Media Toolkit: Storyboard

Storyboarding

A storyboard plays a crucial role in video creation, allowing you to visualize the scenes before filming begins. Whether you're experienced or just starting out, mastering storyboard creation can save time and improve your video's quality. Here’s a guide to help you get started.

What is a storyboard?

A storyboard is a visual plan, similar to a comic strip, that outlines each shot in your video. You don't need advanced software to create one—simple sketches or stick figures on paper will suffice. It includes details like the subjects, shot types, and intended movements, helping everyone involved understand the director's vision.

For longer or more complex videos, it’s beneficial to create a basic shot list. This serves as a blueprint for your entire video project.

How much should you storyboard?

The extent of your storyboard depends on the complexity of your video. More intricate videos may require multiple pages of storyboards, while simpler videos might only need one page. The goal is to capture the key visual changes that occur as the video progresses. The level of detail is up to you and your project’s needs.

Benefits of a storyboard

Storyboarding allows you to plan your video’s visuals without needing a camera immediately. It’s a pre-visualization tool that helps communicate your ideas to others—such as colleagues, stakeholders, or clients—ensuring everyone is on the same page before production begins. It also assists in the editing process, guiding decisions on how to cut clips and sequence scenes.

How to create a storyboard

Storyboards can range from simple to detailed. Start by sketching the basic structure of your video across several panels, each representing a key scene or moment. In each panel, draw rough illustrations or stick figures to depict the main actions, and include brief descriptions to explain what’s happening or any important dialogue.

Start with a Script: Write a basic script to guide your visual planning. Break it into scenes and shots to organize your storyboard effectively.
Visualize Each Shot: Picture the camera’s perspective for each scene and sketch it out. Include key details like the focus of the shot, background elements, and any movement.
Add Details: Note the subject’s position, background, and any dynamic elements like camera pans or character movements. These details will guide how each scene is filmed and edited.

This “visual script” will guide the filming process, ensuring all essential elements are captured and that the story flows smoothly from one scene to the next. Simple storyboards are particularly useful for organizing thoughts and visualizing sequences before production, making the entire process more efficient.

Simple storyboards are still valuable

Even a basic storyboard can be very helpful. For example, a three-frame storyboard might show a subject sitting behind a desk, then speaking, with close-ups to indicate shot depth and detail. While your storyboard may need to be more detailed, even this simple approach can significantly aid in planning.

Tools for storyboarding

You don’t need to be an artist to create an effective storyboard. Simple drawings or digital slides can convey your video plan just as well. Tools like storyboard templates or slide decks can replace traditional sketching, making the process accessible to everyone. Some creators even use Google Slides, where each slide represents a frame, to create their storyboards.

When to use a storyboard

Storyboards are essential for videos aimed at a broad and diverse audience, as they help structure content in a universally appealing and understandable way. This planning tool ensures that every scene contributes effectively to the overall message, preventing miscommunication or content misalignment.

Even simpler projects, like quick tutorial videos, can benefit from a basic storyboard. In these cases, a storyboard can serve as a checklist to ensure clarity and consistency, resulting in a polished final product.

However, not every video requires a storyboard. For example, spontaneous or informal content like impromptu vlogs or live streams doesn't need detailed planning. In such cases, spontaneity often enhances authenticity, and a storyboard might hinder the natural flow. A general rule is that if your video is based on a script, a storyboard will likely be helpful as well.

Templates

When creating your storyboard, it's important to keep things organized, but feel free to sketch on whatever medium works best for you—even if it's the back of a napkin. Using a template can also help maintain organization (Figure 1).

As you start adding content, be sure to include a few essential elements:

Sketch out what will be happening in each box: While sketching, consider the camera's perspective, the distance from the subject, and any other details that will guide the person recording the video.
Indicate any movement in the scene: Note or mark if there’s any significant movement in the shot.
Use a new square for significant changes: Whenever there's a major change in camera placement, subject position, or location, move to a new square on your storyboard.

Remember, there are no strict rules—what matters is that your storyboard helps you plan and understand your video better.

If drawing isn't your strength, you can paste images into the document or even create your storyboard in a program like PowerPoint, with each slide representing a different frame or scene of your video.

Tools for Storyboarding

On this page you can download a template for a storyboard. Links to an external site.

Another freely available tool for storyboarding is Wonder Unit’s storyboarder tool. You can download it for free in the link below and also it is available through search engines.

Storyboarder - The best and easiest way to storyboard. | Wonder Unit Links to an external site.

Sources

How to Create a Video Storyboard | The TechSmith Blog Links to an external site.

Basics: Creating & Using Storyboards (techsmith.com) Links to an external site.

On this page you can download a template for a storyboard. Links to an external site.

Storyboarder - The best and easiest way to storyboard. | Wonder Unit Links to an external site.