Privacy from what, precisely? The structure and road/vehicle in the background are far enough away they would need a telescope to see into your property!

Zones are meaningless without a specific location. What grows well in Z8 Georgia is very different from Z8 Texas or Oregon. Where are you located?

More questions: Where is this area in relation to your house? Does it need to serve a purpose other than screening? How manicured do you want it to be?

I ask because I see a region where woodland seems to be the native vegetation. I see young pines and oaks(?) in your photo. Left to its own devices, the area in the photo will grow back with those and will screen the houses beyond without you having to do anything.

I'd do broadleaf evergreens for the shrubs. They'll bloom in spring. I like Mt. Laurel, but it depends on your soil. They like it acidic. If you're in the East, they'll be native.

You could always transplant some of your pine saplings. By the time they are big, your shrubs will have filled in.

Thank you so much for the responses. We are in central Arkansas and our lot is fully private around us except for that one area that was cleared (in pic) for building our home. Since there are so many trees around us and then this open spot, our eye goes right to the opening and I just want to help blend it in/make home fully private.
I am open to suggestions…appreciate it.

I should add this area is off the back of our home where we have a large covered porch and soon to be lots of landscape and a garden.

Arborvitae is a great fast growing evergreen screen option.

Ask your local Nursery for suggestions for native plants to your area.

I just planted a star jasmine on a trellis in zone 8, it's evergreen and doing well. If you need something on a building or wall.

It's a natural wooded area. Lines of anything are not appropriate imo. The ground looks a bit poor and sandy and I don't think hostas, hydrangeas and ferns would be happy there. Just use a few native species while the natural cover reestablishes. There appear to be some things starting to fill in already. It's not a garden area so I don't think arbor vitae or trellises are suitable. Transplanting some of those pine saplings looks like a good idea to me.

Any real life tips for transplanting saplings? I’ve googled but real life tips and tricks can be helpful.

I’m used to clay dirt from up north but the dirt in my new state of AR is clay that is so compacted, plus hasn’t rained in literally months, and it’s rocky. This dirt gets sticky when I add water to it. Planting in this area will be challenging for sure but we’ll prep dirt and do the best we can.

I'm not sure my advice will be worth much. Dry, compacted clay isn't a soil I've ever dealt with and I'm not clear on where you are in fall. In Maine, we've already had our first frost. I've found the local extension to be very helpful, answering emails promptly. You might try them.

My summer place has very rocky soil and I plant small, bareroot trees and plugs. I've transplanted very small saplings successfully. The smaller the transplant, the less digging and the less likely I'll hit a very big rock.