Being a video editor sucks every ounce of creativity from us. We must do everything we can to be as imaginative as possible at all times. Proper sleep, nutrition, and health are no-brainers when you’re trying to have your brain work at max capacity. But what about our environment? Having a clean edit bay is absolutely vital to being a creative video professional. Let’s discuss.
Post Production
Lifestyle Changes After Remote Video Editing for 16 Months
At the time of this writing, some of us are around 16 months into becoming video editors that solely edit from their homes instead of the office. Our lifestyle due to remote video editing has changed, for better and worse.
Lots of us have gone back to the commute and stale Keurig coffee that the office gives you. Others, like myself, are still cutting from home at least for the time being.
Over the last 16 months I’ve learned a few lessons about being an editor that I never would have known without this experience. This article will discuss these lessons and the lifestyle changes I’ve made as a result from remote video editing. Maybe you’ve had the same revelations. Maybe yours are the complete opposite. Let’s find out.
A Beginner’s Guide to Common Video Transitions
This guide will explain the common video transitions for video editing. Learn what cut, dissolve, fade, dip, and other transitions mean and when to use them.
This is not by any means an exhaustive resource on video transitions. This is a high-level overview designed for the brand new video editor.
Maybe you recently started (or want to start) a YouTube Channel. Maybe your boss asked you to make a video for a presentation and you’ve never edited before and are lost in a maze of tutorials. Or maybe you’ve decided you want to become a video editor and are just getting started on your journey. This article is for you.
At the end of the article you can grab a free PDF download guide of this information on common video transitions. It is condensed down even further for easy consumption when you’re editing.
In case you’re new to Edit Video Faster, I’m Josh. I do most things around here. I’ve been a professional editor for more than a decade (phew, I’m getting old) and have been teaching what I know about video editing on the Internet since 2014. If you learn something from this article and want to stay-in-touch, please sign up for my email list. I typically email ~twice a month and never spam you with unnecessary stuff. Just tips and resources for becoming a better, faster, and more confident video editor.
Alright, let’s get into it.
Everyday Video Editing Terms Guide
The world of video editing can be a scary place if you are new to it. This guide will walk you through some everyday video editing terms and concepts that will be useful for any new editor.
This is not a comprehensive guide by any stretch of the imagination and is not meant to replace traditional training. This is a supplemental, super high-level guide and hopefully a step in the right direction for anyone new to video editing.
Finder and Mac OS Keyboard Shortcuts Every Video Editor Needs to Know
The following article and video tutorial discusses Mac OS keyboard shortcuts that every video editor needs to know. These are basic Mac Operating System functions (like tasks in Finder) that us video editors do probably hundreds of times a week.
When you make some of these everyday actions we do into keyboard shortcuts instead of moving the mouse around and having to click, you shave off seconds per hour, minutes per week, hours per month, and days per year during your editing sessions. These micro time saving tips will ultimately give you more time doing things outside of the edit bay or provide you with more opportunities to edit more videos so you can earn more income.
How to Change Duration of a Composition in After Effects
This tutorial is on how to change the duration or length of a Composition in After Effects.
My Remote Video Editing Setup During COVID
As I write this we’re in month number four of working from home. If you aren’t aware, for my 9-5 I’m a full-time video producer and project manager with some editing responsibilities sprinkled in. I’d like to share my simple remote video editing setup that I’ve had to create during the COVID quarantine.
Most Deadlines for Video Editors Are Sh!t
The majority of deadlines are not real and most people misrepresent the true meaning of them. To video editors with deadlines: read this.
A deadline is the last possible moment a project can be completed. This instance in time can only be for a handful of reasons (at least in the world of video creation):
- The video is literally airing, being broadcasted, or being presented at an event
- There is a legal contractual obligation
- …
That’s it. Two reasons. It’s being shown at an event or over the airwaves. Or you would be breaking a legal document. Any other justification is BS.
Traits of a Great Freelance Video Editing Client
Last week I had a new freelance video editing project come in. My #1 freelance writing client wanted a video created and turned to me to do the editing. Will they also be a great freelance video editing client?
I got going with it, working almost a full day over the course of a handful of nights and a Saturday morning. Then I got an email saying to stop working on the project and that they wanted to table it for a couple months while they work up a larger marketing campaign.
Well, damn. I spent almost a day on this thing and I’m going to have to wait to get paid until we complete the project…
But that didn’t happen. They told me to bill for the hours I’ve worked so far. The next day I had a few hundred bucks sitting in my PayPal account. Reasons like this are exactly why I love working with this company.
Sure, my project got put on hold and I made a fraction of what I would have otherwise but something happened outside of my point of contact’s control and they made good on the work that I got done and paid me immediately. These are traits of a great freelance client.
Below I’ve brainstormed a few more traits of a great freelance client, specifically for video editors. I’d love to hear your thoughts on this as well.
Naptime Blog Update
Since my son was born this summer I’ve found it difficult to find time for anything that doesn’t revolve around him, my wife, my dog, my 9-5, or the mountain of bottles I need to wash that seems to never disappear next to my sink.
For the past 6 ½ years I’ve been living separate lives from my home/office lives through my various blogs and online platforms. It’s disheartening to see my projects grow cobwebs.
After some self-reflection while a 17lb tiny human slept on my chest I realized I’m letting perfection and the size of what I want to create get in the way. In my mind I want everything I create to be near flawless and be of substantial length.