01
Import local videos
Start with footage you own or manage. ShotMind is designed around your local video library rather than a public stock-footage marketplace.
Tutorial
How to Search Video by Description
Turn a video library into locally searchable shots so you can find concrete visual moments by describing what is visible.
Workflow
02
Split the video into shots
The app turns long videos into smaller visual moments so search can point to a specific shot instead of only a whole file.
03
Choose shots to analyze
Select the shot clips you want to make searchable. These selected clips are analyzed by cloud AI, then the results and local searchable index return to your library on your Mac.
04
Search by visible details
Describe the shot the way you would describe it to a collaborator: subject, action, scene, lighting, camera movement, mood, or style.
05
Verify important matches
Use the search result to jump back to the relevant visual moment, then check the original video when timing, accuracy, or client approval matters.
What to include in a useful description
The best queries describe visible evidence, not internal file names or vague project notes.
- Subject or object: person, product, vehicle, UI screen, character, or prop.
- Action: walking, turning, picking something up, pushing forward, cutting to a transition.
- Scene and mood: neon street, quiet indoor room, low light, warm daylight, tense expression.
- Camera and composition: close-up, wide shot, over-the-shoulder, slow push-in, handheld move.
Before relying on the result
- Full source videos stay local.
- Only selected shot clips are temporarily sent to cloud AI for analysis.
- Temporary cloud copies are removed from active cloud storage after successful analysis; analysis results, thumbnails, and a local searchable index are saved back to your local library.
- AI search can miss details, so verify important matches against the original video.
FAQ
Can I search local videos by description?
Yes. ShotMind turns selected shots from your local video library into searchable visual references. After analysis, the local searchable index lets you search already-analyzed shots by what appears on screen instead of only by file name.
Do I need to tag every clip manually?
No. ShotMind generates a local searchable index for selected shot clips, so manual tags become optional notes instead of the main way to find footage.
Will ShotMind upload full videos?
No. Full source videos stay local. Only selected shot clips are temporarily sent to cloud AI for analysis; temporary copies are removed from active cloud storage after successful analysis. The analysis results, thumbnails, and local searchable index are saved back to your local library, so already-analyzed shots can be browsed and searched locally.
What should I do if AI search misses a detail?
Use the result as a fast starting point, then verify important matches against the original video when timing, accuracy, client approval, or product details matter.