Professional video editing can mean the difference between a cheesy home video and a moving family movie. But what exactly is professional video editing?
Professional video editing is difficult to define as it is generally barely noticeable. It’s only when something goes wrong that you realize a lack of professional video editing. Of course, you don’t have to hire a professional video production company to get professional video editing. You just have to follow this guide.
Before we dig a little deeper, let’s look at some basic ideas:
- Learn the basics. There are a few simple video editing rules that you should learn and follow (and sometimes even break).
- The effects are easy to achieve. iMovie and Movie Maker each offer a variety of special effects and transitions. You should avoid most of them if you want a professional video editing look.
- Start with good video footage. Professional video editing is easy if you have good footage to start with. Good audio recording also makes a big difference in professional video editing.
- Practice, practice, practice. Whether you’re using a simple, free program like iMovie or Movie Maker, or a complex program like Final Cut or Adobe Premiere, you need to practice your editing system. Professional video editing requires taking the time to learn the ins and outs of your editing software so you can get the most out of it.
Much of this will seem like common sense, and for the most part it is. There are many ways to learn, master, and then pass on video editing knowledge, but the key secret is this: It’s your editing rules that matter most. Check out the rules of video editing, learn the rule of thirds, find out what a Golden Hour or Magic Hour shoot looks like, and then decide for yourself which is the best option for your shoot.
Do you want to shoot at noon? let them tear apart The sun can wreak havoc on your subject, but there’s nothing wrong with shooting at this time.
Try FCPX thanks to Stefanie Mullen, or Final Cut Stef as she’s called online. While much of the production world was reluctant to rush Apple to overhaul its beloved Final Cut 7, Stefanie embraced the new platform and used her educational background to train those looking to upgrade to this extremely powerful and unique editing platform.
Learn how to create your own films with Ryan Connolly’s Film Riot channel on YouTube. Ryan uses comedy and common sense to teach budding Spielbergs the way and the truth in visual effects, editing and more.
There are so many other websites out there with information that could be considered professional publishing secrets, but here are a few highlights. Network and search for the best that the publishing world has to offer. There are many options and your only limit is your imagination.