B-Roll Footage Explained: Take Your Videos from Good to Great
What is B Roll Footage?
B Roll footage is extra video footage that you use to make your main video more interesting. It’s like adding extra ingredients to a recipe to make it taste better. For example, if you’re making a video about cooking, the main video might show you talking about the recipe. This footage could show close-ups of the food being prepared, the ingredients, or the finished dish. This extra footage helps tell your story in a more engaging way.
What is it Used For?
B Roll footage is used to add more details and make videos more fun to watch. It can:
- Show different angles and close-ups
- Cover up mistakes or boring parts in the main video
- Make the video look more professional and interesting
- Help explain things better by showing instead of just telling
What is B Roll Footage on Instagram?
On Instagram, B-Roll footage works the same way but is often shorter and quicker. People use it to add variety to their stories, reels, and posts. For example, if someone is sharing a day in their life, B Roll clips might show them making coffee, walking their dog, or typing on their computer. These short clips make their stories more lively and engaging.
What are B Roll Clips?
These clips are the small pieces of extra footage that you add to your main video. Each clip might only be a few seconds long, but when you put them all together, they help create a fuller, more interesting video. Think of them like puzzle pieces that help complete the whole picture.
How to Get B Roll Footage
- Film it yourself: Use your camera or phone to record extra shots related to your main video.
- Ask for permission: If you’re at an event or location, ask if you can film some extra shots.
- Use stock footage: There are websites where you can download free or paid B Roll footage that other people have filmed.
Tips on Recording on Your iPhone
Recording B Roll footage on your iPhone is easy and can make your videos look great. Here are some tips to help you get the best shots:
1. Keep Your Phone Steady
Hold your iPhone with both hands or use a tripod to avoid shaky footage. You can also use a stabilizer to keep your shots smooth.
2. Use Good Lighting
Make sure your scene is well-lit. Natural light is the best, so try to film outside or near windows. If you’re inside, use lamps to brighten up the area.
3. Try Different Angles
Shoot from different angles to make your footage more interesting. Get close-up shots, wide shots, and shots from high and low angles.
4. Use Slow Motion
The iPhone has a slow-motion feature that can make your B Roll footage look cool. This works well for action shots like pouring a drink or running.
5. Keep It Short
B Roll clips don’t need to be long. A few seconds for each shot is enough. This way, you can have lots of different clips to choose from when editing.
6. Focus and Exposure
Tap on your iPhone screen to focus on your subject. You can also slide your finger up or down to adjust the exposure and make sure your shot isn’t too bright or too dark.
7. Use the Grid
Turn on the grid in your camera settings to help keep your shots straight and balanced. This will make your footage look more professional.
8. Edit Your Clips
Use editing apps like iMovie or Adobe Premiere Rush to trim your clips and put them together. You can add music, transitions, and effects to make your B Roll footage stand out.
PRO TIP: Check out the videos below. In the after shot, I stayed in the same spot but used the Cinematic mode on the iPhone. I also zoomed in on the tree leaves, capturing their movement in the wind. Now, I just need to add my “Hook” text on the screen. These clips are great to use if you need Instagram story ideas.
Where to Find
If you don’t have time to film your own clips, you can find it online. Some good places to look for stock B Roll footage include:
- Free websites: Pexels, Unsplash, and Pixabay offer free B Roll footage.
- Paid websites: Shutterstock, Adobe Stock, and Getty Images have a wider selection, but you need to pay for it.
Using B Roll Footage for Instagram Theme Pages
Instagram theme pages often focus on a specific topic like travel, food, fitness, or fashion. B Roll footage is perfect for these pages because it can add depth and variety to the content. For example, a travel theme page might use B Roll footage of beautiful landscapes, busy city streets, or local markets. This extra footage keeps followers interested and makes the page look more professional and engaging.
Using B Roll Footage for Faceless Instagram Pages
Faceless Instagram pages don’t show the person behind the account. Instead, they focus on the content itself. B Roll footage is especially useful here because it helps tell a story without needing to show a person’s face. For instance, a cooking page could use B Roll footage of chopping vegetables, stirring a pot, or serving a dish. This keeps the content engaging and visually appealing, even without featuring the person creating it.
