B-Roll: Capture Now, Thank Yourself Later

Sometimes you head out to film with a clear brief, a script, and a shot list.
And sometimes… you don’t.

You just see something interesting:
light falling across a bench, steam rising from a kettle, students concentrating, a sail flapping, a close-up of equipment humming quietly in the background. You hit record, not knowing exactly why.

That footage? That’s B-roll gold.

Months later, when you’re editing a video, cutting a short for social media, or rescuing a section that feels visually flat, you suddenly realise:
“I’ve got a shot for this.”

Why Filming B-Roll Without a Project Is a Smart Habit

1. B-roll ages well
Good detail shots, atmospheres, and processes are often timeless. A clip filmed today might fit perfectly into a project a year from now.

2. It speeds up future edits
Instead of scrambling to re-film, you already have visual material to:

• cover jump cuts

• illustrate ideas

• add pacing and rhythm

• make explanations feel more real

3. It captures authenticity
Unplanned B-roll often feels more natural. No pressure. No performance. Just real moments happening.

4. It builds a personal visual library
Over time, you’re not just filming clips—you’re creating a stock library of your own work, tailored exactly to your style, subjects, and brand.

What’s Worth Filming “Just in Case”?

• Hands working (setting up kit, tying knots, adjusting controls)

• Close-ups of tools, instruments, screens, notebooks

• Environmental shots: rooms, labs, boats, desks, corridors

• Transitions: walking, opening doors, setting things down

• Light changes, weather, movement, texture

If it catches your eye, there’s a good chance it will catch an editor’s eye later too.

A Simple Rule of Thumb

If something makes you pause for two seconds and think “that looks interesting” — film ten seconds of it.

Storage is cheap. Missed moments aren’t.