Samsung, iPhone and Huawei have equipped you with the best lenses, camera quality, and technology, including Leica cameras. Not to mention the ultra-cool filters on your camera and amazing video functions. If you still need more, there are apps such as Snapchat that allow you to record after selecting a filter and download your video to your phone’s gallery. But there are some professional cases where Snapchat edits just don’t fit. So, what are video editing techniques that will make your phone-recorded video look professional?
Professional video editing cannot fit a one-line definition spectrum. It’s hardly noticed, and you only know that a video is professionally done when watching it attentively and if you have an eye for the finer details. On the other hand, the cheesy backdoor video quality is always visible and can be spotted within the first few seconds of streaming.
With our tips for editing video better, you no longer need the services of a professional video production company. You can take your own videos from your home camera or smartphone and do an excellent editing job to achieve the professional finish. Here are the top video editing secrets that every professional knows but dares not share with the public:
- Start learning the basics. This tip is one of the worst-kept secrets in every professionally done project. Learn the basic video editing rules and adhere to them while editing your own videos.
- Go easy on the effects. Effects are here to enhance and improve, but when overused, they can result in something cheesy and cringeworthy. Start practicing and getting used to effects by downloading and using Movie Maker and iMovie since each app offers an array of transitions and special effects. Only use in moderation if you’re after a professionally looking video edit.
- Learn how to use your recording device. Excellent editing is done easier if your raw footage is great. If you have a proper recording with good audio, editing like a professional will come naturally.
- Patience. Be patient and remember that practice makes perfect. After all, professional video editors go to school, take courses and spend countless hours editing videos before they become experts in their field.
For the most part, editing a video with a professional outcome comes down to common sense. You already know how pro videos look like. No amount of repetition can be enough to stress the importance of going easy on the addition of effects. Try to maintain the video in its natural state. If you have good raw material, it won’t be hard to improve the footage.
Another significant aspect is to learn how to use color correction when editing video. Your color correction can be helped, for the most part, by shooting in an excellent background with clean and clear lighting. This doesn’t mean shooting directly into the sun at noon and taking in all of the sun’s glare. If anything, too much natural light can cause dark backgrounds and record more shadows than necessary. Start by learning what is meant by shooting at the Magic Hour or Golden Hour and how a footage shot during that time looks like both indoors and outdoors in natural lighting. From your analysis and based on the type of video you would like to shoot, decide the best time and setting.
Mastering how to enhance video editing goes beyond the simple rules of learning the basics of getting good raw footage. It takes real effort and dedication to get good results. There are a lot of tools online that are available for anyone wishing to learn how to edit videos like a professional.
Check out videocopilot.net – Andrew Kramer’s work over the years is available on the site for you to draw some inspiration and also learn from. Carefully study his methodologies and understand how they can merge with the skills you are interested in mastering. Most of Kramer’s work heavily leans on the After Effects aspect, which is fundamental for a professional editor.
Feel free to go beyond the basics and search for more information online. Take to YouTube and spend hours watching tutorials there. Even professionals watch them. They will go a long way in enhancing your video editing skills. There is one particular YouTube channel by Ryan Connolly – Film Riot Channel – which is the best place to start your learning. Connolly is an excellent teacher who interacts with students and throws in jokes to make the learning process easier and more interesting. Do you want to be the next Spielberg all by yourself? Then learn professional video editing from YouTube pro tutors. Research on the Rule of Thirds, all rules of video editing and the best video editing tools and apps to use for getting a professionally looking video.
Don’t stop there, search Final Cut Stef or FCPX by Stefanie Mullen. There is always a plethora of new terminology and tools you can find there. Apple’s revision to the exciting Final Cut 7 made most of the production, but Mullen embraced the new platform and used her background as a teacher to reel in new sceptical individuals. Now the editing platform is popular and rated as one of the most useful, especially for beginners.
Once you have made the final cut and have your professionally done video, make sure to safely upload it online. You can back it up to your external hard drive or to the cloud storage service of your choice. If you don’t use cloud storage platforms and have a lot of videos you want to back up, read more to find the best options and select one…or two.
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