How to Storyboard a Video Shoot

Professional videos look good due to planning as much as equipment. Videos without planning look awkward and lack a sense of direction. Storyboards not only help you avoid unwanted surprises when filming, they also help you picture what the lens should see so you can pre-edit the shots with the camera.

Things You'll Need

• Pencil and paper
• Photocopier or computer printer

Instructions

1. Decide whether you need to script or storyboard (many videos do both). Begin with a script if the shoot involves actors or if your clients will need to recite their own lines. Once you have the script, you can choose the shots based on those scenes and lines. Storyboard if your shoot involves multiple camera angles or action sequences.

2. Create storyboard sheets. Draw a series of small boxes to represent the camera shot on a sheet of paper, or lay them out on your computer. Include space for descriptive writing under each frame. Print or photocopy duplicates.

3. Create visuals of the camera shots and scenes. You don't have to draw. You can take pictures or sketch stick figures. Sketch in pencil to make corrections, and jot short notes under the frame.

4. Illustrate the action. Use arrows to indicate camera motion. Sketch the same background across several frames to indicate position changes. Annotate transitions such as fades and dissolves.

5. Number your shots. You can use them to create a shot list and refer back to them during editing.

6. Draw an overhead plan view. Indicate camera location, actor location and lights. If you can scout the location first, it might give you a better idea of the layout.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't spend a lot of time drawing. This isn't art. All you need is enough information to position actors and indicate camera motion and angles.

• Storyboards should inspire, not restrain. They're a starting point. You can always change your storyboards or revise the shot while you're shooting if a better idea presents itself.