Definition of a shot:  Basically from the moment you turn the camera on to record until you hit stop recording.

"Don't Be a Hoser".  This means you don't need to shoot continuously.  You don't have to get everything.  Try focusing on one spot, get the shot, hit stop recording.  Then go to your next area and start recording again. 

Record MORE than you think you will need.  You can always cut, but you can't always add more in.

Shots:

• Long shots:  A long shot frames a wide field of view of your subject and its surroundings. It usually requires a greater distance between your camera and your subject.

• Medium Shots: A medium shot frames more of your subject while still revealing some of the background. If your subject is a person, a medium shot would show the person from about the waist up. Medium shots provide more detail than long shots, which makes them more interesting to your viewer.
  

• Closeup Shot:  A close-up focuses your viewer’s attention on specific details. It demands that the viewer concentrate on the information you are giving them. In storytelling, close-ups have great emotional impact.
  

• Extreme Closeup Shot:  An extreme closeup shot frames only a portion of your subject. It is a very dramatic shot that can generate great visual excitement. XCUs might be used to show the face of a wristwatch or words being typed on a computer screen.
  

When framing human subjects, proper closure can be achieved by avoiding putting natural cutoff lines
of persons (neck, elbows, wrists, waist, knees, ankles) at the bottom of your frame. Instead, frame
your shots to include the area slightly above or below these natural body joints.

You’ll find words like “big” or “extreme” are also used with shot descriptions, as in “big close-up” or
“extreme long shot,” to further qualify a shot.

You want to use mostly "MEDIUM SHOTS".  Use long shots and closeups sparingly.

Use the rule of thirds.

Use a tripod whenever you do a closeup shot. 

Camera Movement:

• Pan:  A pan is the horizontal pivoting of the camera from a fixed point, left to right or right to left. It is used to follow screen action or to reveal more of a location without zooming or repositioning the camera. DON'T use pans because you are too lazy to use sequences!
  

• Tilt:  A tilt occurs when you pivot your camera up or down from a fixed position. As with the pan, a tilt should start and end with a stationary shot that is held for a few seconds. The same tips described in the pan section apply to tilts as well.
  

• Arc:   An arc shot is created by shooting while moving in a semicircle around your subject. This shot has become common on TV dramas. You need to have good control of your camera to perform it smoothly.
  

• Pedestal:  A pedestal shot is the vertical or up and down movement of the camera, without changing the camera angle.
  

• Tracking:  Tracking shots usually involve the use of some sort of wheeled camera support for smooth camera movement. The pros will actually lay down a section of train-like tracks for the camera to be pushed along. If you don’t have access to such equipment, you might try substituting a tripod on wheels (called a dolly) or you could have your cameraperson hold the camera while riding on an office chair, grocery cart, or wheelchair.

• Trucking:   The lateral movement of the camera at right angles to the subject.
  

Angles:

• Flat Shot: A flat shot is a shot where the subject and the camera are at the same level. There is little emotional impact. This might be a shot of another person taken from their eye level.
  

• Low Angle :  A low angle shot occurs when the camera is lowered to a position below the height of the subject. This can make the subject appear larger than life, exaggerating its importance.
  

• High Angle:  A high angle shot occurs when the camera is raised to a position higher than the subject. A slight  difference makes the viewer feel somewhat superior to the subject.
  

• Point-of-View Shots:  The first motion pictures were really nothing more than stage plays that were filmed from a fixed position in the back of the theater.
  

• Over the Shoulder Shot:  An over the shoulder shot (OTS) is a type of POV shot. It is often used when it is impractical for the camera to be in the same position as the person whose point of view you are showing. It’s also used a lot when depicting a conversation between two people.
  

• Reaction Shot:  Showing a subject’s reaction to something that just occurred in your scene is aptly called a reaction shot. This shot conveys the impact of the moment. In a fictional story, it can be used to give your audience insight into what a character is thinking.