Zoom in (Lens Zoom In)

Prompt rule of thumb: “If your subject must grow in frame size but stay centered and untouched, go Zoom In.”

A Zoom In enlarges the subject in the frame by adjusting the focal length of the virtual lens, giving the illusion of approaching the subject without physically moving the camera. It’s a flattening, magnifying effect that keeps the perspective intact — foreground and background grow simultaneously, but distances feel compressed.

Used to emphasize a moment, emotion, or object — think of the slow zoom-in on Brody’s face in Jaws as he realizes there’s a shark in the water.

Subject & Background Behaviour

Subject: stays locked, grows in frame.
Background: grows too, but remains spatially fixed; no parallax or rotation.

Don’t-Confuse-With

Dolly In: physically moves camera toward subject — creates parallax, background shifts.

Dolly Zoom: combo of dolly in + zoom out — creates warping, subject size stable but background distorts.

Push-In: sometimes used interchangeably, but often implies camera movement.

Companion Effects

Shallow Depth-of-Field: isolates subject further
Lens Breathing Simulation: subtle change in image scale for realism
Speed-Ramping: dynamic tension with pacing
Soft Focus Bloom: for dreamlike emphasis during zoom
Motion Blur (none): since subject isn’t moving, no streaks