A storyboard is an essential part of professional explainer video production. Whether it’s explainer videos or video ads, those comic book-like sketches help everyone involved visualize the shots and sequence of the video before it’s created.
In other words, a storyboard can simplify every stage of making a video. It helps the producer, director, and crew figures out what they need to shoot and how to shoot it. In this post, we’ll dive into the storyboard more in-depth.
What is a storyboard?
A storyboard is a visual representation of how the video will be put together. It is vital in producing videos because it tells you what to shoot, where to place each shot, and how long it should be.
You can think of a storyboard as being like the blueprint for your house before you start construction.
Storyboards are usually hand-drawn sketches of the video’s shot sequence. They usually contain:
- Images
- Arrows
- Scene descriptions
- Annotations to specify what kind of camera placement is required for each shot.
Well, of course not all video production will need a professional-looking storyboard. For example, your social videos. Even with a scrappy production, you can shoot what you want and put it together in an effective way, so that your followers understand the message.
But, when you invest in a professional video for your ad campaigns or website homepage, you want to make sure everything is polished and well-produced. The storyboard allows the producers and directors to determine what they need for each shot in order to achieve a high-quality video that viewers will enjoy watching.
Why do you need a storyboard?
Storyboarding adds extra effort to your video production. It might make your whole video creation process more complex. But, it’s well worth the time and effort. Here are some reasons why:
1. Organize your thoughts
Storyboarding helps you and your team to organize your thoughts and come up with a well-constructed plot for the video. It is especially helpful when you have a lot of footage to work with.
When you have a storyboard, you can better visualize how all the shots will be placed in the final product. This will help keep your video on track and make sure it flows smoothly from the beginning.
2. Keep everyone on the same page
A storyboard makes sure that everyone involved in the video production process is on the same page. It’s much easier to see if you have all your shots lined up when they are drawn out visually, instead of just explained verbally.
For instance, if you create an animated explainer video, animators and illustrators can understand each others’ vision better when they have the storyboard to reference.
When everyone knows exactly how each shot will look and flow into one another, it’s easy for them to execute their tasks accordingly. This will help you create a more efficient production process.
3. Identify any problems early
A storyboard can also help identify potential problems with the video before they become actual problems in production. This is especially helpful when you have a tight deadline and can’t afford any wasted time or money.
Having a storyboard in place also allows you to identify any potential difficulties, such as budgeting for specific camera equipment or shooting on location.
As a result, it helps producers and directors plan out the best possible way to produce your video without having any unnecessary problems popping up in production that can cause delays (and additional costs) later down the line.
4. Keep the production on track
With a storyboard, it’s easier to see if you’re staying on track and within budget, or what parts still need some work.
If you notice that your video is straying from the original storyboard too much, it might be a good idea to take a look at how production costs are adding up as well. It can also help identify which aspects of your video are taking the longest to shoot and might need to be reorganized.
5. Save time on the back end
Once your storyboard is finished, you can save some valuable production time by using it as a reference during shooting. This will help avoid unnecessary takes because of any mistakes or changes in course that need to be made after each shot. You’ll also have everything planned out ahead of time, so there are no surprises during the production.
6. Look more professional
Last but not least, a well-done storyboard can give your video that extra bit of polish and make your whole video production look more professional. This is especially important if you’re looking to create a high-quality video for commercial or branding purposes.
Remember that professionally-made videos can give a boost to your online reputation and make you look more trustworthy and appealing to your target audience.
Final Thoughts
Creating a storyboard is an essential part of video production because it ensures that your final product will look great and be well-organized. It’s worth the time and effort put into it, especially if you’re working on a more complex or professional project.
You can create your own using different software or by hand if you want to be more hands-on with the process. You might also consider hiring someone else who specializes in this type of task so that you can have a more polished storyboard and professional-looking video for your business.
