For many of us, editing a wedding video is a skill we picked up on the fly (with a lot of trial and error). Maybe we’ve seen other people do it, tried our hand at editing some footage for fun and gone from there.
However there’s only some much you can learn from trial and error, and sometimes it’s important to take a step back. If you want to take your edit game to the next level, there are plenty of helpful tips out there for making sure your videos are absolutely perfect. In this post, we’ll discuss ten tips that will help you become an expert wedding editor in no time!
1. Choose the right editing software for your needs
Choosing the right editing software is an important part of your business. Editing software is generally quite expensive, but it’s worth it to find something that works well and will grow with your business. You don’t want to invest in expensive equipment only to find out that editing software isn’t compatible with it!
When choosing a platform to edit your wedding videos, think about:
- Cost (how much does it cost?)
- Ease of use (is it easy for you to learn?)
- Features (what does the package include?)
- Support offered by the company
We always recommend Adobe Premiere Pro. It’s part of the Adobe Creative Cloud suite, so you’ll get many other useful tools for the cost of the subscription, such as Photoshop and Illustrator, as well as After Effects which could take your editing to a whole new level!
2. Keep a consistent aesthetic throughout the video
Consistency is key to keeping your video feeling cohesive. Use the same fonts and color schemes throughout the entire video, and if you use music, choose songs that complement each other. You can even create a signature theme song that plays at the beginning of every clip (and perhaps also at intermission). This will help give your film an overarching aesthetic that ties it all together.
3. Sequence the scenes in chronological order
If you’re using both the footage from the ceremony and reception, then it’s important that you sequence those scenes in chronological order. This will allow your viewers to follow the story of the day and see it unfold as if they were actually there.
It’s so easy to get carried away with all of the other things you need to do when editing your wedding video, but don’t forget about sequencing! I recommend putting all of your selected footage onto one timeline for easy viewing. By doing this, there will be no question as to how things should be placed in relation to each other once it comes time for finalizing your cut.
If you are using multiple cameras, make sure your date and time settings are correct, and then it will be easy to order clips by their Creation Date before dropping into your timeline in chronological order.
4. Cut out unnecessary parts of the footage
- Cut out any parts of the video that are not relevant to the story.
- Don’t include shots that are too long.
- Don’t include shots that are too short.
- Don’t include shots that are blurry or unclear, as this will distract from your main message and make it harder for viewers to follow along with what’s going on in your video.
- And finally, don’t include any shots where there is poor lighting – particularly if they’re indoors at night!
5. Use transitions to keep the flow of your video moving
Transitions are a great way to visually link one part of your film to another, and can also help tell a story in a more interesting way. If you’re planning on using them, here are some tips on how best to use them in your wedding videos…
Use cross-fades where appropriate. These transition between scenes by fading from one shot into another. They’re simple and clean, but don’t necessarily make sense for every scene or situation. For example, if two people are talking at an interview table and you cut back and forth between close-ups of each person as they speak, it wouldn’t be appropriate (or very smooth) to fade out one person while fading in the other — especially if they were sitting next to each other! Instead try cutting straight from one shot into another with no transition at all; this makes it look like two different takes were spliced together later on in post-production instead of being woven together seamlessly during filming itself.
Try some more creative transitions, such as cutting between shots as a close up subject crosses the field of view. This video talks though some great cinematic transitions you could try.
6. Add captions to clarify important moments from the wedding day
Captions can be used to help you clarify and explain to your audience what’s happening in a video. They’re great for adding location, time or other details that are important for your audience to know, but shouldn’t distract from the main focus of the shot.
It’s wise not to go overboard with captions though, as they can easily be overdone if they contain too much detail or information that isn’t necessary for understanding what’s going on in your wedding video. Try and let the video do the talking where possible.
7. Include a split screen for different perspectives at once
Using split screen is a great way to show different perspectives at once. For example, if you are filming a wedding and have 2 cameras rolling at the same time, using split screen allows you to show both camera angles on-screen at the same time.
One of the best ways to edit your wedding video is with a simple cutaway shot: use this technique whenever one person talks while another has their back turned or they are busy doing something else. This will help create continuity within your film and keep it interesting for viewers!
Premiere Pro allows you to sync clips filmed at the same time with a single click. It’ll then be really easy to cut between them – we recommend only using the audio from one of the clips, though.
8. Incorporate a picture-in-picture view for extra detail
This is probably the most common technique used to add extra detail to wedding videos, and for good reason: it works well for any type of scene. Simply put, you’ll be shooting two different parts of your video at once (such as bride walking down aisle and groom preparing for ceremony). The PIP view allows you to show both sides of the story without having to cut away from either one. It can also be used as an alternative angle; if there are no shots from above or below during a ceremony procession, adding this kind of shot will make it feel like you have more options available in editing the scene.
9. Add background music to enhance special moments
Music can help to set the mood, highlight moments of the day and convey emotion. The right music can make your video more memorable and create an atmosphere that reflects the tone of your wedding video.
A good rule of thumb is to use instrumental music as much as possible, especially for first dances, speeches and other special moments. However if you do want lyrics in your background music it’s best not to have them on too loud so they don’t overpower any voices from speaking parts on screen or off screen guests singing along.
10. Colour grade your clips
Use colour grading to get the most out of your clips, and create a more consistent feel to the video. Lighter blue hues, low saturation and low contrast often work well for wedding films, but ultimatley it will depend on the style you want to go for.
With these tips, you’ll be able to take your wedding videos to the next level and ensure that your clients are completely satisfied with their finished product
With these tips, you’ll be able to take your wedding videos to the next level and ensure that your clients are completely satisfied with their finished product. If you’re contemplating filming your own wedding, we’d be happy to help answer any questions you might have.
