What does the term principal photography refer to?

The term principal photography refers to the phase of a film production where the majority of the actual footage is recorded. This stage involves capturing the performances of the actors, the scenes as they are written in the script, and the cinematography that brings the story to life. It's typically one of the most significant and time-intensive parts of the filmmaking process, as it occurs after pre-production activities (like script development and casting) and before post-production work (like editing and sound design) begins. During principal photography, directors, cinematographers, and the entire crew work closely together to shoot the scenes, aiming to capture the vision laid out in the script.