How To Make A Storyboard For A Video And Why You Should Bother (Includes Free Storyboard Template)

Storyboarding, is it worth the hassle? I’m going to answer that question and show you how to make a storyboard for a video.

As a bonus, I’m giving you a video storyboard template, usually exclusive to our Go Do Video course members so you can put these tips into action.

But first…

Why bother to storyboard?

Storyboarding helps your storytelling shine through.Click To Tweet

Video is a visual medium so it makes sense to plan visually. We need to get those ideas out of our heads and on to paper.

Storyboarding will help you plan out your video shoot. You’ll ensure you get all the shots you need to make your video interesting and when it comes to editing it will speed the process up. All this results in a better end product.

How to make a storyboard for a video

What is a storyboard?

A storyboard, in most cases, is a bit of paper with rectangles on it that helps you plan out the shots you need film for your video.

Hollywood storyboards always look very grand but you don’t have to be able to draw to make a storyboard. Stick men and rough illustrations are enough to help you get into the visual mindset when planning.

Shot sizes

Before you start doodling you need to know about shots sizes and choices.

When you are filming people or animals there are three key shot choice sizes for online video.

There’s the close up (CU) which is your face and a small amount of your body.
A medium close-up (MCU) capturing head and shoulders.
And the medium shot (MS) which reaches all the way down to your waist.

Any wider than a wide shot and your mobile audience will be squinting trying to see your subject.

Shot sizes for making storyboards for video

(Thanks to Eamonn O’brien for being the model)

Each shot can have a different kind of impact. CU shots add emphasis. Wider shots are more relaxed and welcoming.

Think beyond the talking head

It’s hard for us humans to stare at a single shot for a long period of time. Look for shots you can create that will break up the monotony of a talking head.

Can you illustrate your video beyond you talking? Are there key points you can illustrate using shots of other things. For example, in the video above I’ve cut away to me drawing a storyboard and examples of shot sizes.

Including these sorts of shots helps you illustrate your points and keeps your audience interested.

Use my free storyboard template (download it here) to illustrate your shots. Write what is happening in each shot an whether it’s a CU, MCU or MS underneath each frame.

Testing

Test how your video will look once you have filmed it by taking a shot of each storyboard frame. Cut them together with your editing software. Does it work? Are you missing any shots? It’s better to find out now than after you’ve made your video proper.

What’s next?

Now you have the storyboards distribute them to everyone involved in your video shoot. You can convert them into a shot list too, crossing each one off as you complete it.