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Headroom and Lead Room

When composing a shot, an important visual element to keep in mind is making sure your subject has “room” within the frame.

Cara Friez avatar
Written by Cara Friez
Updated over 2 years ago

When composing a shot, an important visual element to keep in mind is making sure your subject has “room” within the frame.

Two of the most common types of “room” are:

  • Headroom - The vertical space above a subject, from the top of their head and the top of the frame.

    It is best to not allow too much headroom above an interviewee’s head; otherwise, they might look unnatural within the frame. It is also essential to not cut off too much from the top of someone’s head, especially in a Close-Up.

    Examples of various headroom within a shot.

  • Lead Room - The horizontal space in front of the subject, between the tip of their nose and the left or right edge of the frame. This is also known as Nose Room, Looking Room, or Walking Room.

    Most times, the extra space should be in front of your subject in the direction they are facing or moving.

Examples of various lead room within a shot.

The amount of “room” needed for each shot will change depending on how you frame your subject. But following standard practices, like the Rule of Third, and ensuring there is “room” will create a visually pleasing shot.

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