Video is a universally engaging form of media, but it isn’t as simple as it looks. To the untrained eye, video is plain and easy. Switch the camera on, upload the video, monetize said video, and go to the moon. That’s the natural trajectory. The truth is that between filming ourselves or our pets, and showing that video to a prospective audience, rests the art of editing.  All social media influencers use it to a degree. YouTubers, TikTok-ers, Vimeo…ers, and the rest, all must learn the ropes to a point, and as a result of this, there are many video editing guides out there.

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But rest assured, today’s market is more accessible than ever. Gone are the days of free albeit useless Windows Movie Maker (not entirely gone, nor forgotten). Equally, you don’t need expensive software that takes forever to install. We live in the era of subscriptions. Furthermore, parting with a chunk of money isn’t necessary due to free trial periods. KinoMaster (to name but one) allows you to edit for free, with the price of a permanent watermark. Some would say that was a heavy price. However, a subscription is a small price compared with the benefits of video making. This is especially true if and when your content gets monetized.

With that said, here are some tips for video editing that will inspire and direct you to your finest video achievements yet.

1.  Find Your Voice

Most digital video editing guides will give you their recommended video editing programs. Household names include KinoMaster, Adobe Premiere, and Movie Maker Online (told you, old reliable will always be with us), but it depends on your field. Different software works for different purposes. Movie Maker is better suited to simpler projects, whereas Adobe Premiere can handle (generally) more intake. Regardless, find one that works for you and hone your knowledge of it. Learn its cans and cant’s. Learn the shortcuts because although it takes a while at first, with a consistent application, you can pick up momentum and crank out content faster than ever.

2.  Grow Proficient With Time

Remember that repeated, consistent use sharpens your skills and expands your knowledge. Some of the top YouTube channels started out with the basics. The nuts and bolts. And as they grew, their editing got more elaborate. HowToBasic’s first video was an 8-second clip of a guy folding a shirt. Things grew rapidly, and now their videos are longer, full of cuts, and the channel has over 16 million subscribers. Want a video editing tip? That’s not a bad place to begin.

3.  Use Your Influences

No matter whether they come from cinema, top social media influencers, or elsewhere, influences are important. You should watch them in detail. What is working for them? What is the effect, and how are they achieving it? Your influences are your signposts. You will never arrive at their destination, but without them, you won’t get anywhere.

Other Considerations

The process of editing is married to your progression. The more you explore its potential, the more your projects come to life. Also, it helps you narrow your focus and sharpen your USP. So, what other aspects of editing should we consider?

This is a can of worms because editing encompasses a lot of video aspects. It would be impossible to cover them all, but consider a few of them.

• This isn’t the part where we condemn sepia tone but rather praise filters as a whole. With these, you can show time elapses, tonal changes, and even comedic transitions.
• Never underestimate the power of lighting. It determines tone, genre, and mood. Use it to your benefit.
• Shot length. This is dependent on your form. The vlog style of video often has long shots, whereas TikTok pet videos tend to use shorter ones.
• Video editing software allows video makers to zoom after the fact. That is, you don’t have to get a cameraman; you can do this all in the editing stage. If you’re vlogging, and you reach an awkward moment or a joke, employ the zoom. It’s a popular thing.
• This is a real can of worms. But the way you integrate music into your videos is the single most important element of editing.

There are so many other features to note, such as voiceovers and even text overlaps, but you can discover these as you experiment with your chosen editing software program.

Conclusion

Overall, editing is a vital tool that all video makers use on a daily basis. Some might call it a greater art form than shooting because it is where all of the atmosphere, whether it is comical or serious, or a blend of both, is brought to the forefront. Find your program today and give it a go. You’ll be surprised at how you develop.