🪄 AI Summary
Picture this: you've just recorded a great interview with your CEO. The insights are sharp. The audio is clean. But when you watch it back, it's flat. It feels like a Zoom call. Nobody's going to watch past the 30-second mark.
The problem isn't your content. It's the absence of B-roll.
As a video creator, you might find that you sometimes struggle to come up with ideas for B-roll. But a solid B-roll list can help you unleash your inner Sherlock Holmes and notice the details around you.
This blog is for B2B founders, content marketers, demand gen teams, and in-house videographers who want to make videos that actually get watched and remembered. Below you'll find 100 specific, actionable B-roll shot ideas organized into 10 categories, each tailored to the business world.
But first, let's make sure you understand exactly why B-roll matters for B2B video.
Why B-Roll Is the Biggest Missed Opportunity in B2B Video Marketing
Most B2B videos are talking-head interviews over a plain background. That's A-roll only and it's boring. B-roll footage is supplemental and adds visual definition to the A-roll footage. It is what shows the story, not just tells it.
B-roll provides imagery and cutaway shots that help set the scene or segue between two different shot locations. These shots cut away from the main action to another shot that adds visual information, and then return to the original shot with added meaning. B-roll also helps cover any gaps or errors in your A-roll. For example, during an interview, if the subject fumbles over a few words, you cut the mistake out and cover it with B-roll.
For B2B brands specifically, great B-roll signals one powerful thing to your audience: this company is serious. It builds credibility before a single word of copy does its job.
The average length of each B-roll clip in the final edit is usually about 3 seconds. If you're making a two-minute video, you might need 40 shots in the edit (120 seconds), so you need plenty more than 40 shots to provide editing choices later.
The 100 B-Roll Shot Ideas (Organized for B2B Use)
CATEGORY 1: The Office Environment (Ideas 1 to 12)
These shots establish credibility, culture, and scale. Use them as openers, transitions, and to support talking points about your company.
- Exterior of your office building, wide establishing shot from across the street
- Company signage or logo on the wall, slow push-in
- The front desk and reception area with people walking through
- Open plan office floor, wide shot showing team density and energy
- Meeting room through the glass with people in discussion, shoot from the hallway
- Whiteboard covered in strategy notes or diagrams, tilt up reveal
- Empty conference room being set up before a big meeting
- Coffee machine with steam rising, tight close-up
- Post-it notes on a wall during a brainstorm session
- A team standing around a monitor or laptop reviewing work
- Elevator doors opening and people walking out into the office
- Overhead drone shot of your office building or business park
CATEGORY 2: Technology and Tools in Action (Ideas 13 to 24)
Shots of machines operating, computers, production lines, or technological devices in use help create a tech-savvy or modern business ambiance. These are the most-used B-roll shots in B2B video and for good reason.
- Hands typing on a keyboard, shoot from above or at a low angle
- Close-up of a laptop screen showing a dashboard, CRM, or analytics tool
- A mouse clicking, extreme close-up
- Dual monitor setup with data or code visible on both screens
- Phone screen showing Slack, email, or a calendar, tilt reveal
- A Zoom or video call in progress on a laptop screen
- Someone swiping through a mobile app or SaaS product
- Server racks or data center if accessible, conveys scale and infrastructure
- Headphones going on, someone shifting into focus mode
- A tablet being tapped during a presentation
- Screen recording footage of your actual product being used
- Laptop closing at end of day, symbolic, clean, cinematic
CATEGORY 3: Team Collaboration and People at Work (Ideas 25 to 36)
Candid shots capture subjects in their natural state, behind the scenes. Unlike scripted scenes, these shots are more spontaneous and are most powerful in documentary and non-fiction formats, including corporate video.
- Two colleagues reviewing a document together at a desk
- A team in a standing meeting, shoot from behind or side
- Someone presenting to a small group, shot from the audience's angle
- Handshake between two people, tight close-up, classic B2B shot
- Colleagues laughing together, candid, no looking at camera
- Someone writing in a notebook during a meeting
- A senior leader walking through the office and greeting the team
- People in a one-on-one meeting in a glass-walled room
- A team reviewing printed reports or documents on a table
- Over-the-shoulder shot of someone sharing their screen on a call
- A manager pointing at a wall chart or roadmap
- Two people at a whiteboard, one writing while the other observes
CATEGORY 4: Data, Results and Growth (Ideas 37 to 46)
B2B audiences are numbers-driven. These shots support any talking point about ROI, growth, performance, or results.
- A screen showing a graph trending upward, slow zoom in
- Google Analytics or similar dashboard being scrolled through
- Spreadsheet with highlighted cells, hands visible
- A printed report being flipped through
- Post-meeting debrief where someone is circling a key number on a printout
- An email inbox showing a high number of responses or leads
- A bar chart or pie chart being drawn on a whiteboard
- Close-up of a phone showing a positive KPI or metric notification
- Someone pointing to a specific data point on a monitor
- A sales leaderboard or performance tracker on a TV screen in the office
CATEGORY 5: Product and Service Demonstrations (Ideas 47 to 56)
Close-up shots of your product from various angles are among the most effective B-roll shots you can capture. For SaaS and service businesses, product means your platform, your output, or your delivery in action.
- Your product being unboxed or set up for the first time
- A person interacting with your software, their face and screen both in frame
- The aha moment, someone reacting positively when they see a result
- Your service being delivered, team working on client output
- A finished deliverable being reviewed such as a report, a design, or a campaign
- Your product on a desk alongside everyday objects, lifestyle context
- A customer or client nodding during a call, a satisfaction signal
- Before and after demonstration, split your editing timeline with two clips
- Someone demonstrating a workflow your product eliminates
- A testimonial prop, printed case study or logo of a known client
CATEGORY 6: Establishing and Location Shots (Ideas 57 to 64)
When you want to establish where your video is being shot, or transition from one space to another, atmospheric B-roll is the answer. You've seen this in movies and TV shows where a plane takes off and lands in another city, followed by shots of the city and its landmarks.
- City skyline at golden hour, wide, cinematic
- Street-level view of a busy business district
- Aerial drone shot pulling up and away from your city
- A busy coffee shop where your team works remotely
- Airport terminal or departure board, conveys scale and travel
- Conference venue exterior before a major event
- Trade show or expo floor, wide shot showing scale
- Hotel lobby or business lounge during a client meeting
CATEGORY 7: Events, Conferences and Speaking (Ideas 65 to 74)
Events are a goldmine of B-roll for B2B marketers. Most people never think to capture this footage. Those who do have an enormous content library.
- Audience listening attentively to a speaker, wide shot from the back
- Close-up of a speaker's hands gesturing at a podium
- Slide on a large screen with your company logo or key message
- Attendees networking in a hallway, candid, wide
- Someone scanning a badge or lanyard at event check-in
- Crowd applauding at the end of a talk
- Two people exchanging business cards or LinkedIn QR codes
- A panel discussion, shoot from the audience's perspective
- Someone watching a keynote on their phone stream
- Booth setup and activity at a trade show or industry expo
CATEGORY 8: Leadership and Founder Moments (Ideas 75 to 83)
These shots humanize your leadership and build personal brand authority, especially valuable for thought leadership content.
- Founder walking into the office in the morning, side angle tracking shot
- Leader reading a book or industry publication, tight close-up on the page
- CEO or CMO at their desk reviewing work, shot through the window
- Executive on a phone call, candid, from across the room
- Leader writing a strategy note by hand, close-up of pen on paper
- Founder looking out the office window, reflective, aspirational
- A signed partnership agreement or contract on a desk
- Executive greeting a client at reception, warm and professional
- Leader reviewing a pitch deck or proposal the night before a big meeting
CATEGORY 9: Behind-the-Scenes and Process (Ideas 84 to 92)
Filming B-roll of everyday moments from your routine, whether they're work-related or personal, creates a collection of authentic, ready-to-use content that connects with audiences.
- Your video shoot itself, camera crew setting up
- Lighting setup and sound check happening before an interview
- The production team reviewing footage on a monitor on set
- Email newsletter being written and scheduled
- Social media post being crafted and published
- A marketing calendar or content plan being mapped on a wall
- Ad creative being designed in real time, Figma or Photoshop visible
- Sales deck being rehearsed before a prospect call
- Package being shipped or fulfillment in process for product companies
CATEGORY 10: Human and Lifestyle Moments (Ideas 93 to 100)
Scenes from everyday life such as commuting, working out, or taking a break help make your story relatable and remind your audience that you're human. These shots are especially powerful for company culture content and employer brand videos.
- Morning commute, someone on the train or walking through a city
- Team lunch, candid, everyone around a table
- Someone taking a break and stepping outside for fresh air
- A team celebrating a win, high fives, clinking glasses, smiling
- New employee walking in on their first day, wide, hopeful shot
- A plant or some greenery on a desk, signals culture and care
- Hands holding a coffee cup on a morning call, slow close-up zoom
- The office going quiet as the day ends, lights shutting off, empty desks
Pro Tips for Shooting All 100 of These Shots
Tip 1: Shoot More Than You Think You Need
Never underestimate the importance of having a large bank of footage to choose from. A higher quantity of shots will give you the assurance that should you need more B-roll, it's there for you. A good starting rule: shoot at least 3x your expected need.
Tip 2: Vary Your Shot Types Every Time
For every subject, capture wide-angle shots to establish context, medium shots to show subjects in action, and close-ups to reveal intimate details that wider shots miss. Editing becomes dramatically more powerful when you have all three.
Tip 3: Use Movement Purposefully
Incorporating dynamic camera movements or techniques like slow motion or time-lapse can really make your visuals pop. But not every shot needs to move. A perfectly still close-up can be just as cinematic as a tracking shot.
Tip 4: Add Foreground Elements for Depth
One of the best ways to add depth to your B-roll is to introduce a foreground element. Try placing your camera up against a plant or blades of grass, keeping your focus set on your subject. The out-of-focus foreground elements add motion and texture to your shots, immersing your viewer in the setting.
Tip 5: Hold Every Shot Longer Than You Think
Focus on key locations and optimal spots for capturing action. Keep in mind how natural light shifts throughout the day to enhance your planning. Hold each clip for a minimum of 10 seconds even if you only need 3. You can always cut, you can never add what you didn't capture.
Tip 6: Organize Before You Edit
Label your files by shot type, such as wide or close-up. Sort by types of video environment. Categorizing by weather and seasons can also be handy. The more organized your B-roll library, the faster your edit will go and the better your final video will be.
The B2B Video B-Roll Checklist
Before every shoot, check off these essential categories:
- Establishing exterior shot of location
- Wide interior office or workspace shot
- Team collaboration moments, candid
- Technology or tool in use, keyboard, screen, phone
- Leadership or founder humanizing moment
- Product or service being delivered
- Data or results screen or report
- Event or social moment if applicable
- Behind-the-scenes process shot
- Human or lifestyle closing shot
Run through this list before you wrap any shoot. If any box is empty, go back and get it.
Where to Find Free B-Roll If You Can't Shoot Your Own
Sometimes logistics don't allow for a full shoot. These resources have you covered:
Pexels Videos https://www.pexels.com/videos/ Free commercial-use business clips
Coverr https://coverr.co Curated, cinematic free stock video
Mixkit https://mixkit.co Clean office, tech, and lifestyle clips
Videvo https://www.videvo.net Large library with free and premium tiers
Pixabay https://pixabay.com No attribution required, great variety
The B-Roll That Wins
B2B video marketing is in a race. Brands that produce generic, talking-head content are already losing to the ones that tell visual stories. It's all about the show, don't tell. Seeing the same shot without variation is boring. B-roll brings your video editing to life.
The 100 ideas in this blog aren't just nice to have. They're the difference between a video that gets skipped and one that gets shared, rewatched, and converted into leads.
You don't need a Hollywood budget. You need a smartphone, a gimbal, good light, and this list in your pocket.
Now go shoot something great.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How long should each B-roll clip be in the edit?
The average length of each clip in the final edit is usually about 3 seconds. Fast-paced social content may use 1 to 2 second clips. Long-form documentary-style content can go up to 8 to 12 seconds per clip.
Q: Can I shoot B-roll with a smartphone?
Absolutely. Today's flagship phones shoot in 4K with optical image stabilization. Pair it with a gimbal like a DJI OM series and your smartphone B-roll will be indistinguishable from a camera setup in most edits.
Q: Do I need to plan B-roll before a shoot?
Plan ahead. Take into account what your main footage is and build around it. Create a list of must-haves and nice-to-haves to make sure you can tell the whole story.
Q: How much B-roll should I shoot vs A-roll?
The industry standard starting point is 3x your A-roll length in B-roll footage. Advanced videographers shoot 5 to 10x to give themselves maximum flexibility in the edit.
Q: What's the biggest B-roll mistake B2B marketers make?
Running out of B-roll mid-edit and being forced to repeat shots or use mismatched stock footage. The fix is simple: always overshoot, then organize before you edit.
Bookmark this page and bring it to your next shoot. Share it with your content team, your video agency, or your in-house production partner. 100 shots is more than enough to build a professional B-roll library that powers months of B2B content and finally makes your videos look as good as your product deserves.
Author:
Rajan Soni
Rajan is passionate about marketing & business. He believes in process & preparation over everything else.
