How To Edit Cinematography Video
Editing cinematography videos is quite different from editing still photos or video shots of people or landscapes, as there are more components involved. When editing someone else’s cinematic footage, you have to be even more careful with your cuts and transitions because their style can easily blend in if you make too many changes.
That being said, when it comes to our own creative projects, we have much more leeway for experimenting and adding new touches. The hardest part about editing your own film is knowing what looks good and making sure your personal style doesn’t overpower the person who made the movie!
This article will go over some basic tips on how to edit your own cinematic video stories. We’ll also take a look at some free software that can help you get started quickly.
Use a proper lighting setup
The first thing you should do is determine what kind of look and feel you want your video to have. This will influence the type of light you use for filming!
You can take some time to experiment with different types of lights, gels, and filters to see which ones fit your style. Once you find one or several that you like, then you can start mixing and matching them into other looks to create new photographic effects.
There are many ways to edit cinematic-style videos outside of just using natural sunlight as a source. For example, you could use studio lights, ambient room light, flashlights, neon signs, and more.
But before picking any equipment, make sure it’s legal to use in your area.
Be aware of natural lighting
A common way to light your subject is by using what’s called “natural light,” which can be obtained through windows, outdoor lights, or even direct sunlight.
Using natural light usually does not require you to use many bulbs! Many cameras have features that help regulate the intensity and color temperature of external lights, so make sure to check those out.
By having enough light for your camera, you do not need to bring along heavy battery packs or extra photoshoots to get usable pictures. You also do not have to worry about running out of batteries either, as most cameras are very efficient in power usage.
Another important thing to note when using natural light is timing. When shooting at sunset, for example, you will want to be careful not to overexpose the picture. This could make the image look too dark, losing some of the detail.
On the other hand, if the photo is over-exposed then it may become hard to see the texture and shape of the object.
Practice makes perfect
Editing your cinematography videos is not something that happens overnight! If you are ever struggling with how to edit or fix your current video, then there is an easy way to do it again! And this article will show you just that!
Editing cinematic footage can be quite difficult if you have never done it before. There are many different ways to edit video so even if you think you already know everything about editing, I’d suggest going through our list of tips here to see what works for you.
Practice, practice, practice! That is the number one rule when editing film. You must keep practicing, as soon as you feel more comfortable working in the editor you will need to make your first cut.
It is very common to lose motivation after making a bad movie so it is important to give yourself time to re-focus and get back into filming mode.
Always look at the video screen
There is no way of knowing what looks good unless you have seen it before! Therefore, if you are trying to figure out how to edit cinematography videos, your first step should be to make sure that you have actually viewed the film or clip already.
You can do this by going onto YouTube and searching for the movie or clip that you want to study. Or you could watch the TV show that has some extended episodes where the studio filming a new season will usually showcase their work.
The important thing to remember about editing camera shots is that there is no hard and fast rule when it comes to which angles are needed to create an aesthetically pleasing scene.
Reframe when needed
A very common way to edit your video is by changing the frame or perspective of the footage. This is called reframing!
You can do this by finding an area of the shot that you like, then taking away anything that gets in the way (or adding something new). For example, if the person sitting down is not fully covered, take away any blankets or other decorations so they are completely visible.
After doing this, cut out the extra space and combine them into one longer piece of content. You can also add in some more details to make it feel warmer. Do this as many times as necessary until you have made your desired change.
This article will talk about some easy ways to do this.