The profile shot films the subject from the side and emphasizes emotions and perspectives. This shot is commonly used in interviews, films, and promotional content. It may also be used as an establishing shot when integrated with wider compositions.
The head-on shot, often captured as an eye-level shot, on the other hand, typically frames the subject from the front. Like the profile shot, it’s also commonly used in interviews or promotional content. However, the head-on shot’s purpose is to provide clarity and directness rather than emphasizing the mental state of the subject or the mood and tone of a scene. It’s a more neutral shot, ideal for delivering straightforward information.
Profile shot examples to try.
Let’s dive into some examples of profile shots to give you inspiration for your filmmaking.
If you want to highlight the power dynamic between two characters, you could place two characters at opposite ends of the frame, with one in focus and the other slightly blurred in the background. This position could highlight the differing hierarchy between the two characters and show who has more authority in the scene, with the more powerful characters appearing sharper in the frame.
To highlight emotional distance, you can put two subjects in the same frame but facing different directions. For example, both characters could be sitting next to each other at a table, but you could show them facing away from one another to show tension between them. A medium shot will allow you to show both profiles while providing enough space to emphasize the emotional divide.
Another profile shot example is to use the shot to focus on introspection. Framing a character by themselves gazing into a mirror or out a window can hint at contemplation or internal conflict. A medium close-up shot can put viewers into the character’s space and set a more vulnerable tone.
How distance and creative choices impact a profile shot.
Helping your audience understand your characters is all about perspective. Your creative choices can frame characters in a different light. Depending on framing distance and composition choices, you can provoke certain thoughts and feelings in your audience about your film’s characters.
A wide-profile shot can serve as an establishing shot that familiarizes viewers with the environment and emphasizes a character’s isolation or the grandiose environment they are in. A close-up profile shot, on the other hand, can focus more on a character’s mental state by highlighting facial expressions.
In addition to exploring various angles, choosing different lighting and compositions can evoke specific emotions and focus on key themes. Bright lighting can convey a more lighthearted theme, while dark lighting can make for a spooky atmosphere.
In the upcoming sections, we’ll cover how distance and various creative compositions make a difference in how your scenes are perceived. Specifically, we’ll dive into the following:
- Framing profile shots by distance
- Lighting for dramatic silhouette profile shots
- Multiperson profile shots
- Using the environment as a character
Framing profile shots by distance.
The distance at which you shoot your subject can determine how emotionally connected viewers feel to the subject or how familiar they feel with the subject’s surrounding environment. Framing distances can shift the emotional tone and storytelling function of your profile shot.
When shooting a profile, consider the following distance-based shots to allow viewers to connect with your film’s characters in different ways:
- The extreme close-up shot uses a very tight frame of a portion of the subject’s face, such as the eyes or mouth, to focus on subtle emotional cues to build intense intimacy with the characters.
- A close-up shot shows the subject’s head and sometimes shoulders to focus on facial expressions and other physical cues to allow the audience to emotionally connect with the character.
- The medium close-up shot frames the subject’s head and upper torso to strike a balance between context and intimacy with the character, typically during moments of reflection or dialogue between characters.
- A wide shot captures the subject’s full body and surroundings to emphasize the character’s relationship with their environment or to portray loneliness or power, depending on the shot’s position.
Lighting for dramatic silhouette profile shots.
Whether concealing elements in the shadows to leave viewers in suspense or creating a subject’s silhouette to position them as a person of power, using dramatic silhouette lighting brings the drama.
Backlights and shadows can transform a simple profile shot into a bold silhouette, taking away the emotional cues in the character’s face and leaving only the outline of their body visible against the lighter background. This places the viewer’s focus on the character’s outline and body language, creating feelings of emotional distance, tension, and moral ambiguity.
You’ll often see profile silhouettes in genres like thriller, film noir, and psychological dramas, where dramatic lighting and shadows are crucial to building suspense, portraying internal conflict, or concealing identities without dialogue.
Multiperson profile shots.
While including one-person profile shots to get up close and personal with individual characters is important, showing the ongoing dialogue with multiple characters in the frame adds a layer of visual tension and shows emotional subtleties in the scene. A two-shot is a great way to show two characters conversing or simply using subtle body language to express themselves. With multiple people in the frame, multiperson shots can highlight the disconnect, intimacy, or confrontational moments between two or more characters.
Layering one character in the foreground and the other in the background can create a feeling of emotional distance, differing power dynamics, or conflict between the characters. The placement of the subjects in the frame is a subtle indication of the scene’s tone and the changing tension or connection between characters.
Using the environment as a character.
Humans and other living, breathing creatures aren’t the only ones in the spotlight — the surrounding environment can make a name for itself. A narrow hallway or a barren landscape can add depth to the narrative by emphasizing themes of transition, introspection, or isolation.
Small spaces can highlight a character’s emotional captivity or the pressure from an impending decision. Contrastingly, positioning a character in a wide open space can evoke feelings of reflection, solitude, or vulnerability. A scene’s environment can play a crucial role in an audience’s emotional response, adding a layer to the storytelling by matching the small or grandiose spaces with the subject’s mental state or the general tone of a scene.
How to set up and film a profile shot.
Careful, creative considerations and proper framing will ensure that your audience doesn’t miss a moment of connection with your film’s characters. Use the following steps to successfully set up and film a profile shot:
- Decide on style. Prior to shooting, decide what you want your upcoming scenes to convey — tension, isolation, intimacy, and so on. Conduct research on what other professionals in your industry are doing to inspire you.
- Find your angle. Place your camera at a 90-degree angle to the subject so you can easily see their face. For a classic profile shot, keep the camera level with the subject’s eyes, or for a unique profile shot, you can subtly move the camera’s vertical position while keeping the same angle.
- Frame your picture. Using the rule of thirds creates a balanced composition. Position your subject on one of the vertical lines and leave space in front of their gaze (look space). Get physically closer to the subject or zoom your camera to ensure they are the focus of the frame.
- Light the way. Use correct lighting based on the tone you want to set. For the best natural lighting, think about the time of day you want to shoot, depending on how much direct sunlight you want. Artificial lighting can provide a versatile range of options to set the desired mood and focus on the subject’s features.
- Maintain the line. When filming using multiple angles, especially for dialogue scenes, keep the 180-degree rule in mind. This rule ensures there are consistent spatial relationships across shots between characters using an imaginary line between two characters.
- Shoot additional coverage. If you have your camera set up anyway, you might as well capture some full-body shots and behind-the-scenes moments to use for future content or integrate into a video production project.
Best practices for filming profile shots with intention.
Getting close to the characters immerses viewers in all the best emotional moments. Shooting this shot incorrectly can pull your audience out of the scene and make it look unprofessional. To shoot engaging, intentional profile shots, keep the following best practices in mind:
- Match framing with intent. A profile shot can serve as a powerful moment to emotionally connect with your film’s characters. While you want your shot to be aesthetically pleasing, you want to consider its purpose in driving the story before anything — building tension, showing a moment of reflection, or focusing on a character’s internal conflict.
- Choose the right angle. Avoid too much or too little of the side profile angle so you don’t film a flat silhouette. You want to focus on the subject’s features by angling your camera between 80 and 90 degrees.
- Control the lighting. While dramatic shadows cast on the subject may work for thrillers or horror movies, it may not fit as well in certain comedies. Unless dramatic or flat lighting fits your film’s tone, avoid throwing it in. For example, if you want a moody atmosphere for your film, low key lighting can highlight facial structure and emotional cues.
- Keep lighting consistent across cuts. Inconsistency across shots can appear unprofessional and jarring for the audience. Use light meters and reference stills to maintain continuity, especially in scenes with multiple profile shots.
- Position with purpose. Placing your subject off-center makes for a more interesting picture. Unless you’re doing it for a specific, artistic purpose, centering your subject may cause your audience to lose interest.
- Avoid busy backgrounds. A cluttered environment can lead your audience’s eyes away from the subject. Keep distractions to a minimum for a polished, professional look.
- Watch for misalignment. Misaligned eyes can detract from spatial continuity. Whether your character is looking off-frame or engaging with another character, check that their gaze matches the scene’s geography.
- Stabilize handheld tracking. If you’re going the handheld route to follow a subject, be mindful of your distance and pace. Ensure the movement is fluid and avoid abrupt shifts that draw attention to your camera. Using a gimbal or rig can support motion while maintaining the raw energy of a handheld camera.
Edit and refine profile shots in your film.
Once you’ve filmed your shots, Adobe {{premiere-pro}} can help you make your shots picture-perfect. Here are a few examples of how you can enhance your profile shots in post-production:
- Adjust lighting by experimenting with exposure, contrast, and color balance to focus on key details, a mood, or a tone you’d like to convey.
- Crop and reposition the frame if you want to tighten the composition, eliminate distractions, or re-center your subject.
- Apply subtle color grading for a uniform tone between shots to give your film that cinematic touch.
Editing video shots in {{premiere-pro}} adds an extra layer of professionalism to your film scenes that hit home with your audience.
Bring profile shots to life with Adobe {{premiere-pro}}.
Profile shots are a powerful tool for a strong audience connection with your film’s characters. From wildly dramatic moments to subtle emotional expressions, correct framing and careful editing can turn a basic profile shot into a powerful cinematic moment. Adobe {{premiere-pro}} helps you create the shots you envision with all the tools you need for color grading, cropping, and adding polished, professional flair to each frame. No matter what kind of shot you’re editing, {{premiere-pro}} is an industry-leading video editing software that can help your film succeed.