In the modern time and age, many young professionals and even students choose to freelance as a career option. Freelancing is fast becoming the most sought-after career option as it provides the freedom of creativity and the luxury to work at your convenience. A few years ago, finding freelance work opportunities was quite complicated; however, with the increase in internet users, the problem has subsided to a large extent.
Job seekers are shifting to freelance alternatives, and one of the most popular options is that of a freelance video editor. As per statistics, around 66% of people are active internet consumers, and most of these users prefer information and data presented in the form of a video format. Due to this steep rise in demand, the content creation industry has also witnessed an increase in video content in the form of YouTube videos and Instagram reels. These videos are edited and enhanced with special effects to attract maximum viewership. Most content creators edit their videos, but many outsource this work to freelance video editors.
The role of a freelance video editor is to gather and collate all the raw and unedited video clippings and organize them in a presentable format. A freelance video editor adds a creative touch to the content, making it appealing to the viewer. The freelance video editors collaborate with content creators, storytellers, and organizations who wish to provide quality video content to their users and followers. They should possess skills such as:
As a freelance video editor, you would have to work out a flexible work schedule for every day. The workload level would define whether you would have a hectic or a relaxed working day. Most freelance video editors fix a basic daily schedule, which makes their work easy to manage and allows them time to invest in their professional growth. The basic daily program might include the following aspects:
Apart from the primary day-to-day activities, a freelance video editor needs to plan their day according to the ongoing projects. Some of the aspects of video editing are:
Adjusting the picture and sound quality of the raw footage.
A freelance video editor is not only responsible for editing the raw footage provided by the client, but sometimes they are expected to come up with unique and creative story ideas that would be incorporated into the original video content to make it more attractive for the viewers.
Related Article: How to Become a Freelancer from Scratch?
Young professionals and students, who want to opt for freelance video editing as a career face an inevitable question: how to start a career in video editing? Although video editing is a comparatively newer career option, it might seem a little overwhelming initially; however, just like any career, it requires a lot of patience and a solid determination to learn the new skill set.
The internet is flooded with various video content that is freely accessible to the audience. The viewers can choose from a variety of topics like comedy, music, drama and cartoons. Each type of video content is edited using a particular method and software. As a freelance video editor, one must choose a specific category or genre of editing and acquire its knowledge. Once you have obtained sufficient knowledge of one category, you can navigate to other forms of editing. Let us understand some categories or genres of video editing:
Online editing means the final processing of the final draft of the video. It is usually done on computers equipped with high-speed processors and higher RAM.
In this technique, the original raw footage of the video is compressed to a smaller resolution. The video editor works on proxy footage; once the processing is finished, the same is replaced with the original footage.
Assemble editing means putting together two or more different raw footage together without adding any special effect or transition between them.
This new technique helps the editor insert new video footage into the existing video footage. It allows the editor better control over the edited version of the footage compared to assemble editing.
After you have decided on the genre or category of video editing technique you want to master, the next step is to start practising the newly acquired skill. Watching tutorials is the easiest way to learn and practice a new skill. Many websites provide learning materials and tutorials on video editing. Some of these websites are:
Philip Bloom is a famous filmmaker who runs his blog about the best camera equipment and editing software. Aspiring video editors can visit the website to learn about the nuances of filmmaking and video editing.
It is a growing online community of freelance video creators and filmmakers worldwide. No Film School has a vast collection of tutorials and blogs regarding video editing.
The website has a massive library of resources for people interested in video editing and other filmmaking-related things. It has around 1600 free tutorials on video editing.
If you wish to learn and understand the VFX methodology of video editing, then Surfaced studio is a great learning platform.
The competition in the market is steadily increasing as many young professionals and students are opting for freelance video editing as a career. To stand out from the crowd, one should consider pursuing a course related to their choice of freelance work. Several platforms and websites offer certifications and courses for aspiring video editors, some of which are listed below:
The course is designed for people with little or no video editing knowledge and who wish to start a career in video editing. The program has a duration of about 1.5 hrs and contains 30 lectures. The course is available on Udemy for free, but you need to pay the fees if you also want the certificate of completion.
The course is available on Udemy and covers different topics such as special effects layering and 3D Video Composting. The program has a duration of about 3 hrs and contains 15 lectures. A freelance video editor should devote sufficient time to upskill and practice video editing. They can record short videos for editing practice. Since video editing requires a creative and imaginative mind, one must collect sample videos for editing practice.
To become a competitive video editor, one must be thorough with market research and know the equipment and software required to create impressionable video footage. A freelance video editor enjoys the leverage and has the creative freedom to convert boring raw footage into a fantastic piece of artwork. But to do so, they need to use good quality editing equipment and software. Some factors should be considered while choosing the proper computer hardware for editing:
Contrary to popular belief, video editors in the initial stage of their career need not invest in an expensive computer. They should instead look for computers compatible with the editing software they wish to use. There is a variety of editing software available in the market, and one should carefully evaluate its pros and cons before adopting one.
| Name of the Software | Key Features |
| iMovie | Drag and Drop feature4K resolution cloud Storage available high-quality title animations |
| Wondershare Filmora | Ideal for beginners, drag and drop featureEditable title cards video effects like greyscale and greenscreen |
| Adobe Premiere Pro | Video footage can be accurately trimmed corporate animation and video effectImport video from an external source |
Young professionals who wish to start a career as freelance video editors must create an impressionable online presence that would help pitch to potential clients. Video editors can use several websites to display their freelance projects, such as:
Viedit is a popular platform amongst freelancers for showcasing video editing skills. The freelancers can show the videos they edited and uploaded on Youtube or Vimeo. The website allows freelancers to decide their fees, but they have to pay a certain percentage of their earnings to the website.
Behance is one of the largest platforms for freelance video editors, which is used to display projects about graphic design, advertising and video editing. Freelancers can showcase their talents through projects. These projects are assigned unique URLs which can be shared with potential clients.
ProductionHUB is a worldwide network of filmmakers and video editors. It is helpful for customers who want to hire freelance video editors or filmmakers for their projects.
VideoPixie is one of the most sought-after marketplaces where freelance video editors can display their talent. Customers can choose from a large pool of talented video editors and filmmakers.
As a freelance video editor, the next step is approaching potential clients after choosing an appropriate platform for showcasing and displaying one’s work. The best way to pitch to clients is to join filmmaking-related groups on various social media platforms. However, while networking and making new work connections, certain things should be kept in mind:
It is essential that freelancers explore different categories of video editing and do not set rigid work boundaries. While creating work connections and networking with potential customers, the freelancer should communicate clearly about the fee they would charge for their services. However, freelancers should also realize the importance of volunteering to work on new projects. While working on a new project, one might get lesser monetary compensation, but they would get a lot of experience and exposure that would help in getting more work and money in the future.
While searching for job opportunities and freelance projects, freelance video editors must also be prepared with an effective billing system to help them manage their earnings. Some things should be kept in mind while drafting a billing system:
Freelance video editors must create an impressionable online portfolio that could be used to highlight their best creations. A portfolio is a collection of work that one has done in the past. A strong portfolio makes it easier to approach clients and pitch your work. 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 | Unlimited Video portfolio templatesUpload high-resolution video customize the videos as per frame rate and player size |
| Site123 | User-friendly interface simple templates that do not require much editingIdeal for beginners |
Freelance video editors might learn only one kind of video editing and build their portfolio according to that, or they can try different types of editing and create diverse portfolios. However, they would need to draft a clever work strategy that is not very rigid in both situations.
Once you have learned a specific type of video editing, the next step is searching for video editing jobs. The freelance video editor might decide to work on individual projects for multiple clients or enter into a long-term contract with a single client for various projects. The article aims to discuss some of the popular ways to find a job as a freelance video editor:
Slack is fast emerging as a new way to communicate in a work environment. Slack is a messaging platform meant for businesses and customers. It creates a communication channel between different companies and their potential customers. It is considered to be safer and more efficient than email communication. 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:
Another way to find work as a freelance video editor is by attending networking events that filmmakers and video editors organize. These events are a great way to meet new people who specialize in your desired work area. The networking events allow freelancers to showcase their talent and make it easier to pitch to potential clients. These events can be searched online on some of the below-mentioned websites:
It is a popular online platform that freelancers can access to find out about the events being organized in a specific area. Meetup categorizes upcoming events into various categories like events starting soon, trending, and online events. This makes searching for the networking event a lot easier.
Eventbrite is a global platform where freelancers can search for networking events organized in a particular area. One can search for events and find out details such as the date of the event and its address and can also purchase the tickets to attend the event.
Apart from these websites, one can also search the networking events on social media platforms like Facebook.
A freelance video editor needs to work on building an online presence so that they can improve the credibility of their work. The job market is technology-driven, and applying for jobs has become much more manageable. The job search websites like Linkedin, Indeed and Glassdoor allow job seekers to display their talents and gather the required attention from employers. A freelance video editor can approach clients and businesses on Linkedin by creating a Linkedin page and constantly updating it. They can follow some simple steps to keep their profile active:
Another great way to become more visible online is to apply for short-term projects or gigs on freelance platforms. By doing so, you would be able to generate credentials for your work and also gain some confidence. 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 is one of the most known and renowned platforms that allows users to search for freelance work across the globe. The platform charges about 20% of the income from the users as a service fee.
Fiverr allows freelancers to display their portfolio of work and also fix a price range at which they are willing to work. The businesses place a bid on the projects, and freelancers can apply for the project according to these bids.
People per hour is one of the leading freelancer platforms where they can display their portfolios and use them for the listed projects. The freelancers can also add offers to their profiles to look more lucrative to prospective clients.
Mandy is a popular database that contains job postings relating to filmmaking and video production. It is specially designed for people looking to work as freelance video editors and in other related fields.
Also, read:
Top Freelancing Sites to start your Career – Genuine List
Top 25 Freelance Jobs from Home that Pay Really Well
Nowadays, where technology has impacted almost all aspects of life, the conventional job search has become convenient and competitive. Due to this freelance industry is blooming at an increasing rate, and video editing is becoming a very sort after option. Many organizations are looking to hire talented video editors. Freelance video editing as a career is an excellent option as it can be pursued as a permanent career choice. As a career, Freelance video editing is worth a try as it gives the job seeker financial freedom and helps maintain a healthy work-life balance.
Ans.1. A freelance video editor must work closely with individuals and businesses who want to grow their business or consumer base with the help of advertisements, documentaries and television programs. The freelance video editors might take up multiple projects at a time, depending upon the availability of time and resources.
Ans.2 A freelance video editor can charge the client for every project individually or have a long-term contract for multiple projects. They can charge up to $75-$150 per hour.
Ans.3. Adobe Premiere Pro is one of the best editing software for professional video editors. Cyberlink PowerDirector 365 and Adobe Premiere Elements are suitable for starting your career as a video editor.
Ans 4. The best way to get a job as a freelance video editor is by applying for short-term projects and building your portfolio. Once you complete a few tasks, you can make a portfolio and approach clients as a freelance video editor.
Ans 5. Yes, it is one of the most popular side hustle options for young professionals who wish to earn extra money without making a considerable investment, as other businesses require.
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