A shot list is a pre-production document that specifies every individual shot required for a video production, along with its key technical and creative parameters. It gives the director and DOP a shared roadmap for the shoot day, ensures the editor has the coverage they need to build the planned cut, and prevents the most common and costly shoot day problem: discovering mid-edit that a critical shot was not captured.
What a shot list contains
A professional shot list records: shot number, scene description, shot type (wide, medium, close-up, insert), camera angle (eye level, low, high), movement (static, pan, tilt, track, handheld), lens focal length or focal length preference, approximate duration, and any special notes (specific action to capture, specific line from a presenter). Some shot lists also record which shots are "must-have" versus "nice-to-have," enabling rapid prioritisation if schedule pressure builds.
Matching the shot list to the edit
A shot list should be written with the editor's needs in mind, not just the director's vision. Every transition in the planned edit requires appropriate coverage: a cut from a wide shot to a close-up requires both the wide and the close-up to have been shot. Insert shots and cutaways required to cover edits should be listed explicitly — they are the shots most frequently forgotten on shoot days where time pressure builds and teams focus on the "hero" shots.
Shot list vs storyboard
A storyboard uses drawn frames to visualise the key shots. A shot list describes them in a structured written format. For productions with complex choreography, visual effects, or precise compositional requirements, a storyboard adds value over a shot list alone. For most corporate and interview productions, a shot list is sufficient and is significantly faster to produce. Some productions use both: a storyboard for key hero shots and a shot list for the complete coverage plan.
Using the FileFeedback shot list builder
The FileFeedback video shot list builder on the tools page gives you a structured template for creating, organising, and sharing shot lists across your production team. It lets you group shots by scene, mark priority levels, and add notes for the camera and lighting teams. Share the shot list digitally so every crew member has access on the day, rather than relying on paper printouts that get lost or marked up differently by different crew members.
Common shot list mistakes
The most common shot list mistakes: building it only around the scripted content and forgetting cutaways and b-roll, writing it from the director's creative vision without consulting the editor on coverage needs, not including insert and detail shots that the edit will require, and not marking shot priorities so that time pressure decisions can be made quickly. Review your shot list with your editor before the shoot — even a 30-minute conversation will reveal gaps.
“A shot list is a communication tool, not just a planning document. Every crew member should be able to understand what is needed without asking.”
Shot list essential fields
- Shot number (sequential within scene)
- Scene or location identifier
- Shot type (WS, MS, CU, ECU, insert)
- Camera angle and movement
- Lens preference or focal length
- Approximate duration
- Priority (must-have / nice-to-have)
- Special notes
Frequently asked questions
How detailed should a shot list be for a simple interview video?
An interview shoot might have 15–25 shots: the interview setup at multiple sizes (WS, MS, CU), a selection of wide and close b-roll of the location and subject, and any specific insert shots called for in the brief. Brief is fine — every shot should be distinct and purposeful.
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