What is B Roll Footage in a Video?

We include b-roll footage in every video we shoot.  During the last few discovery calls, our client asked, “What is b roll?” as we discussed the details of the video shoot.  Let’s go over it so you know what it is and why it’s vital for your shoot.

What it Is:

B roll is the video footage that supports the main speaking parts (or A roll).  Examples of this footage include an aerial drone shot of your office, a pan showing your team members collaborating, etc.  It shows what’s being talked about in the video.  We like to use your actual team members as much as possible for b-roll shots instead of stock footage.  We cover how we will get these shots in our pre-production meeting.

Why it’s Important:

This type of footage is important because it helps with the flow of the video. Typically, talking into the camera for a minute or two is boring.

Adding b-roll footage breaks up the video and helps tell the story by showing what you’re explaining.  We recently shot a lighting video for Hawkins Landscape & Outdoors.  Instead of the project manager just talking about the app that controls the lights, we shot footage of him using it to show it in action.

B-roll also does a great job of making the points you’re trying to get across crystal clear, especially for those who process things visually.

How We Get It:

To build trust for your brand, we’re on a mission to eliminate stock videos and stock photography.  One of the things we cover in your pre-production meeting is how we will be getting the b roll for your video.

This footage can be shot with your team members and/or customers at your office or job site.

We will also shoot aerial/drone footage and/or time-lapse footage to add different levels of creativity to ensure potential customers watch your video all the way through.

We hope this helps explain more about the video production process and we look forward to helping you with your next project.

What Should We Talk About in Our Brand Video?

This is a common question on discovery calls with professional service businesses.

Here are 3 questions that we ask to determine the best content to include in your company’s brand video.

What is Important to You That You Want Your Ideal Client To Know?

When producing a video for your company, it’s our job to guide you, but ultimately you will know your business far better than us.  You know what makes you different from your competitors and the services your companies offer.

During our pre-production call, we will ask you what is important for your ideal customer to know about your company, based on your years of experience.  This will help us create an outline for you to go over to ensure your content aligns with your brand.

What Questions Do Your Ideal Clients Always Ask You?

Chances are if one of your clients has a question, several potential clients have the same question.  Start thinking of questions that you answer day in and day out.  Answering these in your brand video is a great way to build trust.

That’s exactly what we’ve done in the articles that we write.  We simply address questions we get on sales calls or production meetings and build content around them.

What Are The Main Problems Your Company Solves?

The last question I ask clients is what pain points and problems their clients have that their company solves.  If you work for an IT company, you may solve cybersecurity issues.

Law firms solve legal issues, but it’s best to be specific.  For example, business attorneys will solve different problems than a family law attorney.

Put yourself in the place of your ideal client.  What pain points do they have?  What problems do they consistently come to your company to solve?  This is the content you should discuss in your brand video.

Your Next Step

Are you ready to take your company’s branding to the next level?  Click here to schedule a call to discuss your brand video project:  book a call