Photo by Nikolay Tarashchenko on Unsplash
If you’re new to videography, it can be a little daunting at first.
After all, there are thousands of incredible videos online that look amazing, so the bar has been set high by experienced video-makers.
But one thing you can do to make your videos stand out and look more professional is concentrate on how you edit your videos - and the software you use to do it.
In this quick tutorial, you’ll learn three must-have beginner video editing tips.
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Edit With Storytelling in Mind
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The whole point of creating a video is to tell a story of some kind.
That means that you have to go above and beyond doing simple tasks like adjusting the length of clips and adding music.
Instead, think purposefully about how you construct the video and how its construction can help you create something that not only looks good, but is thought-provoking as well.
Photo by Jakob Owens on Unsplash
Consider asking yourself the following questions in order to set the mood and tell a great story:
- How have you introduced the characters in the story? Is it clear who they are and what role they play?
- What emotion or mood are you trying to convey?
- How can you utilize B-roll to give depth to the story?
- What is your hook? In other words, what is the compelling interest that will draw people into the video?
- How can you effectively use scene transitions, effects, voice-overs, and other features to enhance the story?
Photo by Jakob Owens on Unsplash
The point here is that creating an interesting, dramatic video involves much more than simply sequencing scenes together.
If you spend time before you shoot developing a storyboard and brainstorming ideas, your final product will be the better for it.
Learn More:
Get an Editor That Improves Your Workflow
One of the most common troubles that new videographers have is learning how to use complicated video editors like Final Cut Pro.
And while those kinds of programs are wonderfully powerful with tons of features, the learning curve is steep (and the program is expensive as well).
What will help you speed up the editing process is using a program that has powerful tools but is easy to use with an intuitive interface.
That’s where Kizoa comes in…
Kizoa has been around for a decade, and in that time, they’ve created a video editor that ticks all the boxes.Not only is it loaded with features like professionally-designed templates to jumpstart your editing process, but you can also add music, transitions, and texts that give the video a professional look.
You can also drop, resize, and rotate video clips and images, edit video clips, and apply 3D effects.
And since Kizoa is browser-based, you don’t have to download any software and you get the benefit of storing your files online for easy access wherever you are.
Kizoa also has a handy iOS app that makes on-the-go editing a breeze.
You can edit your videos from start to finish right on your phone, and then easily share your creations via social media or email.
Perhaps best of all is Kizoa’s price…
For less than $30, you get lifetime access to Kizoa. Compared to the monthly fees charged by other editors, you get a lot of bang for your buck.
Kizoa is powerful, intuitive, easy to use, and affordable. That’s a combination that’s tough to beat!
Learn More:
- Video Composition Tip: What Angles to Shoot At (and Why)
- Why Videography is Important for Every Photographer
Streamline Your Workflow
Photo by Matthew Kwong on Unsplash
Editing videos is not like editing still photos…
In addition to the video footage, you’ll have music and other audio files, images, graphics, and various other assets you’ll need for a single video.
That being the case, it’s important to get into the habit early-on of streamlining your workflow.
Create a system of folders and subfolders where you keep the assets for each video.
And if you have assets that you use over and over again - intro music, for example - group them together in a single folder for easier access.
The key here is to be systematic, to label every asset with a descriptive name, and be consistent in doing so from one video to the next.
If you can do that, you’ll spend less time searching around for the files you need and more time actually putting thought and effort into how you edit your videos.