Simple Shot-List For Any High Production Vlog
The hardest part of creating highly produced content is all the planning. Below is a checklist of 5 key shots to get for a vlog that feels less casual and more like a high-production value video. If you can get these 5 shots in each scene of your video, you’ll have a beautiful, smooth-flowing video!
establishing shots
Establishing shots are usually super wide shots of the location. It helps the view get a good picture of where the rest of the video takes place. Each time you move to a new location, include a new establishing shot.
transition shots
Transition shots are helpful to break up the vlog into parts. They communicate the passage of time or that you are moving locations but they also help give the viewer's mind a break and keep them engaged for longer.
Transition shots could be a timelapse, cars going by, a shot of your feet walking, or any of the many currently trending transitions found on TikTok.
talking shots
This is that classic vlog talking shot. The talking shot is where you will get into the meat of your vlog and it will take up the majority of time in the final video.
Looking at the camera feels more casual and personal. Looking just past the camera feels more documentary.
Having some very subtle movement in the camera can help it feel higher end, but if you don't have a videographer, a still shot on a tripod or selfie-style hand held will be just fine!
b roll
B Roll is those extra (usually close up) shots of little things around the room... a shot of the coffee mug on the table, a shot of the grass blowing in the breeze, a close up of your hands fidgeting, etc.
You can use b roll to hide jump cuts, which makes the audio feel smoother and make the video feel less like a homemade vlog and more like a highly produced video (there is a time for both styles, of course!)
wide shots + close up shots
Having a variety of super wide shots and super close up shots can create the feel of high quality lenses and artistic intention to your video.
Medium shots that show shoulders & up (the typical distance when holding your own camera or phone to vlog) tend to feel more casual.
Having a variety of wide and close up shots also keeps the audience engaged. If you can't shoot both angles, try shooting in 4k so that you can just zoom in on some shots when editing instead.