5 TIPS TO EDIT YOUR VIDEO LIKE A PRO

CUT ON ACTION

That’s a golden rule of editing. If you master cutting on action, you will upgrade your skills significantly. The concept is very simple: you just make a cut when there is movement in your frame. So for example, you wanna cut when somebody runs out of frame, or stands up, or moves their hands. Cutting on action makes your video fluid and makes your cuts “invisible” to a viewer.

LEARN EDITING LANGUAGE

Post-production is a complex process consisting of many stages and relying on many professionals. It is also art in itself and a craft that requires learning.

In order to communicate efficiently and effectively, you have to know the terminology. If a colorist ask you for EDL, do you know what he or she is talking about? Do you know what is conforming? Are you familiar with the cutting techniques like jump cuts, L-cuts, J-cuts, montage, parallel editing?

Remember, if you want to be a pro, act as a pro!

DON’T FORGET COLOR GRADING

Color grading and color correction can elevate your video to professional level. Never forget to correct colors if skin tones in your video look off. You can use color grading for creative effects, for example, to create eerie mood with your greens, or summer vibes with orange hues.

STICK TO -3db

You ask yourself, how do I know if my video is too loud?

Bad sound is a first give-away sign that you’re a beginner in video editing. But there is a very simple fix to it. Just watch out for your audio levels. Never let it go to red. A good rule of thumb is to never let your mix exceed -3db.

USE KEYFRAMES FOR CUSTOMIZATION

Keyframes are definitely the best friend of a video editor! They enable you to make your video stand out with custom designs of transitions, animations and effects. With the help of keyframes you can control a specific component over time.

Mastering keyframes is essential if you wish to create your own brand as a video editor. Don’t rely on presets. Be creative. Adapt every effect to your project.