Isn’t it amazing that every minute 500 hours of video are uploaded to YouTube? With so much content, how does anyone get any work done? Who are these creatives making this stuff anyways?
Do you have a favorite YouTuber? Have you ever thought of becoming one? While being the face of the video is exciting, there is something to be said for people behind the scenes such as the video editor.
How do you get started as a video editor anyhow? Read our guide below to learn some of the most important video editing skills on the scene.
- Edit for Story
Your video editing skills won’t matter much if you can’t tell a good story. Remember who you are editing for, other people! Aside from cutting the fat and using interesting video effects, there is nothing that can replace the story.
Stick to the script and see how you can manipulate people’s feelings when they watch. When you can tug on the heartstrings, you’re golden.
- Color Correction
Another one of those important video editing skills to add to your toolkit is color correction. Color in video content makes all the difference when wanting to highlight certain objects or subjects, pull on emotional strings, or set the vibe.
The main reason you’ll want to comprehend color correction is consistency. You will also want to understand color grading to make sure things look realistic and give your videos a unique feel.
- Keyboard Shortcuts
One of the most important video editing skills to master is keyboard shortcuts. The reason being is that it will save you a ton of time rather than using the mouse. You are free to tweak the keyboard shortcuts too to your liking for maximum efficiency.
You may even consider purchasing an editing keyboard that has keyboard shortcuts built-in and viewable on the keyboard itself. Level up your skills when you use this quality video merger from Adobe.
- Know Specific Cuts
Once you have the keyboard shortcuts down, it’s time to learn certain cuts to use. You may need to speak to other editors, the director, or clients so it’s beneficial to understand the lingo.
Let’s discuss a few of these video editing techniques. A “jump cut” will cut out uninteresting or predictable portions. A “j cut” is when the audio precedes the video whereas an “l cut” is when the video precedes the audio.
A “montage” is great to use when you want to display a lengthy period or a character building up their skills. Once you learn the basics, you will then develop your video editing styles that fit within your workflow.
Master These Important Video Editing Skills
Once you have mastered these important video editing skills, don’t stop there. There is always something to learn that will have you cranking out videos left and right. Whether for yourself or for a client, leveling up your video editing skills will bode well for your career path.
If you’d like to become the next great editor, you’ll want to stay in the loop. Be sure to check out our blog on the regular.
