Music Video Storyboard Template
Visualize your music video
While anchored in sound and music, a music video relies heavily on captivating visuals. Whether your music video concept is performance-based, experimental, or narrative, a storyboard will allow you to refine your visual ideas before a single frame is captured.
In this step-by-step guide, we will utilize StudioBinder’s storyboard creator to demonstrate each stage of the process. While StudioBinder is our tool of choice, the steps outlined are universally applicable—whether you're storyboarding on digital software or simply sketching with paper and pen.
Step 1
1. Decide your presentation format
First and foremost, decide on the structure of your storyboard. This means considering the number of panels per page—fewer panels can allow for more detailed sketches since the panels will be larger, while more panels might be better for quick overviews and a faster-paced flow.
If you're using storyboard software, take advantage of features that allow you to toggle between different view types and adjust shot specifications, such as aspect ratios, to see what best fits your project.
How to do this in StudioBinder
- Switch between view types (from 1 - 4 columns).
- Hide or reveal shot specs in panels (scene number, description, audio, video).
- Automatically fit your image to the aspect ratio.
Step 2
2. Analyze the script or treatment
Music video concepts often begin with a treatment, pitch, or script. Use this as the source material for storyboarding. What mood, emotion, or story is being told?
Visualize this in your head as it would play out on screen. Make notes on how you pre-visualize the scenes, imagining the types of shots—close-ups, wide shots, or dynamic camera movements—that will best capture the essence of the music and the concept.
How to do this in StudioBinder
- Import a script or treatment to automatically turn scenes into blank storyboards.
- Tag each line to create a new panel in the storyboard.
Step 3
3. Create or find images
For each scene or shot, gather images that represent what you envision. These images can be your own sketches, panels from a storyboard artist, still photography, or pre-existing reference images or stills — whatever best communicates the visual aspects of your shot.
Make sure the images are arranged chronologically as they do in the music video to accurately map out the progression of shots.
How to do this in StudioBinder
- Upload images from anywhere, including previous projects.
- Use your webcam to capture hand-drawn frames.
- Reorder images by simply clicking and dragging frames.
Step 4
4. Add descriptions and annotations
Contextualize each storyboard panel with detailed descriptions and annotations. This shot information may include shot types, camera movements, camera angles, VFX, and any special notes that add clarity to the shot. Use arrows to indicate movement within the frame, whether it involves characters or the camera itself.
How to do this in StudioBinder
- Add scene descriptions, audio information like dialogue, and video information explaining the visuals like shot types and sizes.
- Create arrows, text, and shapes to clarify the direction of each image further.
Step 5
5. Share and collaborate
Once you're happy with the images and layout of your storyboard, collaborate with your team to refine it. Share it with directors, musicians, cinematographers, and other relevant team members to gather any feedback and to communicate the concept for the production.
How to do this in StudioBinder
- Share with a view-only link, and invite collaborators to work on this specific feature/page (not the entire project).
- Collaborate with clients and team members with the comment feature.
Step 6
6. Print the storyboard
Before the shoot, print hard copies of your storyboard to use as a reference on set. This creates transparency and clarity for everyone involved in the production.
When printing, consider customizable options like adding watermarks, headers, or footers for a professional touch. Format the storyboard for easy navigation during the shoot, such as using larger panels or organizing it by day-to-day schedules.
How to do this in StudioBinder
- Generate customizable storyboard PDFs for a professional presentation with added security.
Conclusion
Storyboard Complete
Your step-by-step guide for creating a music video storyboard is ready to rock. Be sure to come back to it for creative inspiration or guidance throughout your production.
This music video storyboard template is one of many storyboard templates you can use. Browse other storyboard templates on our Templates page.
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