Explore what you can expect for growth as you step in
If you choose a career in video editing, you can find yourself working on anything from script to post-production.
Expected to work closely with your team, you’ll be asked to work on the script, assist with storyboard development, sound editing, and much more.
You can expect to do much more when partnering with creative heads and producers at video editing studios.
Anyway, if you’re new to the crew, this guide will help you a great deal to learn more about what a career in video editing looks like. Plus, we’ll also share some golden nuggets for growth. So, without further ado, let’s jump to it.
What does a day look like as a video editor?
A picture is worth a thousand words. Indeed, it is.
For video editors, visuals are the most effective medium of communication to catch an audience off-guard in a couple of seconds. Your job would be quite similar. You will tell amazing stories with beautiful visuals.
The story you’ll tell as a video editor will often be shared by the client or the employer.
There may be instances where you’re asked to flex your creative muscles and come up with inspiring stories. The workload mostly depends upon the scope and type of the project you’ll be working on.
On a usual day, you, as a video editor, can expect to work on 5-10 minutes of video content daily. Or you may even be asked to work on a 15–30 minutes video. On.
Demanding clients would expect you to pull off all-nighters or even work on weekends to meet the deadlines. On top of that, initially, you might also not get the best of freelance video editor rates.
As regards work dynamics, video editors are often asked to work freelance. Even if you work with a team, you might be working remotely.
A lot of your time will be spent on communication, editing footage, and implementing edit requests. Apart from this, you’ll be asked to work on a variety of projects.
Skills you need to become a successful video editor
While video editors need to keep up with a demanding schedule, there are some skills that they hone. Needless to say, if you aspire to be a video editor, don’t shy away from reading on.
Time management
The first thing you need to do before anything is to be good with time management. Video editors are often bound by tight deadlines for their clients.
It would be best if you had a dynamic attitude toward your work. Best freelance video editors are flexible, detailed-oriented, passionate, highly organized, and skilled at storytelling.
Flexibility
The second skill you need is flexibility. Regardless of your choice to work as a freelancer, you’ll need to be flexible to grow.
Be open to working with different personalities. Some might be collaborative; some might be unfriendly or aggressive. Make sure to adjust according to their needs.
When starting out, you’ll be asked to make the requested edits immediately. Don’t back yourself from accommodating such requests. Working under pressure will actually develop your work ethic.
Plus, when it comes to flexibility, video editors can be asked to pull-off all-nighters. So, don’t hesitate to work on a project for long hours. The contracts you land could be lucrative. The reward will multiply as you gain experience and build a reputation.
Professional tools
Having some know-how of the basic tools would be fine. Get a grip on Adobe Creative Suite Applications. You will also need to understand color correction, visual media, and sound effects.
Know that you’re always telling stories with your video content. So, you should be able to paint a visual picture of the written content. Strong imagination would come in handy.
Besides, the following are some creative applications that you will be working on as a video editor.
- Video Editing
- After Effects
- Premiere Pro
- Final Cut Pro
Golden tips
Your most valuable assets as a video editor are your reputation and technical skills. The more you can network before you land a professional job, the more value you will create for yourself.
To build a reputation, you need client testimonials. Don’t write these testimonials by yourself. Invite your clients to write them for you. Customers’ words about your service tell other prospects that you are credible.
You can make a portfolio website too. So, if you’re new to the crew, make sure to have a dedicated website portfolio that showcases your skills.
Having a portfolio would allow you to land a couple of freelancing gigs. It can best serve people who haven’t started a job yet. You may use open-source software or FREE portfolio sites to compile your portfolio.
If you’re struggling to prepare your portfolio, you may start with a project for a charity or some organization that would be happy to have you onboard. You can also look for jobs as a production assistant or video editing intern.
What job titles you’ll have?
If you choose to be a video editor, you can find yourself working in a media agency, company, or with network. Most people have already dived into the Freelance category.
Know that each type of position will provide a unique working environment for you. Plus, the team dynamics would also depend upon the work culture.
Most people figure out freelancing since there is a chance to grow their income in less time and work with some freedom.
On the other hand, if you can land a job opportunity at a network, you might yield better job benefits. But networks don’t give you a job guarantee. More importantly, you can find it challenging to move up the corporate ladder.
Following are some job titles that you can target in your career as a video editor
- Intern
- Assistant video editor
- Junior Video Editor
- YouTube Video Editor
- Video Editing Apprentice
Bottom line
To wrap up, a career in video editing is highly rewarding, given that you have the drive to give value at the start of your career without giving much thought to the money you make. Plus, there is enough growth opportunity for you even when working as a Freelancer.
