B-roll is supplementary video footage that illustrates the main action and gives a video more atmosphere and variety. It’s cut in, for example, during an interview, an explanation, or a voiceover – while the audio from the main footage can keep running.

In the modeling and influencer world, this might include:

• Details: Jewelry, fabric textures, shoes, or close-ups of a product.
• Actions: Packing your model bag, doing your makeup, getting dressed, or trying out a product.
• Surroundings: The studio, the shoot location, or a street scene.
• Workflows: Prep on set, setting up the lighting, or working with the styling team.

An example: You’re telling the story of your first shoot in a video. While your voice keeps going, we see glimpses of you arriving at the studio, the clothing rack, the makeup, and short behind-the-scenes moments from the set. Those supplementary shots are the B-roll.

In editing, B-roll also helps make transitions between statements smoother and visually bridges sections that were cut. Viewers get to see something that supports your story.

B-roll can be planned deliberately or shot spontaneously. Different angles and shot sizes give you more options later in the edit. Every shot should fit the content, though: if you’re talking about how a jacket is made, for example, you can show the seams, material, and fasteners up close.

As an influencer, brands often ask for extra B-roll footage in collaborations, such as product details or everyday scenes, often as raw files. Clarify in advance how much footage you need to deliver and whether the brand may use it for its own ads, because that affects your fee. As a model, you are increasingly filmed on campaign shoots as well, including for behind-the-scenes clips, so ask what this footage will be used for and whether that usage is covered by your booking.