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How to learn video editing
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Whether you want to learn video editing for a career change, as a hobby, or as a side career, there are a number of ways to learn video editing including courses, university programs, and online training. If you are seeking to enter the video editing industry, now is a good time as the video editing industry is projected to grow in the coming years. Here are several ways to begin learning video editing:
Learn video editing with classes and workshops
One way to learn video editing is through classes and workshops. Intensive workshops can get you started with most common video editing applications over a number of days.
The American Graphics Institute offers courses for the most commonly used editing software, including Premiere Pro courses along with Final Cut courses for learning video editing as well as After Effects courses for learning special effects. Courses for these applications are offered for both introductory and experienced editors, and prepare students for work in video, television, and broadcast fields. These video editing classes can be taken online or in person.
University programs for learning video editing
For those interested in a long-term, holistic approach to learning video editing there are four-year undergraduate degrees available in film and cinema. These programs often combine study of theory and principles along with project-based learning, allowing students to graduate with experience and connections that help them apply for industry jobs or begin their own video editing business.
Core classes offered for video editing degrees cover essential skills necessary to succeed. Other electives, such as audio editing, animation, and special effects, can be taken to learn skills that allow for specialization within a video editing career. In addition to establishing a solid foundation, professors and collaborators from previous projects can provide letters of recommendation for job applications or reviews for a business website.
Online tutorials for learning video editing
If you are looking to casually learn video editing, there are free online tutorials that can help you navigate the workspaces of video editing software, including how to customize an interface, manage media, and trim clips. Browse through American Graphic Institute Premiere Pro tutorials and After Effects tutorials for its digital visual effects counterpart application.
Independent options for learning video editing
Another way to learn video editing software is by gathering footage, uploading the clips, and playing around with sequencing and other effects. Video editing is a trade that requires hands-on learning; researching and watching tutorials only gets you so far. Still, it’s informative to research basic uses and shortcuts by going through the software’s user guide.
Video editing skills can also be supplemented through blog posts, books, and tutorials on advanced techniques, such as color grading, sound effects, and media organization. Seeking out advice from experts within an industry is always useful. By employing experts’ advice, video editors can complete quality work quickly and begin to discover their own editing preferences and style.
Learn video editing advanced techniques to boost income
Credibility and experience improve the likelihood of being chosen to edit a project. One way to become a skilled video editor is by actively seeking out job opportunities. Pitching video editing proposals to local businesses or placing work bids on freelance websites can help novice video editors build a diverse portfolio and demo reel. Another way to compete for project bids is by taking classes or getting a video editing certificate. By completing outside training, job applicants can establish credibility and demonstrate a commitment to mastering their craft.
AGI offers part- and full-time video editing certificate programs, which can be taken online or in person. Certificate courses in both formats are led by live instructors who provide expertise to aspiring digital artists on applying effects and editing videos.
Learning video editing for starting a career
It is possible to establish yourself as a successful video editor without getting a formal degree. Taking individual courses or a short term certificate can provide the foundational skills needed without the cost of a four-year degree. Completed projects, which are overseen by industry experts during classes, can be used as part of portfolios or demo reels for future job applications. As you build upon these with additional work, your experience, skills gained, and professional connections will all grow.
Reported by Morgan Keith
About the author
Christopher Smith is president of American Graphics Institute. He is the co-author of Adobe Creative Cloud for Dummies and more than 10 other books on design and digital publishing. He served as publisher and editor of the Digital Classroom book series, which has sold more than one million books on topics relating to InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects, Premiere Pro and other Creative Cloud apps. At American Graphics Institute, he provides strategic technology consulting to marketing professionals, publishers designers, and large technology companies including Google, Apple, Microsoft, and HP. An expert on web analytics and digital marketing, he also delivers Google Analytics classes along with workshops on digital marketing topics. Christopher did his undergraduate studies the at the University of Minnesota, and then worked for Quark, Inc. prior to joining American Graphics Institute where he has worked for more than 20 years.