Welcome to the AP Creative Community Newsletter!
Every other week, I share actionable tips, honest answers, and valuable insights to help you on your creative journey—no fluff, just real talk. This newsletter is here to support your journey, spark ideas, and build a community of creatives. 🗺 When I’m not sharing tips, I feature creatives from the community through the Creator Spotlight.
New issues hit your inbox every Sunday. Glad you’re here. 🤝
If your videos feel flat, it’s probably not a skill issue. And it’s definitely not a gear issue. 🫢
Most of the time, it comes down to how the shots are chosen. Not more shots. Not better shots. Ultimately, it comes down to choosing the right shots, for the right moments. 🎥
Choose Your Shots Before You Hit Record
Most videos feel scattered because the shots weren’t chosen ahead of time. ⏰ This isn’t about planning everything perfectly. It’s about knowing why each shot exists.
Here’s a simple shot cheat sheet you can use on almost any video:
WIDE SHOT ↔️
Sets the scene. Use this to establish where we are and what kind of moment this is.
MEDIUM SHOT 📖
Connects action and emotion. This is your workhorse shot. Most of your story lives here.
CLOSE-UP 🎭
Shows what matters. Faces, hands, reactions. Use this when the moment turns personal.
EXTREME CLOSE-UP 🤏
Adds emphasis. Not for information—use it when a small detail carries weight.
OVERHEAD 🙆♂️
Creates structure and clarity. Great for routines, layouts, or moments where organization matters.
PROFILE 📁
Adds space and perspective. Use this to let moments breathe without forcing attention.
LOW ANGLE ⤵️
Builds confidence and power. Perfect for momentum, authority, or forward motion.
HIGH ANGLE 🔝
Introduces vulnerability. Great for reflection, uncertainty, or quieter moments.
You don’t need all of these in every video. Pick a few. Use them paired up intentionally with the story you want to deliver. 🙌
If you enjoyed this and want to go even more in depth, Content College is where I teach the full system. How to write your story, editing, color, structure, and so much more —built for creators who want to level up.
Steal these Shots 📝 Here's the visual cheat sheet for everything you need to know about what kinds of shots set the tone for what you're trying to achieve. Watch HERE
How to Be Yourself on Camera 📸 I sat down with Karo Crafts for a new segment called the Creator Confidence Series, where I interview some of my favorite creators on how they were able to get more comfortable talking to a camera. Check it out HERE
Boba's Button 🐕 Whenever you come across one of my videos on the Reels page, you can now see my personalized like button of Boba! Try it HERE
Have a question about cameras/editing/technical skills? Ask me anonymously HERE!
Question of the Week:
Where do you get the dope samples of the famous hip hop you use in videos? Example: Instrumental Tupac, Biggie and Jay Z. Is there a place to get these from and is there copyright to worry about if using it for social media?
Submitted by: Jace T.
From Adrian 💬
Because I dont monetize my content, I use them. A lot of the songs you can find on IG and just throw it on there as well. And if you dont, it'll more than likely auto tag the song. For all of my brand collaborations, I make sure I use royalty free music.
That's all for this week and I hope this newsletter helps making your shot list a lot easier! 📸 I'll catch y'all next time for Creator Spotlights, which you can always submit your work for in the Discord. Until then y'all, happy creating and let me know if these tips worked for you. ✌️
