Glossary
Videography Glossary
Video production has its own language, and it's easy to nod along in a briefing without actually knowing what "B-roll" or "a jump cut" means. This glossary breaks down the videography terms that come up when planning, shooting, or reviewing social video content.
Aspect Ratio
The proportional relationship of width and height.
Example: Filming in 9:16 (vertical) for TikTok.
Fun fact: The cinema standard (widescreen) is 16:9, but mobile first has driven 9:16 dominance.
B-Roll
Supplemental footage intercut with the main shot.
Example: Showing hands typing while a voiceover talks about work.
Fun fact: A-Roll used to be the main interview film, and "B-Roll" was the secondary camera film roll.
Bitrate
The amount of data processed per second in a video.
Example: Exporting at a high bitrate so the video doesn't look pixelated.
Fun fact: High bitrate means high quality, but massive file sizes.
Captions / Subtitles
Text on screen transcribing the spoken words.
Example: Adding pop-up text to a talking-head video.
Fun fact: 85% of Facebook videos are watched with the sound off.
Color Grading
Altering video colors for a specific cinematic mood.
Example: Making a scene look blue and cold to set a sad mood.
Fun fact: Blockbuster movies spend months just on the color grading process.
Continuity
Consistency from shot to shot.
Example: Making sure a coffee cup stays in the same hand after an edit.
Fun fact: Script Supervisors on movie sets exist solely to watch for continuity errors.
Export Settings
Final choices (resolution/format) when saving a video.
Example: Exporting an MP4 in 1080p for social media.
Fun fact: Exporting in a format social apps don't like causes them to ruin your video's quality via compression.
Frame Rate (FPS)
Frequency of consecutive images appearing per second.
Example: Shooting at 30fps for a standard social media video.
Fun fact: 24fps is the cinematic standard because it mimics how the human eye perceives motion blur.
Gimbal
Motorized device that keeps a camera perfectly level.
Example: Using a DJI Osmo to run with a camera and keep footage smooth.
Fun fact: Gimbals use aerospace technology (gyroscopes) originally designed for rockets.
Jump Cut
Abrupt edit between two shots of the same subject.
Example: Cutting out the "ums" and "ahs" in a spoken video.
Fun fact: Originally considered a mistake in film, jump cuts are now the pacing standard on YouTube.
Keyframe
A marker telling software to change a parameter over time.
Example: Using keyframes to slowly zoom into a video digitally.
Fun fact: Keyframing is the foundational concept of all digital animation.
Lav Mic (Lavalier)
Tiny microphone clipped to a shirt.
Example: Clipping a mic to a CEO's tie for clear interview audio.
Fun fact: Poor audio quality makes people click off a video faster than poor video quality.
Loop
A video that seamlessly restarts when it ends.
Example: A 5-second video where the ending perfectly matches the beginning.
Fun fact: Perfect loops trick algorithms into counting multiple views from a single user.
Pacing
The rhythm and speed at which a video flows.
Example: Making fast, quick cuts to keep a Gen-Z audience engaged.
Fun fact: Fast pacing reduces viewer drop-off in the first 10 seconds.
Pan & Tilt
Camera movements (Pan = horizontal, Tilt = vertical).
Example: Panning the phone slowly across the room to show the whole office.
Fun fact: Panning too fast causes "rolling shutter," making straight lines look wobbly.
Resolution
Number of pixels in a video, determining sharpness.
Example: Shooting in 4K for maximum clarity.
Fun fact: 4K has four times as many pixels as standard 1080p Full HD.
Safe Zones
Areas of the screen not covered by social app buttons.
Example: Keeping text in the center so the "Like" button doesn't hide it.
Fun fact: Putting vital text outside the safe zone guarantees users will swipe past.
Sequence
Series of related clips edited to show a specific action.
Example: A wide shot, a medium shot, and a close-up of someone making coffee.
Fun fact: Good sequencing makes video feel like a professional documentary, not a home movie.
Shot List
Checklist detailing exactly which clips need capturing.
Example: 1. Wide shot of building, 2. Close-up of sign.
Fun fact: It prevents the dreaded "I forgot to film that!" realization in the editing room.
Slow Motion (Slo-Mo)
Filming at high frame rate, playing back normally.
Example: Shooting 120fps to make a dog catching a frisbee look epic.
Fun fact: You need incredibly bright light to shoot good slow-motion video.
Sound Design
Adding non-spoken audio (whooshes, music, ambient).
Example: Adding a "swoosh" sound every time text pops on screen.
Fun fact: Good sound design is felt, not heard; it subconsciously guides the viewer's emotion.
Stabilization
Removing unwanted camera shake.
Example: Using software to fix a jittery walking video.
Fun fact: Modern iPhones use physical "sensor-shift" stabilization, physically floating the lens inside the phone.
Storyboard
Visual sketches of scenes planned for a video.
Example: Drawing stick figures to plan camera angles before a shoot.
Fun fact: Walt Disney invented the modern storyboard in the 1930s.
Time-lapse
Capturing frames slowly to speed up time.
Example: Taking a photo every 10 seconds to show a sunset in 5 seconds.
Fun fact: A 10-second time-lapse at 30fps requires 300 individual photos.
Tracking Shot
Moving the camera through space to follow a subject.
Example: Walking backward while filming a person walking toward you.
Fun fact: It immerses the viewer, making them feel like they are walking with the subject.
Transition
Editing technique connecting one clip to the next.
Example: Using a "fade to black" between two scenes.
Fun fact: On TikTok, physical transitions (covering the lens with a hand) are extremely popular.
Voiceover (VO)
Audio narrated over B-roll footage.
Example: Recording yourself talking about the event, played over clips of the event.
Fun fact: VO is the most effective way to turn random clips into a cohesive story.
Wide Angle
A lens capturing a massive field of view.
Example: Using the 0.5x lens on an iPhone to show a whole stadium.
Fun fact: Wide angles distort edges, making things look further away than they are.
Zoom (Optical/Digital)
Making a subject appear closer.
Example: Using optical zoom to get a high-quality close-up.
Fun fact: Digital zoom ruins video quality; optical zoom preserves it completely.
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