Shot composition refers to the overall look of the video footage. This involves the camera framing and lighting of the shot, the choice of colors and other visual attributes on the shot's art direction, the blocking of the person seen on frame and any visual effects to be incorporated into the video. Various screen elements including the makeup, hairstyle, wardrobe and accessories of on-camera talents, the props around the set and the scene's background play crucial roles in the composition of the shots that comprise the final video.
Camera movement works hand-in-hand with shot composition. In a choreography video where the dancer constantly moves, it is essential to capture the dance steps according to the needs of the video. For instance, an instructional video would prioritize capturing every single detail in a dance step, while a movie or music video would generally prioritize the aesthetic look of the dance step rather than its more specific details. Shooting each scene may involve using slow-motion and fast-motion shots, fast and slow panning and tilting of the camera or even using a crane, dolly or steadycam equipment on certain shots.
Some dance and choreography shots may require the use of camera shake and other effects or transition effects to make the video look more visually enticing. Other productions, especially in movies and music videos, even use green screen backgrounds so that they can replace the green background with other footage or even motion graphics and animation effects. Instructional video materials can also take advantage of split-screen or multi-screen effects to show comparisons or provide additional information about the dance steps.
Music plays a vital role in any choreography video because the editing of the footage should correspond to the beat and pacing of the music being played for the dance. Apart from matching the shots with the music, it is also essential to ensure the shot continuity on the video. Since the editing process involves cutting and splicing various shots, the dance step seen on the first shot should match the continuation of the said step as soon as the second shot is seen on screen.