Glossary
What is a close-up?
By the KeyMo team · Updated
A close-up fills much of the frame with a face, object or detail. It makes expression and small visual information easy to see, but it removes surrounding context. In a vertical talking-head clip, a close-up can work for a strong reaction or answer if captions and platform controls do not cover the face.
Close-up versus medium shot
A medium shot keeps the person and part of the environment. A close-up gives the face or object priority. The right choice follows the idea: a close-up can make a reaction immediate, while a medium shot can show a gesture, microphone, product or second person that changes the meaning.
| Use a close-up when | Use a wider frame when |
|---|---|
| The expression is the point | A prop, hand movement or second speaker matters |
| The answer is short and direct | The viewer needs setup or room context |
| The crop stays clear of captions and controls | The speaker moves outside a fixed center crop |
| You want emphasis at the turn of a story | The close crop would feel cramped or hide the interaction |
Close-ups in vertical video
A 9:16 frame already gives a portrait subject more screen space than a landscape frame. That can make a close-up feel even tighter. Leave enough room for captions, especially if the style uses multiple lines. Keep eyes and mouth visible, and preview the export on the phone size where it will be watched.
- Do not let a caption block cover the speaker's mouth.
- Keep the top of the head and chin from being cut accidentally.
- Check the crop after a speaker turns or leans.
- Use a wider moment when the sentence refers to an object outside the face.
Close-ups and KeyMo
KeyMo automatically reframes clips to 9:16 with face tracking, then lets you choose among 12 caption styles or no captions. Its score out of 10 helps surface moments, but you still decide whether a close-up fits the sentence and the platform's safe area. Exported clips are 1080x1920 at 30 fps.
If a close-up is technically sharp but editorially cramped, reject it. A clean crop that preserves context is better than a dramatic crop that makes the viewer work.