So, you have got a fantastic new camera at hand. Now what? How to use its wonderful video mode?
Of course, you will be shooting top-quality footage with it. But what if you want the finished footage to look as perfect as still photography?
This requires learning the right video editing tips and techniques just as you learned post-processing for the still imaging procedure.
Before going ahead with the tips and the techniques, you must know that video editing is a creative procedure.
And sometimes, you might have to put in several hours to edit a video. This is where experience counts and even makes a huge difference.
Ready to take your video editing to a completely new level? Here’s a rundown of the tips and the tricks that will help you get started:
Proper Planning
There’s nothing that works more efficiently and effectively in starting any project as planning does.
A good and perfect plan goes a long way in editing videos like a pro. Remember, your video should tell a story, and it must surely have a beginning, the middle, and the end.
So, plan the story accordingly and also the way you will be narrating it. More precisely speaking, you must have a script handy.
And yes, you must even plan for the consistent use of titles, colors, fonts, transitions, sound effects, musical cues, and everything going into your video.
This way, you will get an idea of what your finished video will look like even before you start editing it.
Start Out with Top Quality Footage
With still photography, you have the option of taking a good quality raw image and then enhancing it to complete perfection.
The same works for videos as well. If you want to get professional results in editing videos, try starting out with only top-quality footage.
You must also understand that besides the top-quality lenses and the cameras, there are various other accessories used by the cinematographers and the videographers on a regular basis.
These accessories help them in controlling video production output while shooting.
For instance, lighting is one of the essential factors, and so is the use of effects and filters. Shake-free support for the camera is also essential.
Apart from getting a video tripod, you must also work on getting a gimbal that stabilizes handheld footage.
No, you do not have to spend a fortune in getting the right tools to make your video editing easier. Just spend your money on getting the tools you actually require.
Choose Your Editing Tool Wisely
There can be no doubt that you require a good online video editor to give your videos professional quality without breaking the bank.
Budget-conscious video editing professionals and companies looking for the best marketing videos should use video editors for the job.
Picking a video editing tool is all about control. You must ponder on whether you want something very simple, allowing you to put only a few shots together and then add the titles, or you would like to go for something more feature-rich and technology-based.
Do Not Forget the Sound!
Apart from motion, sound is also one of the essential elements of capturing a video.
Your camera will be having an in-built mic, but it is vital for you to arrange for a top-quality external mic to take complete advantage of the audio capabilities of your camera.
Here, you must understand the importance of using secondary music.
Now, this can be adding sound during the editing procedure or a second live feed while the recording is taking place.
Take care of the sound balance. Remember, it is necessary to add background music for realism, but more of it can be distracting.
Audio editing helps you add the preferred musical score if it is part of your finished product objective.
You can find several free audio sources online, or you can even buy licensing permissions if you have specific requirements.
Going for licensed music is very important, especially for something that is not your property and plans to place your video online.
Trimming the Fat- It’s Necessary
By far, the most crucial editing tool you will have to use constantly and on a very wide scale is trimming.
Once you have cut your video into separate shots, work on trimming the beginning and the ends.
This way, your footage will remain free from unnecessary frames while highlighting significant events you actually want to show to the audience.
Keep Fine Transitions and Edits in Mind
Rough editing is something you must do right in the beginning and once it is in place, start with the fine editing.
Here you will have to perfect the timing of the scenes and trimming the media to achieve precise cuts.
Get into the scenes, make your point and get out quickly. Avoid lingering too long as it will have the audience losing interest in your video.
Speaking of effective transitions, they bring the cuts together in a very smooth manner. The majority of the transitions tend to be simple dissolves, fades, and straight cuts.
You even have the option of adding animated transitions such as flashes and wipes for creating visual interest.
However, use such transitions sparingly, consistently, and logically. Animated transitions indeed go a long way in emphasizing significant points in a video; making them too distracting or flashy will not work.
Conclusion
If you are a newcomer to editing videos, chances are you will find the above tips useful and effective as well.
Get your hands on these techniques, and you will become a pro at editing within no time.
Use these tips and some more of your own skills to come up with videos that will not just take your brand marketing to an entirely new level but will also create brand awareness among prospective buyers.
