How to make edits? Small Guide on how to start.

Edits have become a big part of pop-culture: Instagram, Tiktok, Facebook… they are present everywhere. More and more people are enjoying them and creativity is always growing. If you live in a cage, an edit is a video filled with scenes and or pictures, using transitions and effects. It’s often in appreciation of a show, a movie, an anime, a celebrity, an aesthetic…You may have, at some point, wanted to start editing, this is your sign! Here are some few steps to help you.

1-Editing Style

First thing first, you need to know what you want to do. Do you want to try doing effects? Do you want to do simple edits without transitions? Do you want to find your own style?

To help you with that, type #edit on Instagram or look up edits compilations on Youtube for your to get your inspo. Know that your style will change with time, whether you want it or not, you will improve or just get bored at one point.

2-Software/App

Second step, the way you’ll edit. I’d say this is one of the most important parts, according to the style you choose, here are some options (know that those aren’t the only ones, if you found one that you like, go for it!):

Still/Transitionless : Inshot (app), Premiere Pro (sofware), VivaVideo (app),…

With transitions : After Effects (software, the one I use), Funimate (app), VideoStar (app), CapCut (app), Alight Motion (app), Sony Vegas Pro (software),…

Acknowledge the fact that the ones WITH transitions can be used even if you want to do TRANSITIONLESS edits. And I recommend you to pick a software/app which can do the transitions so you can improve or just learn professionally a new skill, so that you can take opportunities easier.

PS- Not all of those are free-to-use, however, a lot of Youtube channels have ressources you can use. You get the spirit.

3-Scenes

I suppose that if you want to make edits, you already know what you want to edit. In hence it’s different for everyone.

If you want to edit a show or a movie, look up ___ logoless or ___ scenepack on Youtube. If there’s nothing or not enough, look up your show and sp/ga/scenes on Instagram. Most of the time, the account will be private, just follow the rules and wait a few days and you’ll have access! You’re reading the blog of a real investigator here, so you’ll get my special method. Look up on Instagram: ___edit and go look at them. In the description most of the times it’s written sp: or sc:. Those are the scenepacks credits, so you just found were the scenes are. Now go add the account and do the same thing as I said before. Last method, if you’re on the verge of tears, DM someone on Instagram (who edited the show) and NICELY ask them where they found it. If it’s a movie, you can find full links on some accounts on Instagram, dig into editor’s captions and ask people around. Editing is a big family (still be careful though). 

You can also edit with pictures, some photopacks are available on accounts but my personal favorite is to spend 3 hours on Pinterest almost dying and loosing all hopes. Pick a struggle.

I’m not going to make a list for everything that you’d want to edit but know that all ressources are on the internet. Have some common sense to find movies if people didn’t make them available… 

4-Audios

 

Audio is the easiest part to find! Sadly also the worst. The ressources are there… The problem is that audios never fit the idea. But let’s hope everything goes well for you! 

You can find audios on Youtube, there are a hundred compilations. There are also a lot of accounts specific to audios on Instagram. You can find most with the #audiosforedits. Soundcloud stays the best place in my mind, hardest to dig in, but you get real gold there. I’d recommend you to start with Instagram audios because they have the Beats and Loops indications (lights/color changes…) and it will be easier for you to start (not everyone has the rhythm in their blood). Dig! Search! Find! and most importantly stay optimistic!

You have done every steps which are not avoidable. Now here are some more to get to an another level.

5-Tutorials 

Spin, zoom-in, zoom-out, scale… All that can be pretty confusing at first, no worries: tutorials are there for you! Whereas it’s for a software or an app, Youtube is the best place for tutorials. There are some for editing styles, transitions, effects, colourings… As I said before, you can also DM fellow editors, the software they use is often specified in their bios. 

6-What more?

What can you add to make your edits stand out?

I recommend overlays (Youtube or Instagram giveaways): light leaks, vintage looks, particules, screen effects… You can also add voice-overs. There are compilations of those on Youtube and they’re becoming really popular on TikTok, where people take a whole video to put in the begging of the video (See Leslie Jordan’s « Daddy watch me twirl » or even Nicki’s « I don’t think you understand, I’m obsessed… »).

Done! You're good to go. Now remember that it will be hard to start, softwares are sometimes difficult to understand but keep in mind that you will grow it out and have so much fun! It's not easy to develop a new skill, it take some time. And if you post those edits, don't care about the likes, put some hashtags and people will come and go, at one point you will for sure get your fame and people will enjoy watching your edits as much as you like watching theirs. Editing is a hobby. Remember to have fun! 

I hope this helped you in any point! If you make edits, tag me or just send them to me, I'd be very happy about it! (@msaliceurban on Instagram) And if you need any help with After Effects, hit me up too!

See you xx