8 answers
Omar
Student
2
Questions
Asked
992 views
What ways can I improve my video editing skills?
I have been editing and I first learned how to edit when I was about 13 or 14. I am 17 and still in high school and it's been on and off since then. Recently I want to get back into that groove, so I was just wondering if there are any resources, internships, etc. that can help me improve the quality and even grow.
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8 answers
Steward "Tony" Pacheco
Minister, USMC Vet, John C. Maxwell Cert. Coach, Trainer, Speaker, Teacher, Straight Shooter
117
Answers
Kyle, Texas
Updated
Steward "Tony"’s Answer
I can only answer from a television perspective as my experience is live video broadcast & replay. Find as many local community TV production facilities as possible and volunteer to assist any current productions. You will expand your knowledge and make friends in the industry which will lead you to where, or close to where you want to be. Have fun!
Annaleigh Niedzielski
Videographer, Producer, Assistant Director
65
Answers
Phoenix, Arizona
Updated
Annaleigh’s Answer
Hi Omar!
That’s awesome that you’ve been editing since you were 13 or 14! Since you already have a few years of experience, there are several ways you can take your skills to the next level. One way is to challenge yourself with new projects. If you’ve been doing basic cuts, try experimenting with more complex types of videos like music videos, short films, or even motion graphics. Learning advanced techniques like color grading, sound design, and using advanced transitions in your editing software can also make a huge difference in the quality of your work. Watching content from professional editors—whether it’s movies, YouTubers, or TV shows—and analyzing their work can give you inspiration and new ideas.
Getting feedback is super helpful too, so share your work with others, whether it’s friends, teachers, or online communities like Reddit’s r/VideoEditing. Constructive criticism can help you see areas for improvement that you might not notice on your own. Also, when you edit, focus on storytelling—every cut should have a purpose in moving the story forward. Trying out new tools or software, like After Effects for motion graphics or Audition for sound design, can add new dimensions to your projects. Finally, taking on real-world projects, even if it’s just for friends or small businesses, can give you valuable experience and help you understand how to meet deadlines and work with clients. You’ve got a solid foundation already, so now it’s all about pushing your skills further and experimenting with more advanced techniques!
That’s awesome that you’ve been editing since you were 13 or 14! Since you already have a few years of experience, there are several ways you can take your skills to the next level. One way is to challenge yourself with new projects. If you’ve been doing basic cuts, try experimenting with more complex types of videos like music videos, short films, or even motion graphics. Learning advanced techniques like color grading, sound design, and using advanced transitions in your editing software can also make a huge difference in the quality of your work. Watching content from professional editors—whether it’s movies, YouTubers, or TV shows—and analyzing their work can give you inspiration and new ideas.
Getting feedback is super helpful too, so share your work with others, whether it’s friends, teachers, or online communities like Reddit’s r/VideoEditing. Constructive criticism can help you see areas for improvement that you might not notice on your own. Also, when you edit, focus on storytelling—every cut should have a purpose in moving the story forward. Trying out new tools or software, like After Effects for motion graphics or Audition for sound design, can add new dimensions to your projects. Finally, taking on real-world projects, even if it’s just for friends or small businesses, can give you valuable experience and help you understand how to meet deadlines and work with clients. You’ve got a solid foundation already, so now it’s all about pushing your skills further and experimenting with more advanced techniques!
Brooke Jones
Product Management
4
Answers
Austin, Texas
Updated
Brooke’s Answer
Getting started with video editing can be a fun and rewarding journey. I started video editing about four years ago as a hobby and it has been a fun. Here's some advice to help you along the way on your journey:
- Start Simple: Begin with basic projects, like editing short clips or creating simple transitions. This will help you get comfortable with the editing software and tools.
- Try Out Different Tools: There are great tools and software out there to help with video editing and there are pros and cons to each. You won't know till you try them out. I always start with free trials to get a feel for it to make this decision if I like it or not. Don't be afraid to try something new.
- Learn by Doing: Just like you're doing now, try recreating videos you like. This is a fantastic way to learn, as it helps you understand techniques and styles that catch your eye. Pay attention to things like cuts, transitions, and effects, and try to replicate them.
- Use Tutorials and Resources: There are tons of free tutorials online, especially on platforms like YouTube. Look for beginner guides on your editing software, and don't hesitate to explore specific techniques you want to learn. I have done this for my entire journey and have been advancing my skillset and following new tutorials that are at my level.
- Feedback and Improvement: Share your work with friends, family, or online communities and ask for feedback. Constructive criticism can be really helpful in improving your skills. I am always excited to share my work and love to hear what they like and do not like so I can make the next one even better.
- Stay Patient and Persistent: Learning video editing takes time and practice. Don't get discouraged if things don't turn out perfectly at first. Keep practicing, and you'll see improvement over time.
Remember, the key to getting better is to keep going. Each project you work on will teach you something new and bring you closer to mastering video editing. Enjoy the process and have fun with it!
- Start Simple: Begin with basic projects, like editing short clips or creating simple transitions. This will help you get comfortable with the editing software and tools.
- Try Out Different Tools: There are great tools and software out there to help with video editing and there are pros and cons to each. You won't know till you try them out. I always start with free trials to get a feel for it to make this decision if I like it or not. Don't be afraid to try something new.
- Learn by Doing: Just like you're doing now, try recreating videos you like. This is a fantastic way to learn, as it helps you understand techniques and styles that catch your eye. Pay attention to things like cuts, transitions, and effects, and try to replicate them.
- Use Tutorials and Resources: There are tons of free tutorials online, especially on platforms like YouTube. Look for beginner guides on your editing software, and don't hesitate to explore specific techniques you want to learn. I have done this for my entire journey and have been advancing my skillset and following new tutorials that are at my level.
- Feedback and Improvement: Share your work with friends, family, or online communities and ask for feedback. Constructive criticism can be really helpful in improving your skills. I am always excited to share my work and love to hear what they like and do not like so I can make the next one even better.
- Stay Patient and Persistent: Learning video editing takes time and practice. Don't get discouraged if things don't turn out perfectly at first. Keep practicing, and you'll see improvement over time.
Remember, the key to getting better is to keep going. Each project you work on will teach you something new and bring you closer to mastering video editing. Enjoy the process and have fun with it!
Wadood Jan
Journalist/Freelance writer, video editor/ social actvist
3
Answers
Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
Updated
Wadood’s Answer
It's great to hear about your interest in editing and your dedication to improving your skills. Starting at such a young age and continuing to pursue your passion is impressive!
There are several resources and opportunities you can explore to enhance your editing skills:
Online Courses: Websites like Coursera, Udemy, and LinkedIn Learning offer comprehensive courses on various aspects of editing.
Internships and Volunteer Work: Look for internships at local media companies. Volunteering to edit for non-profits or community organizations can also provide valuable experience.
Editing Communities: Join online platforms where you can offer free video editing initially.
Practice Projects: Offer your editing services to friends, family, or local businesses. The more you practice, the better you’ll get.
Feel free to reach out if you need more specific recommendations or have any questions. Keep up the great work, and best of luck with your editing journey!
There are several resources and opportunities you can explore to enhance your editing skills:
Online Courses: Websites like Coursera, Udemy, and LinkedIn Learning offer comprehensive courses on various aspects of editing.
Internships and Volunteer Work: Look for internships at local media companies. Volunteering to edit for non-profits or community organizations can also provide valuable experience.
Editing Communities: Join online platforms where you can offer free video editing initially.
Practice Projects: Offer your editing services to friends, family, or local businesses. The more you practice, the better you’ll get.
Feel free to reach out if you need more specific recommendations or have any questions. Keep up the great work, and best of luck with your editing journey!
Michelle M.
Entertainment Industry
1879
Answers
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hello, Omar !
There is always a way to continue learning any skill you may want. You can join a video or media club at your high school, you can take online video editing courses online, or you can seek training at a company that would be willing to have you volunteer and train you.
I would suggest utilizing the resources at your high school by joining any club or group that is working with video. This will put you together with like minded people and you may even be someone who can help the other students while they share tips and editing information with you. Since you already have experience, it would be an ideal start to resuming learning this skill. We never stop learning, however.
I also suggest taking some courses online. Think about the aspects of editing that you already are comfortable with and take courses as refreshers and something new. Some online courses may be free or charge a price. Through a search, go to these websites to review the courses that may be good for you: Skillshare, American Graphics Institute, Èspero, Future Media Concepts, Noble Desktop, Udemy, Coursera, and Class Central. I also have left a link for you below for My Great Learning and for a list of free and paid for courses.
To find an experience on-site doing and learning video editing, you would first make a list of all the studios, media agencies, small production companies and visit as many as you can in person. Most businesses are not actually offering internships so I would suggest presenting it more in the way of volunteering for them. Do as much of this in person as you can because it'll save you time waiting for a return phone call or e-mail. In person, you will have direct contact with the people. Go where ever people are editing video, introduce yourself and offer to help out in exchange for the chance to learn something new.
While you are learning new aspects of video editing - make your own videos that you can practice with. Collaborate with friends from school or any people that are interested. Start uploading your videos to a video hosting platform so you will have a collection of work to show people when you are ready to seek employment or enter college.
Once you graduate high school, consider going to college to major in something that will put the professional touch on what you like to do. This is a great way to get a structured education, meet a lot of people, and have projects assigned to you that you can add to your body of work. The degree you obtain will open doors for work at a studio or company and you can always work freelance, too. Your opportunities may vary depending on if you live in a large city or small town, but your high school, online and whatever businesses are in your town will be what you'll need to interact with to get back into video editing.
I hope that this is helpful and I wish you all the best in getting back into video editing !
FREE VIDEO EDITING COURSE https://www.mygreatlearning.com/academy/learn-for-free/courses/video-editing-basics
LIST OF FREE AND PREMIUM VIDEO EDITING COURSES ONLINE https://justcreative.com/best-video-editing-courses/
There is always a way to continue learning any skill you may want. You can join a video or media club at your high school, you can take online video editing courses online, or you can seek training at a company that would be willing to have you volunteer and train you.
I would suggest utilizing the resources at your high school by joining any club or group that is working with video. This will put you together with like minded people and you may even be someone who can help the other students while they share tips and editing information with you. Since you already have experience, it would be an ideal start to resuming learning this skill. We never stop learning, however.
I also suggest taking some courses online. Think about the aspects of editing that you already are comfortable with and take courses as refreshers and something new. Some online courses may be free or charge a price. Through a search, go to these websites to review the courses that may be good for you: Skillshare, American Graphics Institute, Èspero, Future Media Concepts, Noble Desktop, Udemy, Coursera, and Class Central. I also have left a link for you below for My Great Learning and for a list of free and paid for courses.
To find an experience on-site doing and learning video editing, you would first make a list of all the studios, media agencies, small production companies and visit as many as you can in person. Most businesses are not actually offering internships so I would suggest presenting it more in the way of volunteering for them. Do as much of this in person as you can because it'll save you time waiting for a return phone call or e-mail. In person, you will have direct contact with the people. Go where ever people are editing video, introduce yourself and offer to help out in exchange for the chance to learn something new.
While you are learning new aspects of video editing - make your own videos that you can practice with. Collaborate with friends from school or any people that are interested. Start uploading your videos to a video hosting platform so you will have a collection of work to show people when you are ready to seek employment or enter college.
Once you graduate high school, consider going to college to major in something that will put the professional touch on what you like to do. This is a great way to get a structured education, meet a lot of people, and have projects assigned to you that you can add to your body of work. The degree you obtain will open doors for work at a studio or company and you can always work freelance, too. Your opportunities may vary depending on if you live in a large city or small town, but your high school, online and whatever businesses are in your town will be what you'll need to interact with to get back into video editing.
I hope that this is helpful and I wish you all the best in getting back into video editing !
Michelle recommends the following next steps:
Iram Lazo
Photographer
1
Answer
Matawan, New Jersey
Updated
Iram’s Answer
Start by experimenting with your smartphone's camera to get creative. Once you're ready, invest in an entry-level professional camera. It's also crucial to define your niche. Events and weddings can be highly profitable. Don't forget the importance of learning basic editing skills. Good luck!
Duncan Phin
Culture and Engagement Data Manager
19
Answers
Newcastle upon Tyne, England, United Kingdom
Updated
Duncan’s Answer
Hello Omar,
I've discovered that tackling challenges often leads to a significant enhancement of my abilities. Take inspiration from what you see around you, like an impressive edit on TV or YouTube. Try to replicate it. This might seem simpler if you're in a professional setting, but don't worry, you can still explore this right from your home. Consider it as a fun project. Remember, every opportunity is a chance to learn and grow.
Best,
Duncan
I've discovered that tackling challenges often leads to a significant enhancement of my abilities. Take inspiration from what you see around you, like an impressive edit on TV or YouTube. Try to replicate it. This might seem simpler if you're in a professional setting, but don't worry, you can still explore this right from your home. Consider it as a fun project. Remember, every opportunity is a chance to learn and grow.
Best,
Duncan
Ryan Pichardo
Video Editing
5
Answers
Lynn, Massachusetts
Updated
Ryan’s Answer
Boosting your editing skills can be fun and easy! Just tune into some online tutorials - it's a top-notch way to pick up editing tips. And remember, practice makes perfect, so try to edit something every single day. I've been editing for six years now, and trust me, these tutorials are a goldmine of information. Another cool trick is to watch videos edited by others. It's a great source of inspiration and a fantastic way to learn from the pros.