People looking for work are starting to pursue freelance opportunities, with freelance video editing regularly being cited as one of the most desirable options. According to figures, roughly two thirds of people use the internet regularly, and the vast majority of them prefer when information and data are displayed in the form of videos. A sharp increase in interest has caused a surge in video content such as YouTube videos and Instagram reels in the content production sector. These videos have been altered and augmented with visual effects to draw in the most number of viewers. Many content creators take care of editing their videos, but numerous of them choose to hire freelance video editors to do the job.
Who is a freelance video editor?
The task of a freelance video editor is to compile raw, unedited video footage and arrange it in a compelling way. A freelance video editor puts their own individual mark on the material, making it attractive to the audience. Freelance video editors work together with content developers, narrators, and businesses that want to deliver top-notch video material to their subscribers and followers. They should possess skills such as:
- If you want to pursue a career as a freelance video editor, then you must obtain adequate knowledge about the software and other techniques needed for video editing.
- You need to invest in a good quality computer and a hard drive to store all the edited videos and raw footage.
- A freelance video editor should be an excellent communicator as they need to understand the requirement of the client.
- You would also need to work on your problem-solving skills as every project is unique and would require different approaches to get the desired quality of the video content.
Hone Your Video Editing Skills and Perfect Your Expertise
If you’re familiar with the fundamentals of video editing, then start by figuring out your strengths and enhancing them. For certain individuals, it will be straightforward to determine what they enjoy and should build upon. It depends on what tasks they are assigned to for some people. The primary focus should be to identify an area of expertise to advertise the employment sites.
There are many different educational outlets and methods of learning how to do video editing. Capitalize on the free classes accessible, yet when you choose to dive profound and truly ace cutting edge abilities, contribute the important cash and energy.
Here are some ideas for you to take forward:
Learn Video Editing Skills Online
It is not necessary to possess a Bachelor’s degree to be a successful video editor today. If you’re determined to acquire the ability, have a natural gift for it, and have both the time and motivation to do it, then Google can help you. You can find numerous websites and materials online so you can improve your video editing abilities.
Video Editing Is a Creative Skill
Editing videos is a complex task that requires both technical proficiency and the capability to make creative decisions. How can you collaborate with creative individuals if you don’t have the means to edit raw footage with software? It takes great skill and accuracy to blend the shots taken from multiple scenes together while adding visual effects and adjusting the colors. Do you require technical knowledge to remove undesirable items from your valuable footage without jeopardizing a good take? You have to guarantee that the ultimate result is aligned with sound and length when editing it to attain perfection.
A video editor needs to have a creative side as well as technical proficiency in order to thrive. When editing a video, it is necessary to use your creativity in order to make it captivating and engaging. All videos tell a story while exploring themes and trying to accomplish certain goals. Every editor has a distinct and singular manner of doing things, stemming from their natural creative abilities. Occasionally, video editors attempt to mirror their successful role models or rivals, but creativity can’t be reproduced without some changes.
Rather than attempting to replicate the approaches used by other editors, concentrate on grasping the narrative of the particular piece. Discover a distinctive technique of presenting it, and use the basic material that your clients provide to you to locate a solution. As you are a travelling professional, you will likely experience more than what your customers will. Hence, take advantage of occasions for movement and make the most of them to complete what might be absent from your customers’ raw video footage.
A digital nomad who is a video editor needs to have an expertise in camera operation and an external hard drive with plenty of room to store footage and photos taken while on the move. Take pictures and record videos of the fascinating scenery, cultures, and experiences that come along with being a digital nomad. They could assist you in incorporating stylish components to videos in order to improve the visuals, changes, and ideas of the stories that you need to present when modifying customers’ videos.
Having a knack for video editing necessitates having an awareness of how emotions differ according to different cultures. Using the juxtaposition tool can be a very effective way to make a video more powerful with visuals and literature. Figuring out which parts of a video should be included and which should be omitted requires creativity. Video editing is like sculpting in that an editor begins with a huge amount of footage, and they must trim back much of it to create a work of art. The cutting involves audio, images, and video.
At times, your customers will be dependent on your imagination to lessen their costs for making videos while still getting believable narrative effects. As a video editor, you can suggest activities that would be costly or require new cast members by using video cut edits. You can portray a couple flirting and being intimate with each other, and then abruptly end the sequence.
Subsequently, illustrate the couple shortly after the experience. Usually, you need to rely on musical pieces or other powerful audio effects to create the desired emotion in transitions. Rather than employing complex camera techniques and gruesome post-production effects, simply cutting away parts of the story can produce an strong and straightforward effect.
Creative editors can also create montages by combining multiple images. There is an illusion of turmoil and tranquility even though everything is actually stationary. Video editors can employ montage to create majestic visuals that would normally be impossible within their budgetary limits. When you have acquired the ability to edit videos creatively, customers will be eager for you to work for them, since they need awesome videos but at a reduced cost.
A video editor must possess strong creative visualization abilities in order to possess the necessary skills. Seeing colors and hearing sounds as numerical values and pictures is necessary. When viewing uncut video, it is essential to comprehend the desired emotions and to employ color grading to further reflect them.
Continuously Learn New Things about Video Editing
It is essential to be cognizant that the process of video editing is continually changing and staying abreast of the most up-to-date technology. Consistently advancing software and hardware developments mean that video editors now have the opportunity to manage tasks which were once unthinkable. Sometimes they discover new methods to do the same things they could do before, but with faster results, saving both time and money. Innovation never ceases; likewise, one’s progress in acquiring knowledge should never stop. If you wish to secure regular freelance video editing assignments as a digital nomad, it is imperative that you stay on top of learning new things concerning the craft.
Invest in Advanced Tools
You need to have a computer that is sufficiently powerful to be able to handle software that is fully functional in order to do video editing. A tremendous amount of memory is essential for keeping the original files of uncut video shot and fully rendered clips in high resolution and premium quality. So, you need to acquire powerful computing capabilities and supplemental external memory. You won’t require any desktop computers seeing as you are a digital nomad. Laptops will be your potion.
It is essential for you to obtain a camera to take advantage of the opportunity of living as a digital nomad. Gather valuable video clips that you can use in your video production projects and make your customers happy. In addition, these are some of the finest video editing programs that you might put money into for superior operation.
- Adobe Premiere Pro
- Lightworks
- VSDC Free Video Editor
- Corel VideoStudio Pro
- Apple iMovie
- OpenShot
- HitFilm (Express and Pro)
- Filmora from Wondershare
Build your online portfolio
Freelance video editors need to assemble a compelling online portfolio that showcases their most impressive work. A compilation of one’s accomplishments over time is referred to as a portfolio. Having an impressive selection of work to show makes it simpler to make contact with potential customers and promote your services. Many websites can be used to create a portfolio for video editing like:
Name of the Website | Features |
SquareSpace | Customized templates auto-play feature customizable video gallery |
Wix | You have access to an unlimited number of video portfolio templates. Upload high-definition video and personalize the videos to meet the desired frame rate and player size. |
Site123 | An interface that is easy to use, as well as simple templates that do not require too much editing, making it perfect for those just starting out. |
Freelance video editors can choose to stick to just one type of editing and showcase it in their portfolio, or experiment with a variety of editing styles and build a more diverse portfolio. Nevertheless, they must devise an astute plan of action that is flexible in both cases.
How to find freelance video editing jobs: 4 easy ways
After gaining experience in a particular kind of video editing, the next thing to do is to find employment opportunities in the field. A freelancing video editor may choose to work on individual tasks for many different customers or sign a long-term agreement with one customer for a number of different jobs. The article aims to discuss some of the popular ways to find a job as a freelance video editor:
Join a channel for Freelancers on Slack
Slack is quickly gaining popularity as a fresh approach to communication in a professional setting. Slack is designed to be a communication tool for companies and their clients. It provides a means of communication between various businesses and their prospective clients. It is believed that communication through means other than email is both more secure and more effective. A freelance video editor can follow the following steps to search and join a channel on Slack that is exclusively for filmmakers and video editors:
- The freelancer can browse all the channels listed in their workspace and then select the name of the channel that they wish to join.
- Then select the channel and preview its details.
- Then click on the tab “Join Channel.”
Attend networking events specifically for video editors
Attending gatherings hosted by video editors and filmmakers is another approach to getting work as a freelance video editor. Attending these activities is an excellent opportunity to connect with professionals in your desired field of work. Attending networking gatherings give freelancers the possibility of displaying their gifts and make it simpler to offer to would-be customers. These events can be searched online on some of the below-mentioned websites:
Be Active on Linkedin and other job boards
Creating a strong online presence is essential for a freelance video editor to enhance the trustworthiness of their projects. Technology is the driving force behind the job market, making the application process much easier. Employment search websites such as Linkedin, Indeed, and Glassdoor give job aspirants the opportunity to show off their skills and draw attention from bosses. A video editor who works for themselves can reach possible clients and businesses through Linkedin by setting up a page and frequently updating it. They can follow some simple steps to keep their profile active:
- Post articles and details about your work regularly.
- Send cold emails to prospective businesses and individuals explaining your work and expertise.
- Interact with profile visitors and advocate for your work.
- Don’t hesitate to make new connections and interact with them regularly.
Create work profiles on gig-centric websites
Applying for temporary assignments or jobs on freelance websites is an excellent way to increase your online presence. This way, you would be able to build up credentials for your work and also increase your sense of certainty. There are many online platforms that the freelancer can choose from and create an account through which they can apply for projects, such as:
- Upwork
Upwork is a popular and well-regarded website that enables people to locate remote job opportunities all over the world. The service fee amounts to approximately 20% of the revenue generated from the users.
- Fiverr
On Fiverr, freelancers can showcase their accomplishments and specify a range of fees they’re willing to accept for work. Businesses offer a price on tasks, and self-employed workers are able to apply for the project in accordance with these bids.
- People per Hour
One of the most prominent websites for freelancers is People per Hour – they can showcase their skillsets in their portfolios and apply to jobs posted there. Freelancers can make their profiles even more attractive to potential customers by adding offers on them.
- Mandy
Mandy is a widely used source of information containing job listings related to film and video production. This program is specifically created for those wanting to be self-employed video editors and any other related professions.
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