video editing Tag

2. Make It A Music Video

If you’re not a film and TV person, then try making your wedding video a music video. There are plenty of professional music videos for actual musicians that feature real-life weddings. So, why not do the same for your wedding video? Making a music video out of your wedding may save you time and effort, synchronising audios from different cameras, or trying to find the perfect soundtrack to a long ceremony. It’ll even save your audience from getting bored since a music video only lasts for roughly 3 minutes. That way they won’t have to sit through hours of footage, because you’ve included the entire wedding ceremony and reception, into your video.

Music videos are great highlight reels for your wedding! And if your video features the musician or band you used in your wedding, you might be able to negotiate royalties with them, should they decide to use it as promotion material for themselves. Moreover, you can create more, so that if you have more footage than the video can take, you can use other songs, and make your wedding videos more meaningful.

3. Use Video Diaries

One of the best things you can do is create video diaries, throughout the entire wedding process. So, record the process, from the engagement, all the way to the reception or the honeymoon, if you’re that daring. Use the most interesting parts of those video diaries to create a unique wedding video. It’ll take some courage, and some negotiation with family and friends, who might be shy, to get your face, and theirs in your videos, but once that fear is gone, you’ll be recording yourself every day.

By creating video diaries, you’re creating a record of all the emotions, hard work, happiness, and love that went into planning the wedding, and remind not only you, but everyone who watches it, just how much fun it can be, and inspire future generations to do the same.

4. Use Video Messages

If you want to make your wedding videos more meaningful and creative, then add video messages to them! You could set up a station, at your reception, and have a videographer film your guests, family members and friends who wish you love, joy, and happiness. They can be as long or as short as you want, and if you want to use footage that might not fit other areas of your wedding video, then use video or audio messages that could complement that footage. If that seems like too much, then let the bride and groom record a video message to each other! Nothing says I love you than a heartfelt message.

Video messages are very intimate and can captivate those who watch your wedding video. After all, they’re addressed directly to the bride and groom, and if they’re heartfelt enough, your audience might shed a tear or two.

Social Media Is Your Friend

If your videographer or photographer doesn’t capture your wedding day as perfect as you’d like, then why not try using footage from those who attended. You can be sure that your guests, both at the ceremony and at the reception, will have their own recordings of the big day, and if they’re tech-savvy enough, they’ll upload them to social media. So, why not use the shaky camera footage and random photos in your wedding video. It’ll make it unique, and intimate, because you know who took that video, and you can reminisce with them about the big day.

Your wedding video doesn’t have to be cinematically perfect, it’s up to you to decide what goes into the edit. If you’re all about the home video style, then trust your family and friends to capture it in that way, instead of professionals, because they have their own styles and techniques that won’t always fit the style you want.

Make A Plan

Before deciding what you want to add to your wedding video, make a plan first. Make sure you know exactly what you want out of your wedding video, and in what style you want it. It’s no good entrusting your videographer to do everything for you, because they’ll have a vision of what they want, instead of understanding what you need. So, ensure you know what you want in your wedding video, and make the right decisions, before entrusting the recording of the big day to someone else.

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3-Second Clips Are Vital

When it comes to shooting and editing your video, use clips that last 3 – 5 seconds long. What this does is make the video seem like a compilation of clips, rather than one long scene. This keeps your audience hooked because they’re so quick. Not only that, it’ll help with telling your story within that minute of video. Those short clips are vital in making sure your audience is watching. More often than not, your viewers will watch at least 5 seconds of a video, before clicking or scrolling away, so make sure that the first 5 seconds of your video is as interesting as it can be.

Use Cliff-hangers To Hook Your Audience

More often than not, a wider story can’t be told within a minute, so break your story down. Use your short videos to your advantage and tell a bigger story through them. Use cliff-hangers and “check out part 2” as a call to action at the very end, so that your audience will be instantly engaged. They’ll not only scroll through your feed, channel, or profile, they’ll subscribe so that they can keep up with the latest videos on your channel. Of course, cliff-hangers are also perfect for your longer videos, but make sure that you’ve left enough time at the end of your film, to establish the cliff-hanger. You don’t want to suddenly add one, just because you want your audience to revisit your profile.

Compile Your Videos For Youtube And Facebook

Another thing you can do, to ensure that your longer videos are being watched, create compilations of your shorter videos, for YouTube or Facebook. That way, if your YouTube subscribers, or Facebook followers, don’t have TikTok, they’ll be able to view the content you make, without having to download the app, and still be able to watch your videos.

Be Consistent

Don’t forget to be consistent with your uploads. Social media is all about being consistent and having frequently new content. Some of the best content creators out there upload at least twice a day, but if you’re starting out try and upload a video at least once a week, and they rarely stray from the pattern they’ve set themselves. The same can also be said for longer videos. More often than not, content creators on YouTube upload at least once a week, and as with TikTok, they rarely break from that routine. So, be consistent with your video uploads, have at least one or two videos ready for the weeks ahead, in case it takes time to film the next video.

Have A Plan

As with other content, like blog articles, social media posts and image uploads, you’ll need to have a content plan for your videos. This can be as simple as a schedule of what category of videos you’re uploading onto the Internet, or as detailed as a storyboard, or a concept breakdown. No matter how simple or detailed your plan, have one, so that you know exactly what you’re creating and what you’re uploading onto the Internet.

Make Sure Your Audio Is Well Defined

If you’ve watched TikTok videos lately, you’ll find that many of them have poor quality sound. They’ll have an echo that tells you how big the room they’re in is, or if they’re outside, the wind might cut through their audio. For those professional quality sounds, you’ll want to use microphones and a good sound editing programme, to ensure that the quality of your video’s sound is as crisp and clear as any feature film, TV show or documentary.

Get Started

If you’re thinking about creating videos for social media, especially for TikTok, then remember to start slowly. While the professionals can churn out 3 or 4 videos a day, chances are you’re still trying to figure out how to do what they’re doing. So, take your time and learn about the platform at your own pace. Start by posting up one video a week and see where that takes you. If you do have the resources to post up more videos in the week, then do so. It’s all about trial and error and what works for you.

Creating social media videos, or any sort of video requires time, skills, and effort. It also takes a lot of dedication, so be sure that you are willing to spend your time filming and editing your videos. If you post a quick video onto the Internet, without any sort of edit, you’re unlikely to get the leads you want. So, make sure you spend some time editing your video, to make it perfect for your channel, otherwise, you can outsource one. We at Cut Pro Media have experienced hands that can edit your social media for you, for a reasonable price. All they need is your concept and footage, and they’re good to go. Check out our price packages on our website and if you have any questions, we’ll be happy to answer them!

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Choose The Right Story

Every video has a story to tell, regardless of whether it’s a feature film, an advert, or a simple vlog. That means, your video needs a story. It can’t just be a showcase for your product or service, nor can it be a collection of images and footage. These types of videos are boring and will most likely be used as backdrops for an event, or as a screensaver. If you want to hook your audience, you need to have a good story, one that tells them who you are, what you do and why they need you.

That’s why it’s important to spend time figuring out what sort of story you want your videos to tell. And once you choose the right story, you’ll be able to brainstorm good ideas on how to tell it. Sometimes, all you need are two words to tell a story, and it is in those two words that your audience will be hooked.

Use Bold Visuals

By using footage and editing techniques that seem out of the ordinary, you’ll be able to hook your audiences. For example, a stunt coordinating company could use phone recorded footage of one of their stuntmen doing a seemingly impossible stunt as the opening to their video advert or even a documentary. Or a wedding planning company could use home video-style footage to showcase a wedding they planned. Or even a travel agent could use a POV styled shot of someone walking through the airport and boarding a plane.

These visuals are not only relevant to the industry they’re in, but they’re also eye-catching. After all, a phone recording of a stunt would make it seem like an amateur was impressed by it. The home video footage of the wedding could make the audience feel a sense of nostalgia, and even the POV shot of the airport can stimulate the desire to travel the world. So, make sure that you know what industry you’re in, and how you can visually stimulate the needs and wants of your audience.

Make Your Videos Unique With Editing

Editing is one of the biggest parts of the video-making process. It’s what connects your footage and creates the story. Other than the director or producers, the editor has the power to make your videos look amazing, and get your viewers hooked in the first 10 seconds. So, make sure you have a good editor, who knows how to make your story come alive. 

It’s very well-known in filmmaking that the editors are the ones who can make the worst footage look like the best storytelling vehicles in the world. They’re the ones that can add colour, animation, and visual effects to a seemingly boring piece of video. 

For example, if you’ve seen actors working with green screens, it looks like they’re play-acting, imagining a foe that isn’t there, but when you watch the final version of that same scene, the editors have not only created the backgrounds, they’ve also created that imaginary foe, and even added in extra effects onto the actor, to make it look like they’re fighting for their lives. So, don’t underestimate your editors. Let them know what you want, and they’ll ensure your footage becomes the best face for your company.

Rely On Us

As a video editing company ourselves, we can handle that last part for you. Our outsourced video editors will create the best videos for your company. We can ensure that no matter what industry you’re in, or what kind of video you’re making, your audience will be hooked to your videos within the first 10 seconds. So, if you need an advert, they’ll watch it all the way through, without realising they’re watching an advert. If you’re creating a feature-length film, we can use the best footage for your film’s opening sequence, and even if you need a wedding highlights editor, we can make sure that the first 10 seconds of that video will stir up those nostalgic feelings for those watching it.

Trust us. We can guarantee our editors will match the style of your company. All you need to do is tell us what you want, and we’ll make the video for you. So, if you’re interested, why not check out the service packages we have on our website? We can create nearly anything from adverts to feature-length films, and our prices are reasonable. So, you don’t have to negotiate contracts or selling fees. It’s all within the price packages that you’ve chosen. So go ahead and check it out now.

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Your Brand Name Will Be Remembered

If your advert is a constant on a person’s Facebook feed, or if your video’s algorithm ensures that it pops up on a person’s feed, then you can be sure that your brand will be remembered. You might not immediately get the lead you’re looking for, but if your video is a constant presence on a person’s feed, you’ll find that they’ll remember the advert, and consequently your brand’s name.

Not to mention, if your video advert doesn’t seem like an advert, and more like a video they want to watch, you can be sure that they’ll watch your advert through because they’re interested. So, be clever with your Facebook advert. Make a video that doesn’t make it seem like an advert, and more like an actual video.

It’s An Opportunity To Network

Even if you may not think so, creating video adverts for Facebook gives your company the opportunity to network with some of the biggest names in social media. If someone, important in the social media sphere, engages with your advert, you’ll find that they’ll generate the leads your company needs. In fact, you can safely say that their engagement is a free endorsement if they engage with you positively.

And soon, you’ll find yourself entering into contracts and sponsorship deals, if your engagements are successful. So, even if you may think they’re unnecessary, or useless, creating original Facebook video adverts can help your company’s profile in the long run, especially if you’re active on social media.

Inbound Marketing Means Niche Audiences

One of the reasons why creating Facebook video adverts are so important is that they are part of your inbound marketing schemes. That means your videos aren’t broadcasted to just anyone online. There’s a set algorithm for your videos. So, whatever metadata you add to your video, including keywords, categories, descriptions and so on, will help broadcast your advert to the right people.

Digital marketing isn’t just about sending out a message, it’s about sending out a message to the right people, and you can be sure that if you set up your video advert correctly, your advert and consequently, your company will be seen by the people you’re targeting. So, instead of getting only a few likes, comments, or views, your video adverts may get hundreds at a time.

Video Adverts Are One Of The Most Engaging Content Forms On Social Media

If you’re on social media, which part of your feed do you look at most? Guaranteed, it’s your video feed. Why? It’s because you can spend hours on end watching stories unfold in front of you. Even if it’s an advert, you’re watching a story. That’s why it’s important to create and use video adverts. It’ll draw people in, and even if it doesn’t, it at least catches their attention for a few seconds. 

Video content, no matter whether it’s an advert, or an actual piece of content for your company, is becoming the world’s number one form of media content that Internet users are consuming. So, take advantage of the rising numbers. Get your video adverts out there for potential customers to see. It’s not about sticking a piece of footage on your profile; it’s showing the world what your brand is about. So, be creative and bold.

Start Creating Your Video Adverts With Professional Help

You might think it’ll be difficult to create video adverts on your own, and yes, while it is difficult, that doesn’t mean there isn’t help out there. If you want to grab your customers’ attention, then you need help from masters of filmmaking art. So, contact professional filmmakers or filmmaking houses. Hire those directors, videographers, and editors. They’ll know what to do, and they’ll understand your vision. 

Here at Cut Pro Media, we’ll do half that work for you anyway! After all, we outsource our video editors, so you don’t have to worry about the quality of their work. We can guarantee they are experts at what they do. They’ve had experience in the field of video editing, no matter what style it is, and they’ll be able to create that unique brand image that you want to promote on social media. 

We’re not freelancers, and we won’t negotiate prices, because our prices are already set. All you need to do is choose which package suits your needs, send in your raw footage, and we’ll do the rest. You can be sure that we will create the best video adverts for your company, no matter what style, aesthetic, or story you want to tell. So, check out our products and services, we’re sure we’ll have the perfect one for you.

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2. Make Your Videos Memorable

A good advert is a memorable one. When you think of the big brands, you think about Coca-Cola Christmas, you think about the McDonalds whistle, you think about all those memorable slogans, those picturesque scenes as cars drive down a long and winding road, you think about those moving stories that seem more like short films than adverts. When it comes to creating the adverts themselves, you need to think about what your audiences will remember you for.

It’s not enough to create an advert that creates a catchy tune, or a tear-jerking story. You need to make that advert your own. Successful adverts create stories, or narratives, that always refer back to the company in subtle ways, and that’s exactly what you want to do. Of course, the opposite can also be true. If your company is big and bold, then your adverts need to be big and bold too. So, be bold with colour, create a catchy tune, or create animations and cartoons that capture your audience’s attention.

Whatever way you go, make sure your adverts are memorable. Don’t “make something up and put it out there”. Have a look at your advert yourselves, have a test run of it, and see how people react. If they’re hooked, you’ll know you’ve made an engaging advert. If not, you may need to start again. It’s not a “one size fits all” process, each advert is unique and will need unique processes. So, take your time and be meticulous about it because you don’t want your advert to be remembered for the wrong thing, like a political stance that might offend people or a racial slur that might stir the masses. Be sure that your adverts are memorable, and for the right reasons.

3. Make Them Interactive

While it might not yet be popular amongst companies, try it out! It’s an emerging technology that has already been used on mobile platforms, so why not include it in your YouTube adverts. Creating interactive adverts can help businesses get those leads from their audiences because it automatically hooks in their audiences. After all, while waiting for that “Skip The Ad” button, viewers might want something to do than stare at a screen for 5 or 15 seconds. So, by creating interactive adverts you’ll hook them in by giving them something to do. 

Think about all those games you play. When those pesky adverts come up, do you prefer the ones where you watch the advert play out, or where you can interact, play a game, or fill out a quiz? Chances are, you’ll want the latter, and while they might not be popular on YouTube yet, they are starting to grow, so keep your eyes peeled, you’ll find more interactive adverts popping up on your screen before your videos start to play.

Of course, the applications and services for these interactive adverts are few and far between right now, but if you know how to do your research, you might find one or two that are reliable. Granted the fees might not be ideal, but once your leads start flying through your doors, they won’t matter anymore, or you might find one that’s cheaper or more compatible with your company’s policies.

It’s About Trial And Error

While we’ve recommended these tips to you, remember that it’s all about trial and error. It takes a lot of creative minds and a lot of creative effort to create the perfect advert, and it doesn’t always happen. Sometimes, what you once thought of as memorable might become another “rock in the pond”. It could get lost amongst all the many adverts out there competing with you for the same audiences.

So, don’t always expect the first advert you make to be something that brings in those leads straight away. Some of the reasons why are that of the trends in the market and how your adverts are received. So, don’t be disheartened. Keep trying, and eventually, you’ll create those amazing and memorable adverts that people will even search up, on YouTube, as a video itself.

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Gather The Materials

When it comes to creating videos for your properties, you’ll need to gather the right materials for it. That means everything from the specifications, like dimensions, price, and living conditions, to images and footage of the property itself and the neighbourhood that surrounds it. You also need to make sure that you’re capturing the best views of the property and the area, so your potential buyers won’t be put off buying it.

For example, you don’t want to include garbage bags, or inappropriate behaviour in your images, it’ll devalue the property, and your audience will think that your property is in a bad area. So, make sure the media you capture gives your properties a boost. Dress up the property’s rooms, so potential buyers might have an idea of what they could do with space. Retouch the colours of your images and footage, so that the area the property is in, is as inviting and friendly as it can be. And make sure you’re showing the best angles of the property when shooting its outside space.

Be Consistent

It might be tempting to create individual videos for each property in your company’s profile, but as with everything else, consistency is key. Marketing properties to specific audiences are ideal but don’t forget that the property is under your company’s name. You don’t want to create a video that could look similar to another company’s, otherwise, potential buyers will mistake it for one of theirs, and you’ll lose customers. So, be consistent.

Make sure your company’s name is somewhere in your videos, otherwise, use colour schemes to help your audiences to remember your brand. More often than not, audiences associate certain colour palettes with certain brands, regardless of what products they make. Be sure your audiences know what your brand’s colour palette is and use that in all your videos so that the properties that you advertise will be recognised.

Don’t Overload Your Videos

Although gathering enough materials to showcase your properties can be a good thing, you need to remember not to overload your video with information and images. Remember, creating video content is about advertising your properties and the company itself. It’s like an overview of what you’re selling, and not the selling profile itself. So, while including information about the property and the neighbourhood is a good idea, including everything about it will overwhelm your audience.

You simply need to show them the basics of the property and neighbourhood, and if you’d like, add a “call to action” at the end. Tell them where they can find more information, and lead them to your company’s website, or get them into your offices. You don’t need to use the video to sell a property. In fact, it should only be the first step in making your audiences aware that it’s available, and if they’re interested, they’ll consider your company and its portfolio of properties to buy one.

Don’t Forget The Extras

Remember that video is a multi-sensory media format. It engages not only sight but sounds as well. So, don’t forget to add sound to your videos. Whether it’s a voiceover, music, or even sound effects, adding audio to your videos will help in attracting and engaging your audiences. It’ll help reinforce the information you’re displaying in the video, and adding a catchy tune to the video will give audiences something to listen to, while they pursue your property’s profile.

After all, a silent video is no better than a slideshow presentation. So, make sure you add sound and that it matches your company’s style and the video’s themes. You don’t want to use an epic soundtrack for your properties unless you’re trying to sell high tech or highly stylised properties. Most of the time, a simple jazz tune or an upbeat soundtrack will be fine and will work with the video content. So, be sure you know what your company’s style is, before adding audio to your videos.

You’re Not Alone

When it comes to creating video content for your properties, or your company, remember that you’re not alone. There are many video production and video editing companies, who can help you create the best video content for yourself. We, at Cut Pro Media, can offer high quality and timely video edits for you. All you need to do is give us the footage and the concept of your video content, and we’ll do the rest. We can match your video edit with the style of your company, and make sure that it’s up to the standards you’re looking for. So, check out our editing packages today.

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1. Define Your Video.

First, before you start searching for an outsourced video editor, define what kind of videos you want to create. Sometimes, if you don’t know what type of video you’re making, your video editors won’t either. After all, they weren’t there when you started planning the video, so they don’t understand what your vision is. So, before you send off your footage to any video editor, whether outsourced or freelance, make sure they know what to expect. Define what type of video you’re expecting, so that your editor knows exactly what they need to make.

2. Do Your Research

Before you dive head-first into finding a video editor, make sure you know where to actually look. Many websites will offer outsourced or freelance editors, and it can be very tricky to find the right company that do outsource video editors. After all, some websites will offer “outsourced” video editors, when in actual fact, they’re freelancers. 

Remember freelance can mean anywhere from companies offering their video editing services, to individuals collaborating with you on your project. These freelancers can change their minds about the services they offer, and they may increase the prices of their services, according to the changes you might make, or changes they think are necessary. That’s why you need to know the difference between freelance and outsource.

Outsourced video editors are nothing like freelance editors. They won’t have an opinion on your videos and will edit them according to your style and needs. For example, if you’re a wedding video production company, outsourced video editors will make sure that the style of their edit complies with the theme of the wedding itself or the theme that you’ve specified.

Essentially, outsourced video editors will match your style, and edit your video according to your criteria. All you have to do is provide the footage and the concept you’re after. They’ll do the rest of the work, including fixing your footage if need be.

3. Communicate With Your Editor

Once you’ve decided which company or which editor you’re going to work with, don’t forget to communicate with them. Some outsourced editors will have expertise and skills in one form of video editing or another. Make sure you choose the right editor with the right editing techniques for your video. For example, you might need an editor for a feature film and an editor for a company promotional video. So, be sure you know what editing techniques your editor has, so you can create the right style of video.

You should also communicate with your video editor if there are any changes you need to make. For example, you might find some footage that you forgot to send to them, and you want to add that footage into your edit. Tell your video editor about it, and they’ll do the best they can to work that footage in.

4. Don’t Forget To Pay

While outsourced video editors rely on third-party companies, don’t forget to pay the amount you’ve agreed on. Just because the company sets a price doesn’t always mean it’s a one-time pay-out. Sometimes it is a full-on investment project. So, you’ll need to determine how you’re going to pay and in what way, whether you pay them daily, weekly, or monthly, or if you’re going to pay them by the hour. 

Be aware of what your financial options are, and make sure you understand how their payment schemes work. That way you won’t be hit by any hidden surprises or expenses. Of course, your research should already alert you to the financial systems that are in place, but if you’re not sure, always ask. Companies who outsource their video editors will try to be as transparent as they can be, so you’ll always find a straightforward answer if your initial research is missing that detail.

Trust Our Editors

Here at Cut Pro Media, we outsource our editors, and we ensure that our services are always high quality. You won’t be disappointed. Our editors can guarantee that your video edits will be delivered in a timely manner and will always fit within the scope of your video’s concepts. We can match your style and ensure that they will edit the best quality videos for you and your clients. Our prices are on our website and include the services that we will provide for each price. We can create videos from simple social media promotional material to full-on feature films, and even wedding highlights videos. If you’re interested, check out the packages we provide on our website, and if you have any further questions, we will be happy to answer them.

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Be Mindful Of The Icons

First and foremost, remember that you’re in a church. There will be icons, statues, figurines, and many decorative vases, flowers, and delicate artworks around the building. Be mindful of them, because if you’re not careful, you will knock over a priceless piece of art, even if they’re just a bunch of flowers. Often, volunteers, congregation members and even the church’s staff will have set up those decorations, mostly for worship purposes.

In any case, use a few extra runners or crew members to help you in case you’re using a moving shot. That way, you won’t knock over a piece of artwork, they can guide you around those valuable pieces, and stop you, if you’re getting too close to them. Not only that, make sure you rehearse and plan out your shots before the day of the shoot. If you’re filming a special occasion, like a wedding, attend the rehearsals, when the bride and groom are being walked through the ceremony, so you know where to set up your equipment. That way, you can avoid knocking over the decorations, and still get the shot you need.

Cooperate with Church Officials

As with any public gathering spaces, there are rules you need to follow. Not only that, but churches are considered sacred spaces, so you need to make sure you don’t do anything that can be considered sacrilegious. Sometimes those who run the church might appoint officials, to help guide your film shoot, so you don’t overstep your boundaries. If that is the case, consider their advice, and listen to them. They know what to do, and how you can avoid disrespecting any congregation members, if there are any present, during your shoot.

Plan Ahead

For most on-location shoots, you’ll need to plan ahead, and shooting in a church is no different. If you need the church to be empty, while you’re shooting, then you need to contact its staff members, so they know, negotiate the use of their church with them, and whether it is feasible to shoot, for an entire day, week, or month. Be sure you don’t disrupt their schedules, as some churches might not be flexible, such as with Catholic churches. There are certain masses and days of obligation that they cannot and will not miss out on. So, be prepared to negotiate and rearrange the days and times of your shoot.

Noise Travels

If you’re shooting for a special occasion, like a wedding, remember that in every church, noise travels easily. The acoustics of a church make it so that a priest can still be heard, even if they’re not wearing a microphone. So, if you’re shuffling around or if you’re taking photos, you might disturb those who are attending the ceremony. Make sure that when you’re moving about or taking photos, you do so, as discreetly as possible. Try not to draw attention to yourself, and be as quiet as possible, if not for the sake of the ceremony, then because you’re in a sacred space. Remember, churches are places of worship and require a good deal of respect, so be as quiet as you possibly can.

Use Microphones

As mentioned before, churches are built so that the priest’s voice can be amplified, for those congregation members at the back of the church. Use recording microphones when filming, so that the echo, and the murmuring effect that your camera’s footage captures won’t affect your video’s final edit. If you don’t, then it will be very difficult to hear what the priest is saying, or what your actors are saying, when you put it through postproduction. You’ll need specialised equipment to separate the audio from the echo, and even then, it still won’t be very clear. So, make sure that whomever you’re filming, they have microphones on them. It’ll save you time and effort when you’re editing your videos.

Use The Right Software

Finally, when you’re editing your video, remember to use the right video editing software. Depending on what type of video you’re making, you’ll need specialist equipment, especially if you’re using special animations, text, and visual effects. Not every video editing software can accommodate these effects, and while it might seem useful to use online editing software, they are not always well equipped for a specialised video. 

For example, if you’re editing a themed wedding video, you don’t want to use any available visual template, you’ll need to create and imitate the theme of the wedding. Thus, you’ll need software technology like Adobe After Effects, or Adobe Animate. So, make sure you have the right applications and software to edit your videos.

Be Smart, Use Professionals

If in doubt, always trust professional advice. Whether it’s from the church officials themselves, or if you’re hiring a video production crew, trust their opinions and observations, because they’ve all had some experience when it comes to filming in churches, even if it’s for a wedding highlights video. Listen to what they have to say so that when your footage hits the editor’s desk, it’ll be easier to edit. There won’t be any need to fix anything, especially the audio, because you’ve come well prepared.

Here at Cut Pro Media, we can ensure that your footage and audio recordings will definitely be put to good use and that you walk away with the best video edit your footage and recordings can offer. And even if you don’t have audio recordings, we will do our very best to edit your footage, so that you can walk out with a high-quality video edit.

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Time Is Everything

First, you’re paying for a video editor’s time, for the most part, because it takes a while to edit a video. Even a 5-minute short film can take a day or two if your footage requires a lot of cleaning up. Even adding special effects, like animation or green screen replacements can take a while to make, especially if your editor needs to make them from scratch. That’s why freelance video editors will charge a lot, the fees are for the time it takes to edit a good and comprehensive video.

Furthermore, the length of the video will also determine part of the cost. The reason why is that the longer the video, the more time your video editor needs to work on it. Not only that, if you’re working on a feature film, you’ll need to bring on a team of editors, which can add to the cost of the edit. And even though one editor may be brought on to fix one clip, they’ll still need some form of payment, especially if it’s for a major project. A credit in the film won’t be enough, and you’ll have to fork out a hefty sum just to appease them. So, keep in mind that the longer your video is, the more you’ll have to pay.

It’s All About The Workload

Many times, filmmakers, even big names, think that everything will be “ok in Post”. What that means is, when they make mistakes in the shoot of a film, the editor will fix it, no matter how bad the mistake is. While there are many mistakes a video editor can fix, there are some that can’t be fixed (think about the Game of Thrones blunder a few years ago). That’s why it’s important to know how much work you’re going to give your editor. 

If they’re going to fix small spots, like changing the position of a prop, or doctoring a clip to fit within a scene, most of the time it wouldn’t take much effort. But, if your footage has a lot of these errors, you’re increasing their workload, thus increasing their fees. After all, if you signed on a video editor to simply put the video together, then fixing your footage isn’t in their contract. Soon hidden fees will start popping up and you’ll hurt your budget. So, when shooting your video, plan for any mistakes you might make, and try to eliminate them before you send your footage to your editor.

Account For Experience

If you’re working with freelancers, you never know how much their experience fees will be. They can be anything from free to thousands of dollars. If you’re looking for experienced editors, who know what they’re doing, they might end up being at the top end of the scale. So, unless you have a budget of millions of dollars, you won’t be able to afford them. Despite that, there are still some good editors who can be affordable. You only need to know where to look, of course, unless you already know a good editor, it can be difficult to find them, on your own. That’s why it’s important to get to know how good they are. Ask them to show you their previous works, interview them and see whether they’ve received any formal training or they’re self-taught. By getting to know how well they work, you’ll know the quality of videos you’ll get, and it’ll justify the prices they’re offering.

In-House Or Remote

Where your video editor works is also important and you should consider this when you’re hiring them. Sometimes having in-house editors, or editors who work with you, face-to-face, can be more expensive. You’ll need to figure out the cost of travel, even food and drink, and equipment and software if you’re providing them. Working remotely, or online is a much easier option since everything can be shared over the Internet, via cloud systems, or through file transfer websites. The only problem with that is the fact that you can’t supervise them, as they work. So, you’ll have to content yourself with whatever they’ve made.

Outsource Or Freelance

The last thing you need to think about is whether you can outsource your video editors, or if they’re freelance. Usually, freelancers can add on extra charges, even if they’re for minor fixes which you could do yourselves. However, outsourced video editors won’t do that since their charges are fixed. So, before deciding to scour the Internet for experienced freelance video editors, try searching for outsourced video editors first. Guaranteed their prices are fixed and will be experienced, if not with previous formal training, then the company who’s hired them will train them, themselves. By choosing outsourced video editors, you won’t need to negotiate prices or editing styles, they’ll match their editing styles to suit your needs. 

Here at Cut Pro Media, we outsource video editors for less than $100 and depending on what videos you need, there won’t be any extra hidden costs that could break your budget. All our video editors are experienced and will be able to fix your footage, even if there are minor mistakes. Not only that, they’ve all had formal training, so you can rest assured that they already know what they’re doing.

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Consolidate With Your Crew And Client

Before you start shooting, you need to make sure everyone, both your clients and those on your crew, know exactly what you’re shooting.  It is no good turning up on the day of a shoot, without knowing what you’ll be shooting, and eventually, the day will be wasted in negotiating where, when, and how you’re shooting your video.

It’s important that you know where to set up your cameras, to get the perfect angle for a shot, especially if you’re filming live events, such as weddings or ceremonies. The officiators won’t and can’t wait as a ceremony takes place, for you to reset your angles, because you messed up, and it’s even more vital that they continue, when they have a large crowd watching, like at a concert or a gig.

That’s why you need to plan with your client and crew before the shoot. It’ll not only give your crew the chance to suggest where to place your cameras, but it’ll remind your clients exactly where to stand and what to do when the time comes.

Plan For The Edit

Another thing you should consider before you start shooting is the edit itself. That means, you should already have the video already made up in your mind, which your client and crew should know about as well. One of the best ways to show them what you want to film is through visual aids, like storyboards. Storyboards are not just useful for fictional films, but it’s also a great aid for documenting live events. 

When you provide a storyboard to your client and crew, it shows them that you already know what to do on the day of the shoot. It not only helps you plan where to place your cameras, but it will also help give your clients an idea of what their videos will look like.

By planning for the edit, your clients and crew will have a better understanding of what you will be doing on the day of the shoot. So, even if you’re zipping about, all over the place, they won’t be too worried about it, because they know you’re only checking up on either your crew or your equipment.

Make A Shot List

Shot lists are essential when you’re filming. It reminds you where you want to position your camera, and what shots you’ve planned for a scene or a segment of the video. If you’re shooting a fictional film, and you’re trying to get every angle you can possibly get, of the scene, you will definitely need a shot list so your crew can set up the shot, so it matches the takes you’ve taken before.

Similarly, when you’re shooting a live event, a shot list will provide you with a clue for your camera setups, and where your crew are meant to be standing, where they’re meant to point their cameras at, and what it is they’re shooting. For example, if you’re shooting a wedding, and you have a crew of three videographers, including yourself, you don’t want everyone standing at the altar, shooting the bride and groom. You’ll want someone shooting the congregation or shooting the bride and groom from a different angle. 

That’s why it’s important to have a shot list on hand, a professional videographer knows where to set up his equipment and make sure it’s not in the way of a scene or event.

Keep An Eye On Time

When shooting a film, make sure you keep an eye on the schedule of the shoot. If you’re shooting a fiction film, your cast and crew will get tired, especially if the shoot is longer than 12 hours. Always let your cast and crew have a break, especially around lunchtime. You don’t want to have an irritated actor spewing off lines when they’re cranky. Make sure you give them a full hour before you need to start filming again, and even factor in a few 5-minute breaks in between takes, so they can get some air. It’s not always easy for an actor to embody a character and it can be draining.

Of course, if you’re filming events like weddings and ceremonies, remember to work with their schedule too. Just because you think you didn’t get a certain shot, it doesn’t matter, you can always replace it with something else. Remember, you’re working on someone else’s schedule, not yours. So, if you miss that “perfect shot” you will have to content yourself with it and hope that someone else on your crew or one of your camera setups caught it.

Even if you want that “perfect video” remember that not all videos and films are perfect. Even Hollywood directors have had to delete their favourite scenes, in favour of their schedule.

Never Stop Learning

Even if you think your shooting style is professional enough, never stop learning and asking for advice. Chances are when you ask, you’ll find new styles, new techniques, and inventive ways of shooting a film. Not to mention, you’ll meet other professional videographers along the way, and they’ll definitely have a few experiences that might give you inspiration for your next shoot. Or, if nothing else will work, sign up for a filmmaking course, whether it’s a short course to help boost your confidence or an actual degree, you will always find ways to improve your filming styles, no matter how far you are in your career as a professional videographer.

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