May 3, 2023 | By:

Brand Video Editing Basics for Beginners

Video editing allows you to fine-tune and enhance the quality of your footage while also improving storytelling elements, increasing engagement, and upping production value — all crucial components in crafting an effective brand video.

Although professional video editors will always have their place in production, knowing the basics of brand-focused video editing is essential, especially for startups or small businesses with limited budgets.

Here’s all you need to know about the basics of brand video editing to help you get started:

What You Need to Get Started

Preparing for your brand video editing begins before you start shooting your footage. At the most basic level, you will need the following equipment:

  • a computer (desktop/laptop) with video editing software; in some cases, a mobile phone will do
  • a good quality camera (or just a mobile phone) to capture footage
  • a tripod to help keep your shots steady
  • an external storage device to store your raw footage
  • microphones and other sound recording devices

During video production, there are some key steps you can take to help make the video editing process smoother:

  • Storyboarding: Storyboarding brings your vision to life by sketching out the sequence of shots needed to create your video.
  • Creating a shot list: A shot list will help you keep track of your footage and ensure you have all the pieces needed to finish your project.
  • Keyframing: Keyframing will allow you to adjust the timing and movement of your shots, creating a more dynamic feel to your video.
  • Time coding: Time-coding your footage keeps track of individual clips to ensure they are being used in the correct sequence.

Choosing the Right Editing Software

There are several video editing software choices, depending on what device you will be using for editing. The choice of editing software highly depends on the video format you are working with and the features you need.

We’ll cover some of the most popular apps and software to help narrow down your choices:

Top Mobile Video Editing Software
  • Viva Video: Viva Video is a mobile video editing app that lets you easily create and edit videos with audio, text, transitions, effects, and more.
  • InShot: InShot is another mobile video editing app that offers basic tools to easily trim and cut videos, add music, and more.
  • KineMaster: KineMaster is a mobile video editing app with powerful features that let you quickly create and edit videos. Compared to the two mentioned apps, KineMaster offers a wider library of royalty-free music.
Top Desktop Video Editing Software
  • Adobe Premiere Pro: Adobe Premiere Pro is one of the best video editing software options for professionals and beginners alike. It offers a wide range of tools to help you edit and refine your footage.
  • Final Cut Pro: Final Cut Pro is a user-friendly video editing software for Mac users that offers both basic and advanced tools. This software is more affordable than Adobe Premiere Pro and offers a range of features for professional editing.
  • Lightworks: Lightworks is a professional video editing software that offers a wide range of features, including proxy workflows, a royalty-free sound effects library, and support for multiple formats.
Identifying the Style of Your Video

Your video style sets the tone for your entire project and can mean the difference between a professional-looking video and an amateur one. While some editing styles may be more complex than others, all can be achieved with the right video editing software and a little bit of practice.

Popular video styles include but are not limited to the following:

  • Product demo: A product demo video is used to demonstrate a product’s features and benefits.
  • Explainer videos: An explainer video breaks down complex topics into easy-to-understand visuals.
  • Vlog (video blog): A vlog is a short video that shows the creator’s day-to-day life.
  • Animation: Animation videos are used to tell stories with motion graphics; it adds depth and movement to videos by using 3D elements and animations.
  • Stop motion: Stop motion animates photos or objects to create a video with a unique visual effect.
  • Documentary: The documentary style focuses on telling a deeper story and features interviews, narration, and footage of people and events.
  • Live stream: A live stream video is a real-time broadcast of an event, such as a sports game or concert.

Picking the Right Music for Your Video

Music and sound effects help enhance the overall atmosphere of your production. It is important to choose music that fits with your brand style, tone, and message. Having a brand style guide can help you identify music that will fit with your branding.

When looking for music, it is important to ensure that the songs you choose are royalty-free so that you can use them without worrying about legal issues.

Royalty-free means that you can use the song without paying royalties each time it is played, and it should be credited to the artist.

Popular sites that offer a wide range of royalty-free music that you can use in your project are:

How To Add Transitions, Text, and Graphics

Transitions, text, and graphics are important elements that help create the overall aesthetic of your video. They can be used to make sure transitions between scenes flow smoothly, add context to content, and make your video more engaging.

Quick Tips for Adding Transitions
  • Consider the context of your video when choosing transitions. For example, a scene transition may be used to indicate a change in time or place.
  • Use transitions sparingly, as too many can be distracting for viewers.
  • Make sure the transition sound matches the rest of your video.
  • Test out different transitions to find the best one for your project.
Quick Tips for Adding Text, Subtitles, or Translations
  • Use text to add context and help tell the story.
  • Keep subtitles or translations concise and easy to read.
  • If you’re using subtitles, make sure that the font size is large enough to be seen onscreen.
  • Consider the background of your text. Make sure it is readable by using a contrasting color.
Quick Tips for Adding Graphics
  • Use graphics to draw attention to specific points and highlight key information.
  • Use graphics sparingly; too many can be distracting for viewers.
  • Make sure the graphic matches the overall style and tone of your video.

Tips on Exporting Your Final Product

Exporting is the final step in the editing process. Different software will offer different export options, so make sure to familiarize yourself with which ones are available before you begin.
When exporting, you should consider the following:

  • Choose an appropriate file format for your video. Popular formats include .mp4, .mov, and .avi.
  • If you are exporting for your website or social media accounts, make sure to select the correct size and resolution.
  • Choose an appropriate bitrate; a higher bitrate will result in higher quality, but the file size will also be larger.
  • Give your file an appropriate name; this will make it easier to find later.

Create Professional Videos for Your Brand

Video marketing is a powerful way to communicate your brand message and engage with your customers. With the right editing tools, you can create professional-looking videos for your brand.

Fortunately, there are many free and easy-to-use tools for beginners to use. However, if you need an extra hand, our professional videographers from Ilfusion can help you. We’re a full-service digital marketing company that offers cost-efficient solutions for startups and businesses of all sizes.

Get in touch with us today at 888-420-5115, or send us an email at [email protected] to get started!

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