Video Editing Classes & Bootcamps Portland

Develop professional video editing skills by learning storytelling, transitions, and sound integration that make your projects visually compelling.

Video Editing Classes & Bootcamps

Video editing involves editing a video’s image and audio tracks to create a finished product. Often, someone in video editing will be arranging shots, creating transitions, controlling a video’s pace, adjusting the soundtrack, color-correcting the image track, and adding any necessary motion graphics. Historically, film editors used to do all of this by hand. Editors would physically cut strips of film, hand dye film to achieve a certain color tint, and even paint visual effects directly onto the film. Today, these techniques are all achieved by using video editing and motion graphics software such as Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, and After Effects.

Those with video editing training often find themselves working in post-production on a variety of projects including short- and long-form films, news reports, episodes of TV, documentaries, commercials, workplace training videos, and other types of educational content like tutorials. Video editing professionals often work on larger teams to enact the vision of a creative director or production manager in industries like film and TV, advertising, and others that need educational, informational, or entertainment videos. In addition to creating finished, professional video content, someone who learns video editing can often find themselves creating content for distribution on social media or adding motion graphics to websites or applications.

What Can You Do with Video Editing Training?

Learning video editing allows you to gain the necessary skills to work in post-production and in industries like film, TV, video games, and advertising. With your video editing training, you will be able to organize clips, change the video’s speed, remove the green screen from the video, sync, mix, and enhance the soundtrack, and add effects like lens flares and blurs to the video. Someone with this training can work on a variety of projects and what you actually do as a video editing professional will depend upon your industry and your role on the team.

Additional motion graphics training allows you to create animated scenes, work on visual effects, or add animated elements to websites or applications. Video editing classes often teach some motion graphics work, like adding credit scrolls or title sequences to video projects. To learn more advanced motion graphics, you will need additional software and skill training, and this training will open up career possibilities to work as a Motion Graphics Artist or Designer and for production design studios that create animated games and movies.

It is also common to learn video editing to create and edit your own projects. Whether for your small business or just for fun, learning video editing allows you to create professional-looking videos and reels that can be easily shared online through popular digital channels. You can experiment with elements of pacing, size, color, and sound to edit videos with the precise look and feel that you desire and add simple motion graphics with Premiere Pro or do more complicated compositing work in After Effects.

What Will I Learn in a Video Editing Class?

Premiere Pro

Premiere Pro is Adobe’s industry-standard video editing software. Most video editing classes will teach you how to use this software. Learning Premiere Pro allows you to do end-to-end video editing. You can import footage, arrange or resize clips, adjust the pace of the video, color-correct video, mix audio, add some visual effects and motion graphics, and export your finished video. While video editing classes will often teach more than this software, some shorter classes are largely focused on providing students with hands-on Premiere Pro training.

After Effects

After Effects is Adobe’s industry-standard motion graphics software. This software allows you to create animations, visual effects, and 3D models as well as add effects and enhancements to your photographs or video. After Effects is used widely across many industries as it allows you to do everything from creating fully animated characters and designing animated typography to adding enhancements to social media videos. Someone learning After Effects along with video editing software like Premiere Pro will gain career opportunities in design fields along with video editing fields.

Final Cut Pro

Final Cut Pro is Apple’s video editing and motion graphics software. MacOS users can use this software or Adobe’s software, and a video editing class will often teach you to use one or the other rather than teach both. Final Cut Pro lets you do end-to-end video editing similar to Premiere Pro but also has more in-built motion graphics capabilities. You can create title sequences and end credit scrolls and also create animated logos, do keyframe animation, and add visual effects to projects.

Cinema 4D

Cinema 4D is Maxon’s industry-standard 3D animation, simulation, modeling, and rendering software. Those who want to learn video editing and motion graphics for a career in 3D animation or visual effects will likely need to learn Cinema 4D along with the other software already discussed. This software integrates well with After Effects and allows one to create visual effects for films or TV or animated characters for video games. It can also be used to create interactive content for social media or advertising campaigns.

Communication

Communication is an essential skill for those in video editing and one that your video editing classes will help you to develop. Video editing professionals rarely work alone, instead, they often work on small and large teams to execute a director, producer, or manager’s creative vision for a project. Video editing professionals not only need to know how to use their technical skills and abilities to communicate the project’s vision through editing but they also need to stay in constant communication with team members as they complete video projects.

How Hard is It to Learn Video Editing?

Learning video editing is not considered difficult. Most people will not struggle to learn the technical skills and software to edit sound and video. It can be somewhat challenging to learn the advanced features of Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, or After Effects, but most people can overcome this challenge within a few months. The challenging aspects of video editing lie more in needing to bring together your technical skills with your own thinking and creativity. Video editing professionals have to balance using their technical skills to craft a coherent, well-structured narrative while also trying to engage, entertain, or inform an audience.

What Are the Most Challenging Parts of Learning Video Editing?

The most difficult part of learning video editing is employing your creative problem-solving skills. Most people do not find learning video editing software or the technical skills of editing to be too difficult. Instead, it is more challenging to learn how to use these programs to create entertaining, engaging, well-constructed videos. There is no one way to edit every project, instead, you’ll need to employ your own creative decision-making process to determine what works best for each individual project. It will take time to develop a sense of what works and to develop your own video editing style.

How Long Does It Take to Learn Video Editing?

How long it takes to learn video editing depends on what you want to use your skills for and how dedicated you are to learning and mastering this skill set. Generally, it does not take long to learn the basics of video editing and many people find that programs like Premiere Pro and Final Cut Pro are beginner-friendly. Within a few weeks to a month after learning video editing software, most people can easily edit short, simple videos. It will take longer to learn the advanced software features and mastering video editing can take between six months and a year of steady practice. Those learning motion graphics software should expect it to take longer to learn.

Should I Learn Video Editing in Person or Online?

Whether to learn video editing in-person or online will depend on your own preferences as well as the cost, curriculum, and schedule of a course. In-person training is still considered the best way to learn a topic. This kind of training allows you to learn in a dedicated facility alongside other students and instructors can provide you with 1-on-1 attention and individualized feedback. Additionally, some training facilities allow students to use their technology and software during the course. It can be difficult to find in-person video editing training and this option might not work for someone with a busy schedule or those looking for more cost-effective forms of training.

Live online classes are a great alternative to in-person classes. These classes should follow a similar curriculum as in-person courses and have a live instructor who can guide you through the course material. Online classes can also be cheaper and more convenient as you can learn from home. These classes are also more likely to be scheduled in the evenings, on weekends, or part-time. Some students do find it more difficult to focus and remain engaged with course material in an online course so this won’t be the right option for every learner.

Another training option is enrolling in an asynchronous online or on-demand class. Instead of meeting for regularly scheduled class sessions, students in on-demand classes receive access to course material that they can move through at their own pace. This is the best option for someone too busy to attend instructor-led training and who is looking for an introduction to video editing. You will need to be very self-motivated to complete an on-demand class as there are no external motivating factors like an instructor, other students, or strong deadlines to push you to finish the course. Those looking for professional skill development are also unlikely to find it in these classes, as comprehensive, career-oriented training is best from instructor-led bootcamps, certificate programs, and degree programs.

Can I Learn Video Editing Free Online?

You can learn video editing basics from free online articles, seminars, tutorials, and workshops. A good place to begin is watching Noble Desktop’s Get Started in Video Editing free seminar, which offers information about video editing, the current job outlook for those with editing and design skills, and what you’ll need to learn to work in video editing. When you’re ready to learn technical editing skills, browse Noble’s Premiere Pro playlist on YouTube, which has in-depth tutorials on this software. In general, YouTube is a great resource for beginners and it is common for someone to learn foundational video editing skills through YouTube video tutorials.

There are other resources beyond YouTube. Adobe has a series of short tutorial articles aimed at teaching users different functions of their software. LinkedIn Learning, LinkedIn’s online education platform, also has video editing workshops and tutorials, and public library users can often access this platform for free. While these no-cost options will get you started, they will not provide professional skill development and lack career support services. After free training, the next step for someone pursuing a video editing career is enrolling in a bootcamp, certificate program, or degree program to develop their skills and portfolio.

What Should I Learn Alongside Video Editing?

Learning motion graphics pairs well with video editing. Not every video editing class will offer explicit training in software like After Effects, Cinema 4D, or Rive, but someone who wants to pursue work in animation, visual effects, or motion graphics will need this more detailed and advanced training. Motion graphics go beyond just adding movement effects, blurs, and enhancements to videos, with advanced training you can create entire animated scenes or 3D models and learn how to work in visual and special effects for film, TV, or video games.

It is also common for someone to learn design either before or after video editing training. Graphic design is another complementary field of study, as video editing and graphic design professionals both need to focus on creating well-organized, balanced, and engaging compositions. Additionally, many learn digital or web design as a complementary skill set. Video editors who want to edit content for social media or to create promotional materials for brands can often learn web design to better create projects for digital channels and digital distribution. This can involve needed additional training in web programming and user research and testing.

Industries That Use Video Editing

Portland is a city that rewards creative thinking, artistry, prototyping, and design. This is why some of its top industries for video editing professionals include animation, advertising, design, and retail. Someone with video editing and motion graphics experience can find themselves working for agencies or companies both large and boutique in Oregon’s largest and most diverse city.

Animation

Within the media industry, Portland is a great place for Animators and Visual Effects Artists. Portland is home to stop-motion animation studio LAIKA, known for its work on films such as Coraline and Kubo and the Two Strings. Portland is also home to other animation, motion graphics, and VFX studios like ShadowMachine and Deep Sky.

Someone with video editing experience has a large role to play in the animation, motion graphics, and visual effects fields. Animated projects are edited similarly to other film and video projects and will require someone to know similar computer editing and motion graphics software. By specializing in 2D or 3D animation, someone with video editing experience can also work on creating animated characters or scenes for film, TV, and video games or for purposes of entertainment, education, and promotion. This industry overlaps with others as it is not only the entertainment industry that will want to employ someone with video editing and motion graphics experience but also other advertising and design fields, as well.

Advertising

Advertising is another of Portland’s top industries and the city is home to many top advertising agencies. The largest firm headquartered in Portland is Wieden+Kennedy, an advertising agency well-known within the industry for creating inventive, award-winning advertisements. Their co-founder Dan Wieden coined Nike’s “Just Do It” tagline, which is just one example of how they have impacted culture through unique marketing and promotional ideas.

This is another of the top industries that employs those with video editing experience. Video editing professionals frequently work on commercial and digital advertisements as well as other promotional materials that need to incorporate video or motion graphics. It is often the case that advertisers want to make their campaigns as interactive, dynamic, and eye-catching as possible and will rely on someone who has experience working with sound and image to help them realize these goals.

Design

Along with advertising and animation, Portland has a strong design industry. This includes agencies involved in graphic design, commercial design, and interior design. What unites these disparate design fields is a focus on crafting a unique brand image for a diverse set of clients. Each client will need a design studio’s help to craft a meaningful message to communicate to their desired customer base.

Design studios in and outside of Portland will employ a host of creative individuals with experience in video editing, filmmaking, motion graphics, illustration, and graphic design. A video editing professional working for a design studio can add their skills to the mix. These companies often work on branding and creating bespoke promotional materials for specific brands, so someone with video editing experience will be tasked with editing a brand’s materials for use either internally or for distribution online or through commercial broadcasting.

Retail

Retail is another of Portland’s top industries as it is the headquarters for companies such as Nike, Columbia, and Sorel. This is also a space where design is paramount, as retail companies need innovative products and product designers who can implement designs using state-of-the-art technologies for prototyping, printing, and manufacturing. This is also an industry that overlaps with other design fields and with advertising as it relies heavily on creatives who can think up designs and marketers who can promote them.

Retail companies, like most businesses or organizations, will rely heavily on a video editing professional for their promotional materials. Retailers put together video packages for new product launches, and commercial materials for broadcast or display on digital channels, and might even need someone to work on internal video communications, depending on the company. Companies either hire video editing professionals to work in-house or, more likely, hire local advertising agencies and design firms to work on their brand identity and awareness as well as specific marketing campaigns.

Video Editing Job Titles and Salaries

Video Editor

Video Editors are skilled professionals who take video footage and organize, correct, and add effects to it to create a finished product. A Video Editor will know how to work with multiple kinds of footage, resize it, color-correct it, arrange footage into a coherent order, add transitions, and add and mix sound. They often receive at least some training in adding motion graphics and digital effects to video, as well. Video Editors work on video projects large and small, often in post-production roles in film and TV, and also commonly work on editing promotional materials in the advertising industry.

Video Editors based in Portland earn $45,000, on average, which is on par with the national average for this professional. The pay for a Video Editor ranges from around $24,000 for entry-level positions to around $82,000 for positions requiring more years of experience. What you actually earn will not only be based on experience, but also education and whether you’re a freelance Video Editor or have signed on with an agency, production company, or design studio.

Motion Graphics Designer

Motion Graphics Designers create animations, visual effects, and other motion graphics for entertainment, promotion, and educational purposes. These skilled professionals can use their technical knowledge to create animated scenes, characters, or settings for film, TV, and games. They also often work in advertising, where they might be tasked with designing an animated brand logo or creating digital advertising for display on websites, applications, or other digital channels.

In Portland, Motion Graphics Designers make $86,000 a year, which is similar to the national average. Those in this role are earning between $53,000 and $137,000, in Portland. One’s salary depends on several factors including education, experience, skill level, and industry.

Animator

Like Motion Graphics Designers, Animators create moving, dynamic designs for a variety of purposes. They use computer software like After Effects and Illustrator to create animations and models of characters, settings, scenes, and actions. Many also hand draw, though even then Animators often need to use computer software to sequence, edit, and adjust their illustrations. Most Animators will specialize in 2D or 3D animation and learning 3D animation can mean you’ll need more rigorous training but it also often comes with higher pay and more career opportunities as many industries use 3D models and simulations for product design and prototyping.

Animators in Portland earn around $76,000 a year, similar to the national average. What you make depends on your years of experience and skill level as well as what kind of animation you can do. Salaries for animators in Portland range from $55,000 to $105,000. 3D Animators tend to earn more, so those with this specialization are making $102,000 on average per year and their salary range will also look different.

Social Media Marketer

Social Media Marketers run marketing and promotional campaigns for brands across their social media platforms. They often create and post content to social platforms, engage with customers, grow a brand’s reach, and analyze engagement data to understand customer behavior and the impact of their campaign strategies. For these professionals, video editing training can help them create professional video content for distribution across social channels. They will need to know how to create on-trend content and that their current and prospective audiences want to engage with and receiving video editing training can help with this.

A Social Media Marketer in Portland makes around $67,000 per year, similar to the salary of a Digital Marketer. The pay range for a Social Media Marketer is from $51,000 to around $87,000 in Portland. Those just starting out in social media should expect to earn less while those with years of experience and success should be able to find more senior-level, Social Media Manager or Social Media Marketing Manager positions.

Video Editing Classes Near Me

Noble Desktop offers a wide range of video editing classes, from short introductory workshops to career-oriented bootcamps and certificate programs. All of Noble Desktop’s classes offer hands-on training from expert instructors, small class sizes, and a guarantee that you’ll learn the skills in the syllabus. Those in Portland can enroll in live online classes and Noble offers in-person classes at their facility in Midtown Manhattan. Beginners can consider starting with the six-hour Premiere Pro In a Day workshop. This short class familiarizes students with the software and teaches basic editing skills like mixing audio, doing color-correction, or adding B-roll and simple effects to your videos.

Those looking for more comprehensive video editing training can enroll in the 18-hour ||CPN730||. This bootcamp not only provides learners with a solid introduction to Premiere Pro but also covers more advanced features such as multi-cam editing, resizing footage or speeding it up/slowing it down, and adding motion graphics from After Effects. The 90-hour ||CPN876|| is another great option for career-oriented learners. This certificate program provides hands-on training in basic and advanced video editing tools and provides guidance in putting together a competitive portfolio for the job market. Noble also offers a Motion Graphics Certificate and a Video Editing & Motion Graphics Certificate. This editing and motion graphics certificate will provide learners with comprehensive, well-rounded training in both subjects and is a great way to pursue a career in not only video editing or motion graphics but also animation or web design.

Those in and around the Portland area can consider taking a class or workshop through Willamette Falls Studio. Located in nearby Oregon City, Willamette Falls Studio is a public media production training facility that works on behalf of the local community. As part of their Filmmaking Course, they offer a Video Editing Course that teaches participants how to work with industry-standard video editing software, either Premiere Pro or Final Cut, to create a timeline, do sound design, color-correct video, add motion and graphics, and export a finalized video project.

Portland Community College (PCC) also offers associate degree and certificate programs for those looking for longer courses of study in video editing and motion graphics. Their year-long Multimedia Certificate is a good option for someone who wants to go into motion graphics, visual design, or 2D/3D animation. Their two-year Video Production and Emerging Media degree program is better suited for those who want to learn video editing and filmmaking. This comprehensive program walks students through all aspects of the filmmaking process, which includes editing video and sound, and for different purposes like short films, documentaries, music videos, and podcasts. Both of these options will require a significant time investment, as you will be attending regular in-person classes at PCC and fulfilling additional general education requirements.

For younger learners, consider winter, spring, and summer camps and workshops through NW Film Camp. An upcoming winter workshop for teens aged 13-19 is NW Film Camp’s Editing and Post-Production Workshop for Teens. This is a six-week, online workshop that teens can attend on Wednesdays after school. Participants will learn how to edit for various kinds of film and video projects, use industry-standard software, and manage a real-world video editing workflow. NW Film Camp suggests this can prepare learners for their Teen Filmmaker Lab, a more comprehensive training camp aimed at moving teens through all steps of the filmmaking process.

Ledet Training also offers in-person and online training for those in the Portland area. Their Adobe Video 501—Adobe Video Professional Bootcamp is a five-day, intensive bootcamp that provides training in both Premiere and After Effects. This bootcamp allows students to receive comprehensive training in both of these industry-standard editing and motion graphics software programs. While this course is beginner-friendly, they recommend enrollees have experience using Photoshop to get the most from this bootcamp. Ledet Training also offers other courses in video editing and motion graphics, where students can learn how to use Camtasia, Cinema 4D, Animate, or BlackMagic Fusion.

Another option for online video editing training is taking a class from Certstaffix. They offer professional training in Adobe Creative Cloud software and someone interested in video editing can consider their beginner-friendly Premiere Pro class. This intensive, three-day class will teach participants how to import footage, edit video and sound, and export their final project. Certstaffix’s Premiere Pro class is project-based and can also be taken as a way to prepare for the Adobe Certified Professional exam in Digital Video Using Adobe Premiere Pro.

Video Editing Corporate Training

If you are looking to reskill or upskill your workforce with video editing training, consider Noble Desktop’s corporate training options. They offer hands-on, expert-led training in industry-standard video editing and motion graphics software. Your team can take an intensive bootcamp, workshop, or comprehensive certificate program to learn Premiere Pro, After Effects, and everything they need to do professional end-to-end video editing and add movement and effects to videos, photographs, typography, and social media content.

Noble’s classes are offered in-person at their Manhattan facility, live online from any location, or scheduled onsite at your location. Discounted vouchers are available for bulk enrollment in Noble’s regular, public classes. This option allows employers to decide which courses their workforce can take and it allows employees to choose which courses fit best with their schedule or training needs. To learn more about corporate training options and to book a complimentary consultation, email corporate@nobledesktop.com. Noble Desktop can help your business or organization devise a customized curriculum for your workforce based on their training needs, schedule, and location.

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