Many beginner editors hit a particular ceiling: their footage is decent, their software is capable, yet the final output still seems like something isn’t quite right. Nothing wrong, but not right either. The problem is not with their technical abilities: it has everything to do with their editing decisions. Edits that are polished and professional are not about layering more effects or using more sophisticated plugins, but about being consistent, focused and not adding more than you need.
The most important factor in keeping your editing from being boring and amateurish: the flow or pacing of your editing. Every cut has different length and there is no rhyme or reason to this inconsistency. The viewer cannot get immersed into the world of the video, but rather he is jolted from clip to clip.
Professional editors are able to create a rhythmic feel when their edit. Rhythmic editing, as in music, does not mean that everything should have the same length. It simply implies that the cuts are intentional. There are instances where some shots linger a bit longer, while others are very tight and fast, but the feeling that the editor is in charge and not letting his cuts feel random, is the key factor. And when the pacing is consistent, even amateur footage starts to look like it’s been produced by pros.
The second factor that you need to pay attention to, that makes amateur editing stand out: too many ideas in the video. It is very common for a novice editor to try and put everything that they shot, because “it is a waste if I cut this clip out”. And thus they end up making a video with too many ideas to support, too many angles, too many moments and too many directions.
A well-cut edit should have one idea that is the focal point of the entire video. In other words, everything that is in the video should contribute to one main idea. Any clip that doesn’t fit the narrative arc, message or even the mood should be discarded because they make the edit weaker. And one of the best ways to instantly improve the quality of your edits is by removing anything that you don’t absolutely need.
Another problem I often see in beginner edits: a lack of visual continuity. If you are going to splice in different clips that have no visual relationship with each other, the whole thing can feel fragmented and disjointed. This is true in terms of color, or lighting, or even general mood or atmosphere. If the editing is to work seamlessly, you must ensure that you are making the cuts in a logical way and have a consistent feel throughout.
Another way I see editors struggle is trying to mask bad editing with too many effects. Often, they feel that their footage is weak and therefore try and use fancy transitions, aggressive color grades, speed ramps to cover up this fact. The problem with this is that the focus of the edit shifts from the content to the editing itself and the viewer gets distracted. Strong editing shouldn’t attempt to conceal the footage that you are using. It is simply there to showcase what you have in a way that is organized and pleasing to the eye. More often than not, cuts and subtle changes always look better than anything overdone. When editing becomes too noticeable, that means your content is probably bad.
Lastly: your editing does not have a specific direction. Technical editing can get you only so far in terms of quality. What separates the pros from the rest is that they always shoot and edit with something specific in mind. Their edit may be calming, upbeat, nostalgic or dramatic. Every single edit that is professional in nature has something specific in mind, whereas amateur edits lack a unified direction and end up looking empty, regardless of how good the material is.
And this is the main point I was trying to drive home: you rarely find amateurish edits as a result of a lack of equipment. What I’m saying, is that if you focus on making better, tighter and more consistent edits with a unified vision, you’ll make your work look like the pros, just by not adding too much.