Recording your videos are just the first step in making great content. Once you’ve got the right gear and learned the tips and tricks to filming, the next step is editing those videos. Even if you have fantastic ideas, they can fall flat if your editing doesn’t cut it.

Editing is important for a lot of reasons. You want to ensure you’re telling a story, and editing your clips can help you do that. You also want to make sure your content is consistent, and that you’re putting your best look forward. With your editing, you also want to keep in mind the length of the videos, as well as the formats you will need for different platforms. For example, your Instagram videos need to be 60 seconds or less, preferably in a 1:1 or 4:5 ration, whereas your Facebook videos can be longer and work better in a 2:3 or 3:2 ratio.

Below, we outline our recommendations for video editing.

On your phone

VSCO - apple and google play

VSCO was introduced as a photo editor but has grown to support video as well. The editing VSCO offers for video is fairly basic, but can be helpful for quick mobile edits. You can adjust your color balance, and use VSCOs filters to add some creativity. VSCO offers both a free and paid version.

Videoshop - apple and google play

Videoshop is a relatively simple program that offers more effects than VSCO and allows you to add music to your videos as well. Since Videoshop is made for video, it is more robust than VSCO. However, if you don’t have the pro version, your videos will be watermarked.

iMovie - apple

iMovie is a very powerful and extremely easy to use tool to edit videos. It is available on Mac, iPhone, and iPad. It would be my #1 recommendation for those who have little experience with video editing.

LumaFusion - apple

A more advanced video editor for your phone or tablet. It is extremely powerful and rivals the features of professional desktop software like Premiere Pro, Final Cut, and Resolve. For the more advanced user who wants to get the most out of their videos. LumaFusion is also available for the iPad.

On your computer

If you don’t have a smart phone (maybe you’re still on the Motorola Razr bandwagon), or if you just prefer more features and larger screens, you can try these options on your computer.

Adobe Premiere

Close to industry standard. It has a steep learning curve but is extremely widely used. It is extremely easy to find tutorials for it online. One Big Downside, it is only available with a monthly subscription.

Filmora

Filmora is relatively new to the editing scene. It has a free and paid version and is very easy to edit. This would be my recommendation for people new to video editing who use a PC or Android device.

iMovie - Apple Only

We covered iMovie in the mobile section, but it is great for beginners and those just starting to look into editing.

Davinci Resolve - Windows Only

Free but very complex. It has a very steep learning curve but is extremely powerful. It is used in professional studios across the world for editing feature films. Fantastic if you want a powerful software without breaking the bank, and you are willing to put in the time and effort to learn.

Outsourcing editing

Maybe you’ve decided that editing just really isn’t for you, and that’s okay! You can outsource your editing. There are a few things you’ll want to keep in mind when doing this, though.

First of all, not all editors are on the same level. What I mean by this is, every editor has their editing style and their own techniques. A good rule of thumb is to always ask for a portfolio or other works they have edited, so you can see if they will be a good fit for you.

You also want to give them plenty of details. Let them know what platforms your video is for, the style of video you’re going for, what your goal with the video is, and if you can, send them examples of other videos that you really like. This helps the editor get a better idea of what you’re looking for, and cuts back significantly on the number of revisions you need, which will save you time and money.

If you read our 8 tips for improving your video blog post, the questions you are answering before beginning filming are all things you’ll want to pass on to an editor to ease the process.

UpWork and Fiverr are two of the go-to sites to look at, especially for those on a budget. Buyer beware though, you get what you pay for on these sites. Some editors are better than others, and some will require a lot more instruction. But, if you’re in a pinch or you working with a small budget, these sites are definitely worth a look. You can also choose to work with local companies or other small businesses. If you’re interested in editing services, feel free to reach out to us here at Changeover Media. We offer editing services as well as filming.

A few basic tips

Once you begin editing, there are a few things you’ll want to do to really help your videos look more polished and professional.

First, you want to pay attention to color correction. Each program has its own way of doing this, but you’re basically going to be looking at the color balance(or white balance) in your video. You want to make sure your whites are white, not tinted blue or yellow. If your shot is too warm or cool, it can throw off the entire look of the video.

You may also want to consider adding music. Quiet music in the background of your videos can add that little extra touch and can help if you get some background noise while filming. Make sure you’re using music that you have the rights too, though. There are many local artists you can buy rights from, and plenty of stock music sites out there to choose from.

We use SoundStripe, which we settled on after bouncing around a few different sites over the years, and it is by far the best service we’ve used. If you follow this link, you can get 10% your subscription. Their packages are incredibly affordable, starting at $15 per month.

Above all else, keep your edits simple, especially when you’re starting out. It’s so easy to ruin a great video by overusing editing techniques or trying to add too many effects/transitions that just don’t make sense.

If you would like to see our recommended gear list, hop over to our previous blog post and see what we suggest for getting started.

We hope this article will help you as you continue to improve your content creation skills. If you have questions, other recommendations, or if there’s another topic you’d like to see us cover, let us know in the comments below or on our social platforms.

Video Editing: The Tools You Need to Get Started