How to Edit a Video: 5 Techniques For 2023

Updated: June 2023

The 21st century has seen an explosion of technology and platforms that have made it easier to create and distribute videos. With so many videos out there, it is important to learn some basic video editing tips for beginners so that your video stands out.

Enrolling in the videographer programs at our Media Schools in Ohio, Illinois, Colorado or Florida can help you perfect these video editing tips and tricks that can help your videos gain an audience.

Use Cuts Wisely

The standard cut is the most common and it connects frames together in a simple, straightforward flow. It is perfect for those scenes when no form of transition is required.

If you are filming a scene with a jump forward in time, use the jump cut because this creates forward motion within the story. For example, shooting a cannon firing and then cutting right to the point where the shell impacts the target.

Master the Montage

Montages are a series of quick cuts that are perfect for showing a story’s progression without having to go into too much detail for each stage of that progression. This makes them perfect for showing a character acquiring skills such as athletes or soldiers training for months or years on end without having to focus on every aspect of that process.

Cut in on the Action

It is common for a videographer to use this trick when they want the viewer to focus on the action on screen. The action event, such as a door opening or a gun firing triggers a shift in the camera focus and angle. This engages the viewer and cues their need to pay attention to the scene.

Cutaway Shots

Cutaways are some of the most important video editing tips and tricks to master. They give depth to the story by shifting focus from the characters and placing it on the scene. This creates context and allows for the introduction of foreshadowing such as leaves falling, snow blowing, clouds forming, etc.

Match Cuts

Match cuts make it possible for you to make giant leaps in time or geography. For example, using the blowing out of a match and the smoke plume that develops to shift the scene from a crowded bar to the blowing sands of the desert.

These video editing tips for beginners are just some of the things you will learn to master at Media Schools in Ohio, Colorado, Florida, and Illinois.

We invite you to contact us to learn more about our programs and the video editing tips and tricks we teach our students to utilize. We will be happy to answer your questions and help you take your first steps toward becoming a professional videographer.