So I’ve Batched My Content… Now What?
First thing’s first… Go you! It’s not easy being a human online in the 21st century. Collecting footage for your social content is truly half the battle. But now that you’ve shot your footage, the content world is your oyster!
Whether you followed our shot list from our post Creating a Reliable Content Checklist For Shoot Day, or if you shot from the hip, here are some easy ideas for fun ways to turn that footage into digestible content.
Shoot day ride along
Your potential clients want to know what a shoot day is like with you.
Splice up different clips of your session, being sure to include clips with yourself so clients can see who they’re shooting with. Don’t be afraid to show even more of your personality when editing! Font choices, image overlays, and music selection can convey a lot about what makes you unique, so don’t be afraid to make selections that feel outside of the box!
Whether you choose to add music and text or a voiceover and captions, clients will be happy to have a little sample of what a photoshoot with you is like.
EXAMPLE
From @seventhhousemarketing on Instagram.
We love how thorough this reel is- the user shares a bit about their pre-planning, spontaneous day-of ideas, and shows plenty of “behind the scenes” clips.
Don’t be afraid to make a longer video- though the trend was once shorter videos for shorter attention spans, we’re seeing the pendulum begin to swing back in the other direction towards longer formats.
While your post doesn’t need to be as thorough as this example is, definitely take note of what caught and kept your attention!
WHAT I SEE vs what the camera sees
There’s a bit of magic that happens when you’re with a photographer who captures something you looked past… It reminds us that everyone sees the world a little differently!
Peel back the curtain and allow viewers to peer into your creative mind by capturing this magic moment. There are a few ways you can do this!
Capture video of the scene your photographing, then slowly pan down into the viewfinder of your camera (if it’s set up on a tripod)
Start with a clip of the scene you’re shooting, cut to the final edited shot (can be a still image)
Start with a clip of the scene you’re shooting, cut to a video clip shot through your viewfinder
EXAMPLE
From @n8images on Instagram.
We love this reel because it’s super simple, super short, and super effective! Bonus points for syncing the change from “what I see” to “what the camera sees” with the music.
Again, you could choose to elongate the video a bit, maybe changing the prompt to something like “All of this…” with clips of your shoot day, cutting to “for this.” with a final shot.
POV’s
This is structural trend we’re seeing continue into 2026, so definitely don’t shy away from it! There are so many avenues you can take, using the “Point of View” style as a jumping point. Some examples might be:
POV: You’re a fly on the wall at my session
A day in the life of a freelance photographer
POV: You’re serving looks at our shoot (taking photos of the camera/viewer and gassing them up)
Your sign to finally book a couple’s shoot
How I photograph _____ (Moms, families, couples, etc.)
From @iamprestonluke on Instagram.
Bonus points for infusing your sense of humor into the post! Don’t be afraid to get a little specific with your POV’s- especially if it’s within your niche. This example is another short, sweet, and super simple idea to take inspiration from and tailor it to your target audience.
Personal anecdote
We’ve said it many times before and we’ll say it again- get personal! Your client is more likely to book you and feel immediately at ease for their session if they feel like they already know a bit about you and your energy.
A super low-lift way to do this is by taking some of that pretty “b-roll” footage you batched at your last session, hooking it to a trending audio or a song that feels appropriate, and adding some text with your story.
If you’re not as comfortable sharing yourself on your social platforms, this is another great way to connect with your audience in a way that feels authentic.
Pro Social Media Hack: If you keep the video short, viewers will continue looping the video as they read all of the text. This is a bit of a sly way to hack the system and immediately increase your video views.
EXAMPLE
From @marianhillmusic on Instagram.
Honestly, a bit of an odd example but you get the idea! Just be sure to include the following with your text to keep viewers reading:
Start with a hook. (i.e. I knew the entire shoot went wrong the moment that… or I had just hit send on the edits when…)
Build suspense when possible. I’m not saying exaggerate or create scenarios, but if you can, find ways to drag it out a bit. (For example, let’s say I’m telling a story about dropping my camera in the river during a shoot. I could stretch it out by saying Just as I was about to get THE shot, I noticed something was off… It all happened at once- my foot slipped off the river rock, I tossed my camera, and I thought all was lost! )
Offer a resolution, question, or call to action. As if you were having a conversation with a friend, find an appropriate way to “button it up.” (Following the example above, I might finish with a question- Has this ever happened to you? 😅 or a resolution- Luckily the clients were more than happy to reshoot, and I was able to salvage the SD card and photos! So learn from me- look where you step! )
Rather talk about it to the camera! Yeah!! Everyone loves a good storytime.
Share the spotlight
Editing a roll of film at a local coffee shop? Capture a few quick clips! Working with a small business? Ask if you can grab some BTS footage of their shoot! Participated in a photowalk or walked to a maker’s market? You know the drill.
Moral of the story- when you post content that features another creator or local business, invite them to collaborate! It’s truly a win-win. You both receive exposure to the other’s audience and it’s an easy way to use your platform (big or small!) to uplift your local community.
EXAMPLE
From @finsandfairies on Instagram.
This was a collaborative post that we received and were eager to accept! We love that it really shows a lot of the magic that happened both behind the scenes and in front of the lens.
I hope this list sparked some inspiration within you to put that amazing batched content to good use! If you’re looking for help creating that shoot day content checklist, definitely check out this previous post!
Happy posting!