Understanding The Basics Of Storyboards

Posted on: 28 November 2016

Storyboards allow you to tell a visual narrative of the story you're creating for your video or other production. It gives you a path to follow as you create your final product, ensuring that you complete the story as you've envisioned it. If you've got a vision for your story but aren't sure how to bring it to life, here's a look at what you should know about how a storyboard can help.

If You Already Know The Story, Why Create A Storyboard?

A lot of people dismiss the benefits of a storyboard because they consider it redundant. After all, if you already know the story, what good is it to put it onto storyboards before you actually produce it?

Storyboards make the logistics a reality. Even if you already have the story, you may not have all of the details in order yet. When you take the time to create storyboards, you will be able to think through all of the finer details, including the camera angles, the sound effects for each scene, and any special equipment you might need.

Storyboards give you a chance to seek out additional information from your collaborators and support staff. While you're creating them, you can have everyone gathered for brainstorming sessions. This is beneficial when you're looking for another perspective on a scene or you're not sure about how to flow from one scene to another.  

Storyboards are great for organization. When you start shooting your video, it's easy to get lost in the scenes and lose track of where you are in the process. The storyboard serves as a visual representation of what you're creating, so everyone present will know exactly what is expected of every scene and every step. This not only streamlines the filming but also minimizes the required editing.

How Do You Create A Storyboard?

There are many ways to create storyboards. If you're looking to go low-tech and easy to modify, consider using sticky notes. These pieces of paper are easy to write on, reorganize, and manipulate as necessary to get the flow that you are looking for.

Digital storyboards are another great option. You can use any of a variety of publishing platforms to create them, moving information from place to place via a drag-and-drop tool. No matter how you decide to do it, make sure that your platform is easy to manipulate so that you're able to make adjustments on the fly. This helps you maintain the creative process.

Contact a company like DPA Photo to learn more.

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