If you are thinking of changing to a career in video editing, you may be wondering if you are making the right choice. What companies hire Video Editors? What do they do every day? How much do they earn? Here are some answers to these and other questions to help you decide if video editing is the right career for you.
Where Do Video Editors Work?
Video Editors often work in the motion picture and television industry or various businesses. One of the most common jobs for Video Editors is post-production work on films and television shows. Some corporations use Video Editors to work on company training films or hire people to edit commercials. Music videos are another possibility. Many businesses use videos on social media to sell products, and these businesses often contract for services.
Some Video Editors work for a company and commute into an office or studio, while others work from home. Some also shoot video footage, while others are exclusively editors. Video Editors often work alone or as part of a team and can work long hours to meet a project deadline.
What Do Video Editors Do?
The video production process has three parts: pre-production, production, and post-production. The pre-production phase is all about planning. Video Editors create a storyboard to plan the most important shots and tell the story the video is presenting. Footage is shot during the production phase. Post-production is where the Video Editor takes over. The editor uses the raw footage and video editing techniques to take a collection of different shots and weave them into a narrative that captures and holds an audience's attention.
How Hard is Video Editing?
Video editing involves sitting for long hours in front of computer screens to choose the right clips, put them together, and work with audio, color, and special effects software to create the finished video. It takes inner motivation to keep at the task and stay on schedule to meet deadlines. If you are detail-oriented and enjoy tasks that require focus, video editing could be a good career for you.
Editing work can get repetitive, especially when you work on similar projects most of the time such as editing interviews and news footage. One way to deal with a repetitive task like video editing is to focus on the creative aspects of the job. Many Video Editors enjoy seeing the story take shape according to a plan, and storytelling is just as important to video editing as knowing how to use the software.
What Are Job Prospects Like for Video Editing?
The field of video editing is growing rapidly. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 30,000 people worked as Video Editors in the US in 2020. The field is expected to grow by a projected increase of 29% by 2030. The median annual salary for a Video Editor in the United States is $67,250.
There are some corporate jobs for Video Editors, but many work freelance. This involves putting together a portfolio of work to show to prospective clients and advertising on Craigslist, Angi, UpWork, or Fiverr. Place your portfolio on a personal website or a platform like Behance or Dribbble to make it easy to share with clients and other filmmakers.
Important Qualities for Video Editors
If you are trying to decide if video editing is the right career for you, consider some of the important qualities that draw people to work as Video Editors. The most important quality is creativity. Video Editors need to be able to tell a good story. The job also requires the ability to work alone for long periods. Further, Video Editors must be comfortable working with technology and have a good eye for detail. The Video Editor's job is to make sure the video flows and is consistent.
Do I Have to Go to College to Learn Video Editing?
You can get started with video editing without going to college. Schools and training programs are available that offer intensive classes in software and technique. You can choose classes that meet in-person or online to learn Premiere Pro, After Effects, and other relevant software. Some people prefer to attend brick-and-mortar sessions when learning new information, but that isn't always available. Live online classes have a similar set-up with a real-time, remote instructor who can answer questions and take control of your monitor—with permission—to show you how to do things. Training is part or full-time and available weekdays, weeknights, or weekends.
The best way to prepare for a career shift to a technical field like video editing is to enroll in a bootcamp or certificate program. These are intensive training courses that run for a few weeks to a few months and will cover video editing in much more depth than tutorials can. Another plus of training is that you will leave class with a professional-quality portfolio of sample videos that you can show to prospective employers.
How Long Does It Take to Complete a Certificate?
This depends upon the course you choose. For example, it takes 66 hours of instruction to complete a video editing certificate through Noble Desktop. You can choose between full or part-time classes and whether you want to attend during the day, evening, or on weekends. When you complete the course, you will receive a verified digital certificate of completion recognized by the New York State Department of Education. This type of certification and a high-quality portfolio of work can help you get a job as a Video Editor.
How Much Does a Certificate Course Cost?
Costs vary from school to school. Noble Desktop's video editing certificate course costs around $3,000 for the two-four month program. Financing is available through an installment program or student loans. Some employers also reimburse for tuition.
Can I Take Classes Online?
If you live in a large city, there may be in-person classes available to help you get started in video editing, but you can also take certificate courses remotely. Noble Desktop offers in-person classes in New York City or live online classes from anywhere in the world. Live online classes have a similar set-up with a real-time, remote instructor who can answer questions and take control of your monitor—with permission—to demonstrate processes.
It isn't necessary to go to college to learn video editing and start a new career. Check out Noble Desktop's video editing classes. Choose between in-person sessions in NYC at Noble's location or sign up for live online video editing courses and attend from anywhere. Use Noble Desktop's Classes Near Me to find other courses in video editing in your area.