Best Video Editing Classes Philadelphia, PA: Find Courses & Onsite Training

Learn More About Philadelphia Video Editing Courses

Video editing is the process of manipulating and rearranging video content to refine a piece of work or to create an entirely new and polished piece of work. It is generally thought of as part of the post-production process, although it often starts during the pre-production phase of a project. It’s the behind-the-scenes hero that harmonizes raw footage into what audiences enjoy through the use of technical ability, creativity, and meticulousness. Video editing is a highly technical skill that requires creativity and technical expertise that can be found in any organization that leverages video content. When editing video, Editors will arrange film clips, correct color, mix sound, add special effects, and make technical changes that create continuity and cohesion that enhance a project’s storytelling.

What Can You Do with Video Editing Training?

Video editing can be a very exciting career that allows you to exercise both your technical skills and creativity. You’ll find that there is no end to the types of projects you can take on with video editing in this digital age. Some of the more common video editing projects include creating social media content, website content, travel videos, and time-lapse videos. These are some of the types of projects that are excellent for beginners and those who need to build a stronger portfolio of work to gain clients or employment.

Website content is far more engaging when there’s high-quality video present. Not only does it make a site visitor’s job easier, but also gets you more industry experience. When done well, a video will make a website stickier. Whether your edited video will be on your portfolio website or someone else’s site, it’s likely to increase its conversion rate, resulting in longer site visits, and improve site engagement.

Social media and YouTube content are other popular ways to use video editing training. Try mastering the short-form video that has taken the internet and social media by storm. It requires an eye for detail to keep the best parts of the story in balance with the necessary information a viewer needs to understand the piece. Whether it’s comedy, philosophy, infotainment, or educational, your video editing needs to capture both the content creator’s message and the audience’s attention. Your editing skills are what’s going to make the content digestible.

Cinematic travel videos and time-lapse videos are two more video editing projects that can help you establish yourself in the field, and help you find a niche. Travel videos are often inspiring and encourage people to dream and create new goals. You can use drone footage, stock footage, eye-level shots, or a combination of footage to create the kind of travel video that makes people want to jump up and go. Another project that will showcase your video editing skills is a time-lapse video. They can be used for intros, outros, promotional pieces, and social media. They’re a great way to tell a different kind of story about a single focal point, object, or location when you employ certain video editing techniques.

What Will I Learn in a Video Editing Class?

A video editing class will give you a lot of information in a relatively short period. You’ll learn skills that are essential for properly carrying out editing tasks and even techniques that can transform your workflow and shape your creative eye. Video editing is a multifaceted visual art that holds a lot of nuance and technical skill. In an editing training program, you’ll be learning skills like Adobe Creative Cloud, visual effects, motion graphics, and videography techniques. All of these skills will enhance your ability to tell a story through your editing.

Adobe Creative Cloud

Adobe Creative Cloud has many applications that can be applied to video editing. This creative suite of tools can be leveraged to create high-quality professional-grade video complete with top-tier audio, color grading, special effects, and animation. Some of the more popular apps for editing tasks include Adobe After Effects and Premiere Pro. While Adobe Creative Cloud apps won’t do the editing for you, they do supply you with a wide range of features and tools that can make your edits more effective and efficient.

Problem-Solving

While problem-solving is something that everyone has to do at some point in their lives, it is also a skill that can be taught, developed, and nurtured. When a project has hundreds or even thousands of shots and clips, it can be more like piecing a puzzle together. To make a coherent piece that flows well and tells the intended story, you will need to put your problem-solving skills to work. Sometimes it’s about critically thinking through a process, and other times it’s figuring out how to connect clips cohesively and sensibly.

Adaptability

Industry trends change often, and you have to be willing to adapt to the changes. Sometimes it’s audience preferences you’ll be adapting to, and sometimes it will be new platforms or formats. Editors who can adapt to the industry shifts can stay competitive and innovative. Adapting quickly allows you to follow trends like vertical video for social media and AI-assisted video editing to implement them to your client’s specifications.

Visual Effects

Integrating visual effects into videos has become very popular. Strong skills in these areas enhance storytelling and create a more vivid viewing experience. An understanding of animation principles, motion graphics, and compositing will help your work stand out among other video projects. Mastering this skill will likely include mastering different software like Adobe After Effects.

Videography Techniques

Having a foundational understanding of how video is shot can do a lot for manipulating it when the time comes. Learning how shutter speed, aperture, and exposure can affect creative control can inform your editing techniques. Compositions and framing techniques like the rule of thirds and leading lines will contribute to your storytelling. As do camera movements and angles. A well-positioned shoot will add dimension and will better engage audiences. These are a few videography fundamentals that can help a Video Editor better select edits and joins and make suggestions for how the video can be shot during the initial planning phase.

How Hard is It to Learn Video Editing?

Learning video editing can be an intense experience. There is a lot of material to cover, from editing techniques to design principles to editing software tools. For someone who has no experience with any of it, it’s a steep learning curve. If you’ve dabbled before or have a strong natural creative streak, you’ll likely find some aspects much easier to understand and apply. Once you’ve completed a training program, you will need to keep practicing the skills you’ve learned. A training program will get you comfortable using the tools and techniques of Video Editors, but practice is going to help you master the art, find your niche, and develop expertise in the field. The art of storytelling is an ancient one. With consistent practice and hard work, you can accomplish your learning goals and break into the field of video editing.

What Are the Most Challenging Parts of Learning Video Editing?

The most challenging part of learning video editing is learning how to use video editing software. Many different tools are applied to projects; and although it’s not necessary to master all of them, being familiar with many of them will help you find the niche where your video editing skill shines brightest. Another challenge in this field is understanding when and why to apply certain styles of cuts to a project and the effects applying them will have on the project as well as audiences. Keep in mind that you’re going to encounter topics that will require a significant amount of effort to comprehend and digest, but it’s a rewarding experience.

How Long Does It Take to Learn Video Editing?

Learning video editing is an open-ended adventure. As new technology, tools, and techniques become available, those in video editing are always learning and adapting to stay current so they can better meet the needs of their clients or employers. Video editing training courses are finite and can last as little as one day or as many as several months. There is a lot of material to cover when learning this skill, so you’re likely to feel comfortable with certain tools and techniques before you master them. You will learn some things sooner than others based on your ability to retain information, your learning style, and the simplicity of the concept. Having a professional level of expertise will take many practice hours, experience, and mentorship to achieve.

Should I Learn Video Editing in Person or Online?

The answer to this question is different for everyone because everyone has different educational needs, schedules, and learning styles. Which option you choose needs to fit your specific situation and take into account your learning goals. There are three main learning formats: in-person learning, live online learning, and asynchronous/self-paced learning. You’ll find a range of choices in Philadelphia, so choose wisely, as there are some major differences between these three learning formats.

In-person training is the learning format everyone is accustomed to. It’s the preferred method for many people as it’s traditionally considered to be the fastest way to acquire new skills and knowledge. In-person video editing classes offer a distraction-free learning space, true hands-on learning and interaction with peers and instructors, real-time feedback, and the ability to more easily foster relationships with peers. However, this learning format requires that students and instructors meet at the same time and place. This can be problematic for those who have demanding schedules and long commutes. These courses are sometimes more costly than the other options because the training facility has increased overhead costs like building maintenance and staff.

Live online learning has become more popular over the years. Although it is very similar to in-person learning, some key differences can affect the way you learn. In this format, you join a live instructor and classmates online through a video messaging service or online learning platform. While you can attend the course from wherever you are in the world, you do have to meet together at the same time. Hands-on training looks a little different as well. It can involve things like screen sharing and break-out rooms. You’ll be hands-on with your work; however, the instructor won’t physically be able to. Live online learning allows you to skip the commute, save on learning costs, and better manage your schedule. You’ll also receive class recordings that you can review to deepen and reinforce your learning. Some of the drawbacks include missing out on certain social cues and having to deal with distractions that may not be present in a classroom setting.

Asynchronous learning or self-paced courses are very popular among those with tight and unpredictable schedules. Self-paced training offers students access to pre-recorded class content. Sometimes there will be lifetime access to the content, but more often you’ll have access for a set period. This format does not allow for real-time feedback, but there may be alternatives. Some Philadelphia training centers offer live question-and-answer sessions, message boards, or messaging apps that allow students and instructors to interact with one another. You have to be goal-oriented in this learning format and stay focused on completing the course. There is much less accountability in this format, making it easier to procrastinate and get sidetracked. It’s best to set a schedule for yourself and stick to it. This is especially true for courses that give you access to course content for a limited time.

Can I Learn Video Editing Free Online?

Yes. It is possible to learn video editing online for free using free tutorials, blogs, and YouTube channels like Noble Desktop. However, there is a caveat. One big issue with free online learning is that you cannot always guarantee the accuracy of the information you learn. Other issues include incomplete and outdated information. You’ll find many reputable sources to learn from, but oftentimes these are great when you need help with a specific technique or feature of a tool, or when you’re trying to figure out if video editing is the right career path for you. When you want to embark on a journey to master a professional skill, you will have to make a considerable investment. Free online resources will only be able to take you so far.

What Should I Learn Alongside Video Editing?

You’ll find many different skills that complement video editing seamlessly. One of the most in-demand skills in the field is motion graphics. A strong understanding of motion graphics allows you to create more dynamic content that enhances the storytelling. Many video editing courses will touch on motion graphics, but you can specialize in this area to be a more niche Video Editor. The increasing popularity of immersive media content has led to a demand for 360-degree video editing and creating virtual reality content. These two skills will keep you on-trend and make you a more desirable hire. A strong foundation in video compression and codecs will allow you to optimize content for different platforms.

In addition to skills, you should also consider learning some industry-standard video editing software. Final Cut Pro X, Adobe Premiere Pro, and Davinci Resolve are some cutting-edge video editing tools that help you create what you set out to make. As updates are made, you’ll need to continuously update your knowledge. Color grading tools are a must if you’re interested in upgrading the visual appeal of your work. Color grading can change the way audiences experience a project on an emotional level. High-quality audio belongs to high-quality video, so mastering audio editing will greatly impact the way your video is experienced sonically. A few popular audio editors include Avid Pro Tools, Adobe Audition, and PreSonus Studio One.

Industries That Use Video Editing

Philadelphia was once the capital of the United States of America, and since then its major industry has shifted away from government and into some surprising directions. The telecommunications, finance, healthcare, and education industries are thriving and helping keep Philadelphia’s economy strong through its changes. Although video editing is more of a technological pursuit, you’ll find it being put to use in a range of industries. Many of the tasks are the same from employer to employer, but the storytelling elements, purpose, and messaging will be different.

Telecommunications

Philadelphia is a leading hub for telecommunications innovation and advancement in America. Its robust infrastructure and thriving ecosystem of companies have helped this industry revolutionize connectivity and shape the technological landscape. The telecommunications industry is where technology and communication meet. It’s made up of telephone, internet, and mobile service providers and satellite and cable providers. It can be further simplified as companies that relay data as text, voice, audio, or video around the world. Telecommunications has come a long way from telegraphs, radios, and switchboards being the top industry segments to wireless communications and communications equipment currently leading this industry forward.

Video editing is a silent force within this industry, allowing companies to better market their services to the masses through targeted ads and educational campaigns. It’s also transforming the way people consume information. Short-form videos, engaging YouTube content, and dynamic websites that incorporate videos capture the attention of audiences and consumers like never before. Professional video editing helps to reinforce branding and ensure that the messaging and storytelling are properly aligned. Another major use for video editing in the telecommunications industry is creating in-house training videos. To ensure that employees are prepared to carry out their job duties, practice workplace safety, and understand human resources protocol, professionally edited video is an invaluable teaching tool that goes a long way.

Finance

The finance industry in Philadelphia has very deep roots and is strengthening, and it’s the third largest industry in the city. It’s made up of investment firms, banking and lending institutions, and other organizations that provide financial services to consumers. Much of this industry’s revenue comes from loans and mortgages, which is why measuring it is a good indicator of the health of Philadelphia’s economy. The city is home to businesses like Colonial Penn and Vanguard, and other industry notables like Bank of America and JP Morgan Chase have established operations here as well. You’ll find that this is a very ambitious industry whose health and activity can have far-reaching effects on many other industries. That’s why working in this industry is so impactful to both the city and the larger national economy.

While video editing doesn’t seem to fit into the nature of this industry, it has a silent role to play that helps move it forward. Video editing is a staple in the industry’s advertising. When financial institutions want to update their customers about new product offerings and opportunities, a video is a fast and simple way to fill them in. However, these types of promotional videos have to be informative and compelling at the same time. That’s where skilled video editing comes in. It can harness the message and reinforce it with visual cues. In-house training videos are another way the finance industry trains its personnel for client-facing interactions, corporate protocol, financial regulations and codes, infrastructural systems, and reporting. In some areas of the industry, videos have replaced instructors or reduced the amount of training time necessary to onboard new hires and keep current personnel up-to-date.

Education

Within Philadelphia’s education industry, you’ll find many types of organizations that contribute to developing a talent pool that other industries will access. Schools from elementary to university, vocational centers, educational content suppliers, and library systems are just some of the organizations that exist within this sector. With every other industry depending on the education industry, the pressure to produce capable and knowledgeable individuals is strong. Although the approaches to teaching and learning are experiencing a shift from a one-size-fits-all method, this industry continues to see innovative technologies change the landscape and make education more individualized. The implementation of open-source textbooks, augmented reality, and online institutions are a few ways new technologies are reshaping this industry.

Video editing in this industry is used to promote school districts, education initiatives, and university systems and departments, add to websites, and create content for educational platforms. With the rise of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR), there is a lot more demand for Video Editors who can bring these immersive experiences into classrooms. This technology is very useful in training videos and simulation videos that help prepare students for working in their chosen field without damaging potential real-world consequences, whether it be firefighting, piloting, or healthcare. Employers are even using it to help develop employee soft skills. The role of video editing plays an important part, but its contributions often go unnoticed by end users.

Healthcare

Philadelphia is an up-and-coming hub for healthcare advancements. With cutting-edge technology and patient-centered care, Philadelphia is improving health outcomes and changing the landscape of its healthcare industry. You’ll find hospitals, medical devices, life sciences, research and development organizations, and health informatics in this industry. Each of these areas is a key piece to improving the health of individuals and innovating new solutions that help move care forward in more accessible and nurturing ways.

Educating the public on healthcare initiatives, safety precautions, and the proper uses of medical products and drugs can be more accessible and leave a greater impression on the audience when delivered by a well-created and edited video. With hospitals and insurance companies increasing their efforts to educate the public on various issues, video editing has become more popular within the healthcare industry. As the way people consume information continues to evolve with the rise of new technologies, there is an increased demand for individuals who know how to put together a compelling story through video.

Video Editing Job Titles and Salaries

The field of video editing has a lot of specialties to choose from. As you go through your training, you’ll find an area that resonates with you and begin to dig deeper into it. This will give you a more fulfilling career and allow you to better align your work with your interests and talents. Philadelphia has a high concentration of jobs in the field and a high mean hourly wage, resulting in faster-than-average growth. If you’re still deciding if video editing is the right career path for you, here are some jobs that people skilled in the art of video editing can hold. This is not an exhaustive list, and there are many areas to which your education in video editing can be applied.

Video Editor

Video Editors work on films, television shows, broadcasts, podcasts, YouTube videos, and social media content. They’re an integral part of the production process from scripting to post-production. Their role in video productions is to help tell the story with a careful and thoughtful arrangement of audio and visual footage. They work on script and storyboard development, and video layouts, and maintain sequence and continuity throughout the project. Video Editors often work on small teams, collaborating with Producers, Directors, Visual Effects Specialists, and Graphic Designers. While it’s common for them to work for a production company, agency, or firm, it’s just as common to find Video Editors working remotely or freelancing.

Although many Video Editors have a degree in broadcast journalism, media production, or television and film studies, a degree is not a requirement to obtain employment. Most clients and employers are far more impressed with a masterful portfolio that shows your skill, style, and reputation. Top skills for those in this position include being detail-oriented, organized, flexible, and having excellent communication skills. You’ll also need to be fluent in video editing software tools like Adobe Creative Cloud or Final Cut Pro. Philadelphia Video Editors can earn a salary ranging between $47,000 and $83,000.

Animator

You can find an Animator hard at work in a variety of media forms, creating dynamic and visually appealing sequences of images. They create special effects and animations using techniques and tools like digital drawings, 3D models, and software tools like Autodesk Maya, Adobe Premiere Pro, and After Effects. The work also includes storyboard creation, character development, character expression creation, and 3D component integration. Most Animators work in collaboration with other Animators, Graphic Designers, and Game Designers on projects that are used in commercials, television shows, and video games using techniques like hand key animation and motion capture data. It is common to choose a specialty, like scenery, character movement, or 3D animation within their chosen media format.

Some Animators have four-year degrees, while others attend fine arts or animation programs. Your education is less important than your portfolio of work and your reputation to many potential employers. This is a results-driven career, and being self-taught or trained by a facility can be just as valued as a four-year degree. Whatever route you take into animation, you’ll need to take advantage of the work opportunities you get to help expand your portfolio to show your skills. An Animator in Philadelphia can earn between $51,000 and $94,000 a year.

Colorist

The work of a Colorist centers around enhancing the visual aesthetic and storytelling of a film by manipulating color and light. They shape the mood, atmosphere, and overall look and feel of a film, show, or video game. Another key task of Colorists consists of maintaining technical standards for broadcast or theatrical distribution so the film looks as it was intended regardless of the screen or format it’s being shown on. They use advanced digital tools and software for color grading, ensuring visual consistency, and creating smooth transitions throughout a project. Their expertise in color theory, color spaces, and image processing plays a key role in immersing audiences in a captivating visual experience.

Colorists typically work with a team, including Producers, Cinematographers, and other post-production specialists to create a cohesive product that can be viewed on various platforms, meets technical standards, and has a narrative flow. They often choose a niche, like documentaries, visual effects, television, or restoration. Getting good at one thing allows Colorists to be more valuable assets to projects, and improves their quality of work. If you decide to go into this career path, you’ll need to be introspective, analytical, logical, sensitive, and intuitive to navigate both the technical and artistic aspects of the work. You can expect to earn between $80,000 and $145,000 a year in this career in the Philadelphia area.

Motion Graphics Designer

Motion Graphics Designers use a combination of visual arts and animation to create much of the artwork that you find on television, movies, applications, video games, and the internet. They often work with a team of Animators, Art Directors, Graphic Designers, and Producers. If there’s an electronic screen present, you’re likely to find the work of a Motion Graphics Designer. This is a deadline and project-based career, so you can expect long and irregular hours, as you meet with clients to get feedback and conceptualize graphics, creating graphics, sketching, editing, and creating computer-generated imagery (CGI).

You’ll need to have exceptional drawing and artistic skills, be proficient in 2D and 3D animation, and be a great visual storyteller. Other technical skills they possess include expertise in design software like Cinema 4D and Adobe After Effects. The majority of those in this career have a bachelor’s degree, but it isn’t a requirement. An impressive demo reel, portfolio, and mastery of animation and graphic art will go a very long way. Philadelphia’s Motion Graphics Designers earn a salary between $53,000 and $91,000.

Video Editing Classes Near Me

The field of video editing is highly varied and can take on multiple forms. Regardless of what excites you about this career path, you’ll need to have a strong foundational understanding to hit the ground running in this field. This project-based, hands-on Noble Desktop course, Video Editing & Motion Graphics Certificate, can prepare you for a career as a Video Editor or Motion Graphics Designer. You’ll learn how to use industry-standard editing software tools to create compelling projects for a variety of uses. You’ll learn creative techniques and design concepts that will help you exhibit your creative and technical skills. Course topics covered include Adobe Premiere Pro, After Effects, Audition, and Photoshop, Cinema 4D, and motion graphics principles. This certificate program is available in-person in New York City and live online in Philadelphia. You’ll have access to class recordings, a free course retake within one year, and eight 1-on-1 mentoring sessions that can be used to work on challenging concepts, review your portfolio and demo reel work, improve your resume, and get professional advice for your job search.

Certstaffix Training offers a live online Adobe Premiere Pro CC certificate course in Philadelphia to those who are interested in learning this advanced software that has become an industry-standard video editing tool. This is a hands-on learning experience that helps students master the workflow of Premiere Pro, taking a project from start to finish. Students will learn how to organize media, create transitions, mix sound, adjust color, add effects, and composite footage. This course also covers advanced editing techniques, animating graphics, and working with 360 video for virtual reality (VR). Many students use this certificate course to prepare for the Adobe Premiere Pro certification exam. This course offers students printed course materials, access to a virtual computer with all of the necessary software and course files, and the option to retake the course for free within six months.

The Community College of Philadelphia offers a Digital Video Production Proficiency Certificate to those who want to transition into video editing. In it, students will gain a strong foundation in video production, camera operation, audio acquisition, and video editing. Each participant will get a chance to move through all of the roles to gain a deeper understanding of how they work together and which role is of the most interest to them. This course covers Adobe Premiere Pro, advanced devices, camera, and lighting techniques, audio theory, and video editing theory and techniques. By the end of this certificate program, students will have built an impressive demo reel to demonstrate their skills.

Join this in-person American Media Training Final Cut Pro X Training in Philadelphia to learn how to make the most out of a project using this popular video editing tool. There’s a beginner’s course and an advanced course, so wherever students are in their video editing journey, they can benefit from learning the software. The beginner’s Final Cut Pro course covers customizing the workspace, timelines and sequences, temporal and spatial editing, “J” and “L” cuts, adding effects, audio mixing, creating titles, and popular video and audio tricks. In the advanced course, students will learn professional video editing techniques, basic and advanced trimming techniques, advanced compositing, multi-camera editing, dynamic effects, variable speed, and nesting sequences.

Video Editing Corporate Training

If you need to provide professional development opportunities to your employees, you should strongly consider arranging onsite corporate training. This approach to professional development is a way to invest in your employees, attract more talented employees, improve your employee retention rate, and improve the overall workplace culture. Giving your team the ability to develop high-quality and in-demand skills they can use throughout their career empowers both the organization and the employee. If your organization has employees who could benefit from learning video editing principles and techniques, filling in knowledge gaps, or how to improve their workflow with video editing tools and software, consider Noble Desktop’s corporate training opportunities.

Onsite video editing corporate training ensures that your organization has high-quality products while equipping your employees with skills that will increase their marketability and knowledge as they grow in their careers. Your team will notice and appreciate your investment in their future. There are flexible options for corporate training. It can be offered virtually, onsite at your specified location, or individually as a publicly listed course to better fit employee schedules. If it is more advantageous to have your team enroll in one of Noble Desktop’s open-enrollment public video editing training classes, there are discount bulk vouchers available. This option works well when multiple schedules are a factor. Whether you choose onsite, virtual, or open-enrollment corporate training, you’ll get an experienced instructor with years of experience in the field. Opting for onsite training gives you the ability to customize the curriculum to meet your organization’s specific needs. Contact Noble Desktop for a free consultation to learn more about your options to invest in your employees with video editing training classes.

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Key Insights

Learn More About Philadelphia Video Editing Courses

What Can You Do with Video Editing Training?

What Will I Learn in a Video Editing Class?

Adobe Creative Cloud

Problem-Solving

Adaptability

Visual Effects

Videography Techniques

How Hard is It to Learn Video Editing?

What Are the Most Challenging Parts of Learning Video Editing?

How Long Does It Take to Learn Video Editing?

Should I Learn Video Editing in Person or Online?

Can I Learn Video Editing Free Online?

What Should I Learn Alongside Video Editing?

Industries That Use Video Editing

Telecommunications

Finance

Education

Healthcare

Video Editing Job Titles and Salaries

Video Editor

Animator

Colorist

Motion Graphics Designer

Video Editing Classes Near Me

Video Editing Corporate Training

Philadelphia Video Editing Corporate & Onsite Training Noble Desktop

Video Editing Training Locations in or Near Philadelphia

Philadelphia Careers & Salaries Related to Video Editing

Related Classes

Philadelphia Video Editing
Corporate & Onsite Training