Video editing is the process of manipulating and rearranging audio and visual elements to create a final video product. Pro video editors use many techniques to make their videos look more polished and professional.

It’s important to know how to properly sync your audio with your footage and have a clear vision of what you want your video to achieve. Here are some of the video editing tips that pros use to make their videos stand out.

1. Mastering the art of storyboarding

In the video production industry, mastering the art of storyboarding is an essential skill that can help you create impactful videos that captivate your audience. Storyboarding allows you to visualize your ideas, plan the shots, and establish a coherent narrative flow for your video. It also improves collaboration and saves time and resources by serving as a blueprint for your project.

One of the most important tips for storyboarding is to keep it simple. Aim to convey the key actions and composition in each frame. Stick figures and simple shapes work well for this purpose, as they are easily recognizable and don’t distract from the narrative.

Another tip is to study the work of experienced storyboard artists. Watching professional videos and learning from their process is a great way to level up your own skills. However, it is important to remember that no artist draws exactly the same way. It’s best to focus on producing the best possible work that fits your style and personality. This is what will ultimately make you stand out from your peers.

2. Cutting on the action

The first step in the editing process is to create a clear vision or end goal for your video. This helps you be purposeful with your cuts, angles, and scenes so that the video flows naturally.

One of the best ways to do this is by cutting on the action. This involves transitioning between two shots during the movement of the subject, which masks the cut and gives the viewer a seamless transition. This technique is used to increase the energy and pacing of a scene and can also help to distract the audience from any continuity errors.

For example, if you're shooting a character reaching for a door knob, you might cut to a close-up shot of the hand just as it grasps the knob, which makes the transition between the shots less noticeable. This is called motivated cutting and can make a big difference in the overall feel of a scene.

To do this, you must have two clips with the same elements that you can match up on the screen – such as a hand motion or a centered character in each frame. This will ensure that viewers focus on the action in the clips rather than the edit, which will add a sense of consistency to your video.

3. Adding titles and lower thirds

Titles and lower thirds are a powerful tool that can add a polished, professional look to your video. They can be simple text overlays, or you can get creative with animation and contrasting colors. But most importantly, they should be clear and easy to read. The goal is to communicate important information without distracting the viewer or overwhelming them with visual elements.

Lower thirds are often used to display the name and title of people being interviewed or to provide information about the location of a shoot. They can also be used to display quotes, chapter titles, or social media handles. But regardless of what they’re being used for, well-designed lower thirds can make a big difference in audience retention.

Adding a lower third to your footage is simple. Just drag and drop a template to the timeline and customize the text using the property panel. This panel allows you to edit the text, font size and alignment, as well as choose a color for your text.

4. Adding music

Most videos serve a purpose such as communicating an idea, providing information, or creating an immersive experience. A good video editor is able to use subtle mood prompts like music or sound effects to connect with their audience.

Adding a background soundtrack to your videos is one of the easiest ways to make them more engaging. The soundtrack should synchronize with the pace of the visuals and reinforce the emotion you want to evoke in the viewer.

Many video editing programs have compiled libraries of copyright-free music specifically for this purpose. These tracks can be used with a simple click and are automatically adjusted to match the length of the video.

Apple's free iMovie app on the iPad, iPhone and Macbook has this feature built-in. You can easily choose your audio track from the music library, adjust its duration and record a voice over if you wish. Then save the finished video in your preferred format (MP4 for web, MKV for offline playback, or MOV for Apple devices). It's a fast and easy way to add a professional-sounding finish to your videos.

5. Adding effects

While it’s easy to think of video editors as lone-wolf, introverted individuals staring at their computer screens for hours, the truth is that good editing requires a good mix of creativity and technical skills. Whether you’re an experienced filmmaker or just starting out, the right video editing techniques can make a huge difference in the quality of your work.

The first editing technique to master is the art of cutting. Using cutaways to create dynamic movement in a scene is a great way to keep your viewer engaged. Changing up the camera angle to add variety to your footage can also be visually appealing.

Many video editing service/programs also allow you to apply color correction and grade your footage, giving it a more natural look or creating a specific mood. Be sure to use these features sparingly, however. Overusing them can make your footage appear unnatural and can detract from the overall quality of your film.

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