At some point in your career as a video content creator, director, filmmaker, YouTuber or even a video production company with countless clients; you’re going to need to know how to shoot B-rolls by yourself. Here are five crucial tips you can note when it comes to doing your shoot.
Framing is Key
B-rolls are composed of alternative or supplemental shots you take. In fact, that’s what they’re all about but this doesn’t mean you can just randomly shoot anything without any thought for how it’s going to look or fit into your final film or video.
Always consider the framing and composition of your work. When you’re shooting alone, it can be easy to get stuck into one camera angle or shot without trying anything new. Sometimes this is an unconscious decision. So always pause and think about the composition. Move the camera in different angles, think of the blocking or try unusual focal lengths for plenty of interest.
Think About Continuity
One of the most frequently forgotten things when doing B-rolls, aside from framing, is continuity. You need to think about how you’re going to string together the different shots you’ve taken to tell a story or showcase what you want to showcase. Think about blocking at all times. The mistake can be so glaring when it comes to watching the actual footage.
Be Confident About Your Shots
Okay, so you’re going to look like an idiot in public when you’re shooting by yourself. But take heart, at least you’re going to get wonderful footage if you do it right. You have to be confident and do what you need to do to get the shot you want. Sure, you might look like a weirdo to everyone else but rest assured, on camera, you’ll be the boss. Aside from having great gear, be confident about what you’re doing. It’ll show in the camera too.
Take Advantage of Resolution
If you’re shooting or producing videos professionally or for a client, you need to make sure to shoot in the best resolution possible. Shoot in 4k or 2k, even if it’s not exactly what you need for the final output. Doing so will help you during post production since you won’t be worrying about losing image quality or adding effects to your shots. For instance, you can do crops and delicate dolly-in without worry about how it’s going to look in the end.
Don’t be Afraid to Experiment
Yes, we’re giving you permission to go a bit crazy with your shots or how you shoot your video. Shooting b-rolls are great for social media platforms. Having a striking touch that’s uniquely your own, is the perfect way of standing out. There’s plenty of room to indulge in your creativity when you shoot so have as much fun as you want.
As you start on your video making career or if you run your own video production company service, always keep the idea of adding your own B-roll and to employ these helpful tips when you find yourself doing it solo.
