B-roll can feel a bit like a means to an end; a way of linking shots because you have to, but it's an art in itself. Here is a useful comparison of what a beginner might do and what a professional might do when they need the same b-roll.
B-roll typically refers to supplementary or transitional footage that accompanies your main shots for variance, style, or storytelling. At times it can feel superfluous, or necessary but boring; it needn't be. I love cinematography and some of my best filmmakers are the ones who use every fibre of available space for creativity, including what some might see as "filler" shots. Not only can great b-roll improve your production value, but it can also drastically improve the quality of the video.
One of my favorite examples is something I've covered before: Every Frame a Painting's video on Edgar Wright. While you could argue this isn't technically about b-roll, what it shows is how similar beginner filmmakers and lazy filmmakers can be. When making transitions that require exposition, many videographer lean heavily on clichés, whereas great filmmakers see it as an opportunity.
In this video, Thomas Alex Norman goes through a few different shots he needs to capture — common scenes you might see — and he approaches it in the beginner, cliché way, and then again from a professional's perspective. The difference is vast and having it pointed out might improve your work.