Vlog Shot List Template
A vlog fails in one specific way: you come home with a hard drive of nice-looking clips and no story between them. The individual shots are fine. What is missing is the connective tissue — the arrivals, the transitions, the reaction beats that tell the viewer what is happening and why they should care.
This list is organised the way a day actually runs, not the way an edit runs. Film it as the day unfolds and you will come back with something you can cut.
The shot list
Open and setup
- 01Piece to camera — where you are, what today is, why it matters
- 02Establishing wide of the location
- 03The detail that tells the viewer where you are without you saying it
- 04Getting ready — packing, dressing, loading the car
- 05Leaving — door closing, walking away, driving off
Getting there
Travel is the connective tissue of a vlog. Skip it and the edit jumps.
- 06Transport — train, car interior, plane window, walking
- 07Out-of-window movement shot
- 08Map, ticket, sign, or anything that names the place
- 09Arrival — stepping out, first look at where you are
- 10Your genuine reaction to arriving
The main event
- 11Wide establishing shot of the thing itself
- 12You in the frame with it — proves you were there
- 13The activity happening, unbroken, for at least 30 seconds
- 14Close details of the activity
- 15Other people reacting, if you have permission
- 16The high point, filmed twice if it is repeatable
- 17Piece to camera in the moment, while you still feel it
Connective B-roll
This is the footage that separates a vlog from a montage. Get more than feels necessary.
- 18Hands doing things — eating, holding, opening, pointing
- 19Feet walking, from behind or below
- 20Signs, menus, prices, labels
- 21Food and drink close-ups
- 22Passing crowds or traffic, locked off
- 23Light through something — window, leaves, water
- 24You walking away from camera into the scene
- 25You walking towards camera
Reflection and close
- 26Honest piece to camera at the end of the day, unpolished
- 27The quiet shot — sunset, empty street, the room after
- 28Anything that went wrong, filmed honestly
- 29Sign-off with a reason to come back tomorrow
Tips for this kind of shoot
- Film the arrival before you enjoy the arrival. You get one chance at a genuine first reaction.
- Piece-to-camera in the moment always beats narration recorded a week later. Do both if you can, but never skip the first.
- Ten seconds minimum on every clip, even when it feels ridiculous.
- Charge everything the night before and film your first shot before you leave the house — it forces you to check the settings.
Use this list on your next shoot
Storeyz keeps your shots in story order for planning and regroups them by location for the day — then you tick them off on your phone as you get them.
Questions
How do I make a vlog feel like a story rather than random clips?
Film the joins. Arrivals, departures, travel, and honest reactions are what turn clips into a sequence. Most vloggers over-film the destination and under-film everything around it.
How long should each vlog clip be?
At least 10 seconds. You will typically use 2–4 seconds, but the extra footage gives you room to stabilise, slow down, or find the moment.