Medium shot

[4] Medium shots are favored in sequences where dialogues or a small group of people are acting, as they give the viewer a partial view of the background, such as when the shot is 'cutting the person in half'[4] and also show the subjects' facial expressions in the context of their body language.

[7] The medium shot shows equality between subjects and background.

[7] In some standard texts and professional references, a full-length view of a human subject is called a medium shot;[6] in this terminology, a shot of the person from the knees up or the waist up is a close-up shot.

In other texts, these partial views are called medium shots.

[9] In principle, the medium shot is what can be seen with the human eye in a single quick glance and convey all the action taking place in that field of view.