10 VIDEO EDITING HABITS TO GIVE UP

Videomaker by Chris Gates

It's easy to get into a routine when video editing and as a result form some habits, and not necessarily good ones. Video editing is an art form with rules, or more realistically guidelines, that help define the difference between what's good and what's bad. Even though what is considered good or bad for video editing is subjective and somewhat arbitrary, there are some basic principles that can be followed to help make a video successful. When bad habits break the rules there's trouble to be found. Here are 10 video editing habits to give up as the New Year rolls around.

1. Winging It
A lot of creative people like to wing it, take things serendipitously and let a project unfold as they work on it. This is a habit that's easy to fall into as a video editor, footage shows up and the editor sorts it out as they go. The danger lies in the fact that a project may consume more time than necessary when a video editor is winging it, and they run the risk of missing the point. Instead of shooting from the hip, be prepared and make a plan. Learning to have a few contingency plans that can apply to multiple projects will a make a video editor more productive and help them to stay on task.

2. Scaling It Up
The excitement of a new project is exhilarating and it's easy to jump right into the mayhem of video editing. This is the problematic habit of starting before the project's ready. To avoid it, know what the goal of the project is and most importantly, know the deliverables. Ask, "How is this project going to be delivered? How long should it be? At what resolution and format does it need to be?" A project that runs too long and is in the wrong format presents a world of problems that are avoidable with some simple knowledge up front. read more...