A Dolly Shot is any camera movement achieved using a dolly, typically involving the camera moving toward, away from, or alongside a subject while mounted on a wheeled platform. It is a catch-all term for dolly-based camera motion and encompasses movements in any direction including forward, backward, lateral, or along curved paths.

Dolly shots are characterized by their smoothness, control, and intentionality. Because the camera is mounted on a stable platform rather than being handheld, dolly shots produce motion that feels deliberate and polished, with none of the organic shake or variability of handheld camerawork. This quality makes dolly shots ideal for establishing mood, creating visual elegance, and maintaining professional production values. Directors and cinematographers plan dolly shots carefully, often rehearsing the movement multiple times to ensure perfect synchronization between camera motion and subject performance.

In AI video generation, referencing a dolly shot in a prompt communicates that the desired camera movement should be smooth, grounded, and controlled rather than erratic or floating. While AI models do not use physical equipment, the language of traditional cinematography provides a shared vocabulary for describing the aesthetic and behaviour of camera motion that helps models produce more intentional, professional-looking results.