Search from the edit's intent
Describe the shot function, not only the subject. Useful formulas include subject plus action plus camera movement, location plus time of day plus mood, and concept plus visual metaphor.
- Example: startup founder typing, close-up, slow push-in
- Example: Jaipur street at blue hour, handheld
- Example: data overload visual metaphor, abstract
Preview before the download
Thumbnail selection alone causes waste. Preview motion, framing and pacing first. If the shot works, choose only the required resolution or clip range.
Keep a clean project trail
Create one B-ROLL bin per sequence or theme. Rename the useful clip after import, then place it at the playhead or keep it in the bin for a later pass.
This simple structure makes revision rounds faster because every sourced clip is already attached to an editorial purpose.
