Principal Photography
Definition
Principal Photography refers to the main phase of filming during which the primary cast and crew capture the majority of the footage for the project. It is distinct from second unit photography (which captures supplementary footage without the main cast), visual effects photography (which captures elements for VFX compositing), and pick-up photography (which captures additional footage after the main shoot has wrapped). The start and end of principal photography are significant milestones in any production.
Contextual Usage
A press release from the production company announces, "Principal Photography on the upcoming feature film began today in Los Angeles, with an expected shooting schedule of 45 days."
About this section
Production — or "principal photography" — is the phase in which the film or video is actually shot. It is the most visible and, typically, the most expensive phase of the entire process. Every day on ...
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