Conventions Of A Music Video

Camera Shots:
The main three types of camera shots used are long, mid and close up shots; long shots are used to help show location and can emphasise a location's scale, mid shots are used to help show the artist/band members clearly, giving you chance to know the look and feel of the band and also lets you see the instruments they play and lastly close up shots are used to emphasis emotion and also to reflect what is in the lyrics down to the movement of the lips (lip syncing).

Camera Movements:
Camera shots are used to trace the steps of the artist/band or the actors they may have chosen to use within the storyline. Camera shots such as tilts, pans, tracks and crane shots are used.
Conventions can alter with genre, such as with a hip-pop song the shots will more than likely be very still and simple, however with a heavier song, the camera will be more slack and realistic, this is because the camera usually moves with the beat of the song and 'bops' with the music.

Mise-En-Scene:
Mise-en-scene is pretty much everything within the shot, such as:
Lighting
Props
Location
Costume

Lighting is important as you are able to have lighting to represent or emphasis a certain aspect of your video or you could use it to set a mood, such as the use of black and white in 'Street Spirit' by Radiohead.

Props are vital to help add to a scene and create significance to a specific object or person, props could also be seen as the instruments they play.

Location is one that usually changes with genre, such as heavier music will usually use quite run down or derelict style buildings, however dance music will use places such as nightclubs or large party type venues, this represents the type of music they play as it also gives off a sense of emotion and presence.

Costume depends on the type of song, this could be done to a theme, such as a party theme or a war theme, however, usually heavier rock bands just wear their normal clothes as they like to keep themselves raw and don't like to dress up, they usually wear other band merch to represent their bands however. Bigger artists such as FUN will wear fancy clothes, or have a theme, such as in 'Some Nights'.

Editing:
Editing also changes with genre, however, one rule still always tends to apply to conventional music videos, and that is editing to the beat of the music, this makes the video catchier and more professional which gives it an overall more professional feel and makes it more enjoyable to watch. They will also really only tend to use straight cuts, this is because they want the music video to be strong and punchy for the viewer.