Which type of shot captures a subject from the top of the head to the bottom of the feet?

The long shot is designed to capture the subject in full, from the top of the head to the bottom of the feet. This type of framing is particularly effective for establishing a scene and showing the subject's environment, giving viewers a sense of the context in which the subject exists.

In a long shot, the entire body is visible, allowing the audience to see body language, movement, and spatial relationships, which can all convey important narrative information. This is especially useful in storytelling, as it helps to situate the character within their surroundings, enhancing the viewer's understanding of the scene.

Other shot types serve different purposes. A close-up focuses narrowly on a subject's face or a specific detail, which is ideal for eliciting emotional responses. A medium close-up provides a tighter view of a subject, typically framing them from the chest or shoulders up, which still maintains some relationship to their surroundings but does not capture their entire figure. An extreme close-up goes even further by isolating very small details, such as a person's eyes or another specific feature, which can highlight intensity but lacks the context needed to understand the character's full presence in a scene. Thus, the long shot serves a distinct and essential role in visual storytelling.