How to Make a Shot List Like a Pro! Free Download Inside for Awesome Videos

Mastering Visual Planning: Step-by-Step with a Free Shot List Download for Filmmakers and Creators

Want your videos to look sharp, professional, and tell a cracking story? It’s not always about the priciest camera or the fanciest software. Often, the real magic lies in a simple, powerful tool: the shot list.

I’m going to show you exactly how to make a shotlist for a video. This isn’t some complicated filmmaking secret kept under lock and key. It’s a straightforward plan, a roadmap, that’ll transform your video production from chaotic to controlled. Stick with me, and you’ll be planning yourcinematic shots like you’ve been doing it for years.

This is your ultimate guide to shot listing, built for content creators, marketers, and filmmakers who want clarity, confidence, and pro-level results. Stick with me, and you’ll be planning your cinematic shots like you’ve been doing it for years.

Shot List Definition: What is a Video Shot List and Why It Matters

Ever wondered how film crews make movie magic look so smooth, with every shot flowing perfectly? Part of the answer is a trusty shot list. Think of it as your detailed to-do list or a blueprint for your video shoot.

A shot list is a document that maps out exactly what will happen in each shot or scene of your video. It’s a checklist that details every shot you need to capture to tell your story effectively. If you’re looking for a clear shot list definition, it’s this: a planning tool that outlines the visual blueprint of your video shoot, scene by scene, shot by shot.

This plan is usually put together by the director and cinematographer during pre-production. It helps the director coordinate with the cinematographer, camera operator, and other film crew members about the required shots.

This isn’t just for Hollywood blockbusters. Whether you’re making a short film, a YouTube video, a corporate video, or even content for social media, a scene outline is your best friend. It helps you organise your thoughts and ensures you film everything you need.

The primary purpose of a shotlist is to break down your script into individual visual parts. It’s like a shopping list for your video; you wouldn’t go to the supermarket for a big recipe without a list, would you? Same idea here – it makes sure you get every shot you need to tell the story.

One of the biggest headaches in video production is realising you’ve missed a crucial shot when you get to the video editing stage. A good list helps prevent this nightmare. It ensures you have all the pieces of the puzzle before you try to put it together. This simple document is a cornerstone of good video production planning.

The process of creating a shot list forces you to think carefully about how you want each shot to look and what it needs to communicate. This detailed planning means you’re not just winging it on shoot day; you have a clear plan of action. This focus on visual storytelling right from the planning stage is what separates amateur videos from professional-looking content.

Why Bother With a Shotlist? The Perks are Plentiful!

You might be thinking, “Do I really need a shot list for filming? Sounds like extra work.” Trust me on this one, the little bit of time you spend creating a shot list will save you heaps of time, money, and stress down the line. It’s a cornerstone of efficient video production planning.

Here’s why a shot list is so darn important:

• Keeps Everyone on the Same Page: A video outline is a brilliant communication tool. It clearly tells your film crew, your cinematographer, camera operators, even your actors, exactly what’s needed for each shot. Everyone knows the plan, which means fewer misunderstandings and a smoother shoot day. When the director and cinematographer have this shared document, the vision is much easier to achieve.
• Saves Precious Time and Money: Time is money, especially in video production! A shot list helps you plan your filming schedule efficiently. You can group similar shots together (like all shots in one location, or all shots needing a specific camera setup). This means less time wasted moving equipment or changing lighting, which saves you cash.
• Makes Sure You Don’t Miss Anything: It’s easy to forget a shot in the heat of filming. Your shooting schedule acts as a checklist to ensure you capture every shot you need for your story. This includes getting enough “coverage,” different angles and shot sizes of the same action – which gives your editor more options.
• Boosts Your Organisation: It brings order to the often chaotic world of a film set. Breaking down complex scenes into manageable individual shots gives you a clear roadmap.
• Helps Your Editor Immensely: The filming checklist isn’t just for filming; it’s a gift for your editor too. It gives them context for the footage and helps them understand your original intentions. Notes on the shot list about the best takes can speed up video editing massively.
• Brings Your Vision to Life: It connects your script or storyboard ideas to the actual technical steps of filming. It helps you translate what’s in your head into what the camera will capture.

Think about it: on a busy set, with so many moving parts, having a concrete document that states which shots demand what equipment, and how long shot setups will take, determines so much of your shooting schedule and budget. It’s not just a list; it’s a strategic tool for video direction and pre-production essentials. Even for a short film or a corporate video, the benefits are huge.

Whether you’re planning a quick video clip or gearing up to shoot a scene for a larger production, a shot list helps keep everything focused, efficient, and on track.

Elements of a Shot List: Core Components for Planning Your Video

So, you’re ready to create a shot list. What exactly goes into this magic document? While every filmmaker might tweak their shot list format a bit, there are some common, essential pieces of information you’ll want to include. These are the elements of a shot list that make it so useful. Using a spreadsheet is a popular and easy way to organise all this. 

Here’s a table breaking down the typical columns you’ll find in a shot list template and what they mean. This will help you understand what should be in a video shot list.

This table is incredibly useful because it demystifies the shot list, breaking a potentially complex document into easy-to-grasp parts. For anyone new to filmmaking, or for those who find lots of text overwhelming, seeing the elements of a shot list laid out so clearly, with simple explanations and examples, makes the task far less daunting. It acts as both a quick guide and a checklist, ensuring no vital information is missed when you create a shot list. It directly answers, “What should be in a video shot list?” in a very organised way.

The “Time Estimate” and an implied “Status” column (often a checkbox to mark a shot as complete ) are not just for planning. They become essential tools on the actual shoot day. If shots are taking longer than estimated, the shot list helps the director or first assistant director quickly see where things are getting held up. If a shot is missed, the list makes it glaringly obvious. This ability to check progress in real-time allows for quick changes to the shooting schedule or even the creative plan, stopping small problems from turning into big delays or an incomplete video. For smaller teams or solo creators doing their own video scene planning, this self-monitoring is a lifesaver for staying on track. The shot list is a document that starts as a plan and becomes a live tracker.

If you need help planning your next video or want expert guidance on production, we’re here to help!

Your 5 Easy Steps to Create a Shot List (No Film School Degree Needed!)

Want to know how to write a shot list? It’s much simpler than you might imagine! Here’s an easy-to-follow guide where you will learn how to create a shot list for your video. We’ll be using a spreadsheet for this, as they are fantastic for keeping things organised.

Step 1: Know Your Story (Break Down Your Script or Idea)

First things first, you need to really get to grips with the story you want to tell. If you’ve got a script, give it a good read-through. Try to see it from an audience member’s point of view.

If you’re still writing the script, that’s totally fine too, this is a great moment to start thinking about how each scene might look visually.

If you don’t have a full-blown script or storyboard, that’s okay. Just jot down the main scenes or sections of your video. What’s happening in each part?

For each scene, make a note of:

• Where is it set (Location)?
• Is it indoors (Interior) or outdoors (Exterior)?
• What’s the time of day?
• Who is in the scene (Characters/Actors)?
• What key actions or bits of dialogue take place?

This process is often called a script breakdown. It helps you see all the little pieces you’ll need to capture on film.

Step 2: Picture It! (Think About Your Shots – Storyboard if Helpful)

Now, for each segment of your story, start thinking about how you want it to look on camera. What cinematic shots will best bring your story to life?

You could make a storyboard, which is basically a comic-book version of your video. Drawing even rough sketches of each shot can be incredibly helpful. It allows you and your crew members to visualise the plan clearly.

Is a storyboard absolutely necessary? Not always, particularly for simpler videos. However, it can be a massive help for visual storytelling. When comparing a storyboard vs shot list, the storyboard uses pictures, while the shot list uses words and technical details. They work hand-in-hand!.

For those who are visual learners or find abstract planning a bit tricky (which can be common with some learning disabilities), storyboarding, even with basic stick figures, provides a solid way to “see” the video before you even think about filming. This can make the next step, creating a detailed shot list, much easier because the visual ideas are already laid out. It acts as a bridge between the text of the script and the technical specifics of the shot list.

Step 3: List Every Shot You Need in Your Spreadsheet

Open up your favourite spreadsheet program (like Google Sheets, you can often find a free shot list template online, or simply create your own!).

You need to create a new row for every shot you plan to capture. Don’t give in to the temptation to skip what seem like “minor” shots! The whole idea is to list all your shots you need. This is vital for a comprehensive shot list.

Assign each shot a Shot Number (e.g., 1, 2, 3, or if you’re breaking it down by scene, 1A, 1B, 1C). This makes it much easier to refer to specific shots later on. 

Step 4: Fill in the Details for Each Shot

Now, go through each shot on your list and fill in all those columns we discussed earlier (Location, Shot Description, Shot Size, Camera Angle, Camera Movement, and so on).

Be very specific in your Shot Description. What action is taking place? What is the subject doing? Which lines of dialogue are covered in this shot?

Think about the type of shot you want (e.g., a wide shot to show the setting, a close-up to convey emotion).

Consider any camera movement will the camera pan, tilt, or move along with the action?. What equipment will be needed for that particular camera setup?

Also think about the position of the camera, whether it’s eye-level, low, or high angle, as this directly affects how the audience experiences the scene.

Step 5: Organise Your Shot List for Shoot Day (Shooting Schedule)

Once you have all your shots you plan to capture listed out, it’s time to think about the most efficient order to film them. This becomes your shooting schedule.

You rarely film in the exact order of the story. It’s usually much smarter to start grouping shots by:

• Location: Film all shots in one place before packing up and moving. This saves a huge amount of time!
• Camera Setup: Film all shots that use the same camera angle or lighting setup together to minimise adjustments.
• Actor Availability: Plan around when your actors are free and on set.
• Time of Day: This is especially important for outdoor shots that rely on natural light.

Some film director pros like to tackle complex shots first, when everyone’s energy is high.

The act of grouping shots by location, setup, and other factors isn’t just about saving time on your filming schedule. For anyone who finds it hard to manage many tasks or switch between them frequently, this grouping reduces the mental effort needed. You’re not constantly changing equipment or getting used to new surroundings. It makes the shoot day flow more smoothly and predictably, which cuts down on stress and the chance of mistakes. This makes the actual filming schedule much easier to stick to.

Understanding Camera Shots: Making Your Video Look Fab!

Knowing a few basic types of camera shots, camera angles and shots, and camera movement can make a massive difference to how your video turns out. It’s a huge part of visual storytelling and good cinematography. Don’t fret, you don’t need to memorise hundreds! Here are some of the key ones to get you started.

(I’d pop in some simple line drawings here for each shot type, angle, and movement if I were drawing this out for you!)

Camera Shot Sizes (How much you see):

Establishing Shot: This is often a very wide shot shown at the beginning of a scene. It tells the audience where the action is happening (for example, a shot of an entire building before the camera takes us inside). 

Wide Shot (WS) / Long Shot (LS): This shot type shows the whole subject (like a person from head to toe) and plenty of the background. It’s great for showing where someone is or for big actions.

• Simple Tip: Use this to introduce a character when they arrive in a new place.

Medium Shot (MS): This camera shot shows the subject from around their waist up. It’s really good for conversations because you can see people’s faces and some of their body language.

• Simple Tip: This is a very common and useful shot type in filmmaking.

Close-Up (CU): This shot fills the screen with the subject’s face, or a key detail of an object. It’s fantastic for showing emotions or important items.

• Simple Tip: Use aclose-up when you want your audience to really connect with what a character is feeling

Extreme Close-Up (ECU): Thisshot shows a tiny detail, like just someone’s eyes or a very small object. It’s used for big impact and to draw attention to something specific.

• Simple Tip: Perfect for showing a tiny clue in a mystery or a very intense emotion.

Camera Angles (Where the camera looks from)

Eye-Level Angle: The camera is at the same height as the subject’s eyes. This feels natural and normal, like you’re just talking to them.

• Simple Tip: Most of your shots might use this camera angle for a neutral feel.

High Angle: The camera looks down on the subject. This can make them seem small, weak, or lonely.

• Simple Tip: If a character is feeling sad or is in a bit of trouble, a high angle can help show that.

Low Angle: The camera looks up at the subject. This can make them look powerful, important, or even a bit scary.

• Simple Tip: Want to make someone look like a hero or very imposing? Try a low angle.

Camera Movement: How to Add Energy and Flow to Your Shots

Static Shot: The camera doesn’t move at all during the shot.

• Simple Tip: Good for when you want the audience to focus purely on what’s happening within the frame.

Pan: The camera turns left or right from a fixed spot (imagine shaking your head “no”). It’s good for following action or showing a wide scene.

• Simple Tip: Use a pan to show a character walking across a room or to reveal a landscape.

Tilt: The camera points up or down from a fixed spot (like nodding your head “yes”). It’s good for showing something tall, like a building.

• Simple Tip: Tilt up to show the full height of a tall tree or building.

Dolly Shot: The whole camera moves forwards or backwards, often on a track or wheels (using a camera dolly). This makes it feel like the viewer is moving through the scene.

• Simple Tip: Dolly in (move closer) to make a moment feel more intense or personal.

Zoom: The lens makes the subject look closer or further away, but the camera itself doesn’t physically move.

• Simple Tip: A quick zoom can add a bit of excitement or draw attention suddenly.

Tracking Shot: The camera moves alongside the subject as they move, keeping them in the frame.

• Simple Tip: Use this to follow someone as they walk down the street.

Many guides will list these shot types in film. But it’s not just about knowing what a low angle is; it’s about knowing why you’d use it, perhaps to make a character seem powerful. Or why you’d choose a close-up, to really show what someone’s feeling. By always thinking about how your shot choice helps tell the story or show an emotion, you’re learning the real art behind it. This makes your knowledge of shot types much more powerful and practical.

Shot List Examples and Templates to Get You Started

You really don’t need any fancy or expensive software to create a film shotlist. A simple spreadsheet program is absolutely perfect for the job!

You can find plenty of free shot list template examples online. Just do a quick search for “film shot list template” or “video shot list template“. Some companies like StudioBinder and Boords  offer templates, though some might be a bit more detailed than you need when you’re just starting out.

Here’s a very simple shot list example of what a few rows might look like in your spreadsheet:

Seeing a clear shot list example like this makes the whole idea much easier to understand. This is especially true if you’re a visual learner or someone who benefits from seeing practical examples. A simple table like the one above shows you the structure and the kind of information that goes into each part. It makes the task of creating your own shot list feel much more doable and shows you how to format a shot list in a basic, effective way.

Remember, your shot list can be as simple or detailed as you see fit for your particular project. The most important thing is that it helps you stay organised and achieve your vision.

There are also specific templates out there for different kinds of videos, such as a shot list for commercials, a documentary shot list template, or even a music video shot list. But for now, a general-purpose one like we’ve discussed will work perfectly fine for most needs.

Top Tips for a Super-Helpful Shot List

1. Be Clear and Specific

Make sure your shot description is dead easy to understand. Pretend someone else has to pick up your shot list and film the specific shots. Would they know exactly what you mean?

2. Number Everything

Scene numbers and shot numbers are your best mates for keeping things organised.

3. Think About Your Editor (Even if it’s You!)

Get enough “coverage.” That just means filming different angles and shot sizes of the same action or dialogue. This gives you loads of choices when it comes to video editing and makes it easier to film a coherent scene.

4. Include Rough Timings

Jotting down how long you think each shot will take to set up and actually film helps you plan your shoot day much better. This is key for your shooting schedule.

5. Print it Out (or Have it on a Tablet)

Make sure you have your shot list with you when you’re filming. You can tick off shots as you complete them, very satisfying!

If you’re using a spreadsheet or digital template, print out your shot list or load it onto a tablet so it’s easy to access on set, even without Wi-Fi.

6. Don’t Be Afraid to Change It

A shot list helps you plan, but sometimes things change on the day. Maybe the light is different, or an actor has a brilliant idea. That’s all part of the creative process! Your list is a guide, not a set of unbreakable rules.

7. Consider a Lined Script (For Bigger Projects)

For more complex video production, some folk draw lines on their script to show which shot covers which lines of dialogue. This is a bit more advanced but good to know about if you start using film planning software or other production planning tools.

8. Do I need a shot list for filming every single video?

Look, for super simple, off-the-cuff videos, maybe not. But even for a quick social media clip, just thinking through your shots you want will make it look better. The very act of creating a shot list is a learning experience. It makes you, the filmmaker, think hard about visual storytelling.

Every choice about shot size, camera angle, and camera movement is a mini-lesson in cinematography. Doing this regularly helps these ideas sink in, so your filmmaking skills get better over time. For you, this means the shot list isn’t just a boring task; it’s a hands-on way to learn and improve as a video creator. It turns abstract ideas like “framing and composition”  into real, practical choices you make.

You’ve Got This! Go Make Awesome Videos!

So, there you have it, that’s how to make a shot list for a video! It might seem like a bit of extra effort at the beginning, but believe me, a good shot list will make your video production process so much smoother and your final video look a million times better.

Remember, the best way to create a shot list is the way that works best for you and your project. Start simple, and you’ll quickly see just how helpful this fundamental filmmaking tool can be. You now have the essential knowledge of shot planning!

A shot list is a document that gives you, the filmmaker or content creator, the power to take your brilliant vision and turn it into a stunning reality. Whether you’re putting together a corporate video shot list, planning a branded video structure, or even mapping out a short film shot list, these principles will stand you in good stead.

Frequently Asked Questions About Making a Shot List

What is a shot list in video production?

A shot list is a planning tool that outlines every shot you need to film in a video. It includes details like shot type, location, camera movement, and who or what is in the frame. It’s like a checklist that keeps your filming day organised.

Do I need a shot list for a short or simple video?

Yes, even a basic shot list can help. It doesn’t need to be fancy. Just jotting down what shots you want to capture keeps your filming focused and prevents you from forgetting anything important.

What’s the difference between a shot list and a storyboard?

A storyboard uses images to show what each shot will look like. A shot list uses words and technical details to plan how the shots will be filmed. They work well together, storyboards help you visualise the idea, while the shot list helps you execute it.

How detailed should a shot list be?

That depends on your project. For a big shoot, you might include shot size, lens, equipment, and timing. For smaller videos, basic details like scene number, shot description, and angle might be enough. The key is making it clear and useful for you and your team.

Can I change the shot list during the shoot?

Absolutely. A shot list is a guide, not a rulebook. Sometimes creative ideas pop up on set, or things like lighting or timing change. Be flexible and adjust your shot list when needed.

Where can I find a good shot list template?

You can create your own in Google Sheets or Excel, or search online for “free shot list template” or “film shot list example.” Tools like StudioBinder and Boords also offer templates, but a simple spreadsheet works perfectly for most creators.

Download Your Free Shot List Template

Want to make your shoot planning even easier?

Grab our free shot list template, perfect for filmmakers, content creators, and marketing teams. It’s fully editable in Google Sheets or Excel, so you can start building your video plan right away.

👉 [Download the Shot List Template (Excel / Google Sheets)]

👉 [Download the Shot List Template (PDF)]

(No sign-up needed – just click and go!)

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