# Side tracking

Camera / Camera move / Dolly and track. Checked 2026-10-13.

Shows motion as a clean line across the frame; speed and direction become graphic.

- Use when: Runners, cyclists, a car passing, a person walking along a wall.
- Phrase: side tracking shot, the camera travels parallel to him at the same speed, he stays in profile in the middle of the frame
- Page: https://directorchair.ai/move/side-tracking-shot
- JSON: https://directorchair.ai/api/move/side-tracking-shot.json

## Watch out

- Keep the direction of travel the same in every shot (always left to right) or the viewer loses track. (film-craft; Director Chair field notes on video prompting)

## Move card

- **Camera:** travels sideways alongside the subject
- **Pace:** the subject's speed
- **Keep:** the subject in profile at a constant distance
- **Ends:** still moving across the frame

## Reference: Side tracking

> side tracking shot. Movement: move parallel beside the subject along their direction of travel. Speed: match the subject's motion. Framing: keep the subject in side profile or three-quarter profile at a stable distance. End: continue the parallel movement with clear horizontal motion.

Credit: AI Camera Movements (aicameramovements.com). Source: https://aicameramovements.com/previews/hq/19-side-tracking-hq.mp4
Clip: https://directorchair.ai/media/aicameramovements/19-side-tracking-hq.mp4
Poster: https://directorchair.ai/media/aicameramovements/19-side-tracking-hq.jpg

## Prompts

### Seedance 2.5

```
Scene: [your subject] in [your setting].
Shot 1 (0:00 to 0:05): one continuous shot
Optics and camera: Side tracking shot, the camera travels parallel to the subject at the same speed, the subject stays in profile in the middle of the frame. Camera: travels sideways alongside the subject. Pace: the subject's speed. Keep: the subject in profile at a constant distance. Ends: still moving across the frame.
Reference clip (Side tracking): https://directorchair.ai/media/aicameramovements/19-side-tracking-hq.mp4
```

### Seedance 2.0

```
Scene: [your subject] in [your setting].
Shot 1: one continuous shot
Optics and camera: Side tracking shot, the camera travels parallel to the subject at the same speed, the subject stays in profile in the middle of the frame. Camera: travels sideways alongside the subject. Pace: the subject's speed. Keep: the subject in profile at a constant distance. Ends: still moving across the frame.
Reference clip (Side tracking): https://directorchair.ai/media/aicameramovements/19-side-tracking-hq.mp4
```

### Kling 3.0

```
[your subject]. The scene is [your setting]. Side tracking shot, the camera travels parallel to the subject at the same speed, the subject stays in profile in the middle of the frame. Camera: travels sideways alongside the subject. Pace: the subject's speed. Keep: the subject in profile at a constant distance. Ends: still moving across the frame.
Reference clip (Side tracking): https://directorchair.ai/media/aicameramovements/19-side-tracking-hq.mp4
```

### Veo 3.1

```
Side tracking shot, the camera travels parallel to the subject at the same speed, the subject stays in profile in the middle of the frame. Camera: travels sideways alongside the subject. Pace: the subject's speed. Keep: the subject in profile at a constant distance. Ends: still moving across the frame. [your subject] in [your setting]. Framing and subject stay as in the start image.
Reference clip (Side tracking): https://directorchair.ai/media/aicameramovements/19-side-tracking-hq.mp4
```

## Look further

- https://aicameramovements.com/ : a looping example clip of this move and a free prompt card (link only)

## Goes well with

- Tracking shot: https://directorchair.ai/move/tracking-shot
- Side profile: https://directorchair.ai/angle/profile-shot

## Source

Move names and the seven groups from aicameramovements.com (names and structure only); behaviour and numbers in our own words from Director Chair field notes on video prompting and the first Director Chair spec

Text CC BY 4.0, Director Chair (directorchair.ai). Reference clips and their card texts belong to their makers.