The 3 Shots Every Creator Should Master Before Hitting Record
- gear4greatness
- Jun 5, 2025
- 3 min read
Updated: Nov 13, 2025
The 3 Shots Every Creator Should Master Before Hitting Record
When I look back at how my filming style has evolved—from shaky early GoPro rides to smooth, layered, intentional sequences—I can trace almost every improvement to these three core shots. 🎥✨ Every time I head out with the GoPro HERO13, the Insta360 Ace Pro 2, or even the DJI Pocket 3 tucked in my pocket, I’m already thinking in this three-shot language. It’s wild how much it changes the way you see the world once you start paying attention to it. Before I hit record, I always take a moment to just absorb the space around me—the weather, the light, the shadows, the way the air feels against my face. And that’s where the whole thing begins.
The establishing shot sets the tone. 🌄 It’s the “Here we are” moment—the wide stretch of The Forks, the river trail opening up, the glow of streetlights in the early morning. Whether I’m reframing a 360 clip or shooting straight from the Pocket 3, this shot always feels like clearing my throat before telling a story. It’s grounding. It’s inviting. It gives the viewer a sense of arriving with me.
Then there are the detail shots—the ones that make the footage feel human. 🎯 These are the little textures I’ve learned to appreciate more over time: hands gripping a bike handle, gravel crunching under my shoes, my thumb brushing dust off a lens, coffee steam drifting into the cold Winnipeg air. Those tiny visual beats slow the viewer down. They pull them into the moment. And honestly, they’ve taught me to notice more in my own life. Shooting details with the Action 5 Pro or the Ace Pro 2 always gives me a kind of creative joy—it feels intimate, personal, real.
But the movement shot? That’s the soul of the footage. 🚲🔥 That’s the one that carries emotion and momentum. It’s where I let the camera glide beside me, behind me, or lead me forward. The Pocket 3 makes these shots cinematic without thinking, while the Insta360 clips make it look like a drone is following me. Movement brings breath into the story. When I’m biking or walking and I catch that perfect forward motion, it feels like everything clicks—the music, the mood, the light. That single shot can elevate an entire sequence.
The 3 Shots Every Creator Should Master Before Hitting Record
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Final Thoughts
What I love most is how these three shots have become a creative anchor for me. 🌄 They take the pressure off, especially on days when my head is foggy or I don’t feel inspired. Knowing that all I need is a place, a detail, and a movement shot is like having a roadmap even when the story isn’t fully formed yet. It lets me ease into the moment instead of forcing something that isn’t there.
Over time, these shots changed the way I see the world—not just through my lens, but in everyday life. I notice more. I slow down more. I appreciate the small things that hold a moment together. These shots gave me a deeper connection to the scenes I film and, honestly, to the days themselves. It’s amazing how much meaning can hide in something as simple as how you frame the world.
And maybe that’s why I keep coming back to them. They feel symbolic. ✨ The establishing shot is your foundation—it’s where you stand. The detail shot is what you choose to notice—the little pieces of life that matter more than we realize. And the movement shot is the direction you’re heading—the push forward, even when things feel heavy. Together, they form a rhythm that feels a lot like living.
Some days I nail all three. Some days I don’t. But every time I film with this mindset, I end up with footage that feels more intentional, more emotional, more me. And that’s the part that keeps me going, keeps me filming, keeps me creating.
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