Discover the top 10 pitfalls new video editors often fall into and learn how to sidestep them to create professional-quality videos.

Video editing can be a truly magical process, transforming raw footage into a captivating story. But like every other skill, it comes with its own set of challenges, especially for those who are just dipping their toes into the world of video production.

While the plethora of tools, effects, and transitions at our disposal can be incredibly exciting, they can also be misleading. Overuse can often diminish the quality of the final product rather than enhance it.

On the other hand, ignoring basic essentials like audio quality or pacing can leave your video lacking in professionalism.

From the temptation of using every available effect to neglecting the art of storytelling, this blog post dives deep into the 10 common video editing pitfalls.

1. Using Every Effect And Transition

When you’re just starting out with video editing, it’s super exciting to see all those cool transitions and effects. I mean, there are so many in the software!

But just because they’re there, doesn’t mean you gotta use them all. In fact, if you go overboard with those fancy transitions, your video might end up looking kind of amateur.

It’s usually best to keep it simple. Stick with the basic cuts and fades. Trust me, they never go out of style and they always look professional.

2. Ignoring Audio Quality

You can have the most amazing visuals, but if your audio is bad? It’s a total mess.

Believe it or not, people are actually more forgiving of not-so-perfect visuals than bad sound. So do yourself a favor and don’t rely on that built-in mic on your camera.

It’s worth getting an external microphone. And always, always check that your sound levels are even and there’s not too much background noise.

3. Jumping Between Different Styles

Alright, here’s the deal: you’ve gotta stay consistent. I know it’s tempting to throw in all sorts of styles and effects in one video. But honestly? It can really throw off your viewers.

Find a vibe that works for what you’re showing and just roll with it for the whole video. It makes a huge difference.

4. Not Organizing Clips

You absolutely have to get your clips organized before you even think about editing. Sorting out your clips ahead of time is gonna save you a whole bunch of headaches.

It helps streamline everything. You’re not endlessly scrolling trying to find the right clip.

When everything’s neatly organized, there’s less chance you’ll overlook some killer footage that you absolutely should include in your final project. You’ll thank yourself later when you’re deep into editing and everything is just a click away.

5. Over-Relying On Templates

Templates are a great place to start, don’t get me wrong. But you can’t just use them as-is and call it a day.

You’ve got to tweak them to make them fit your video’s unique vibe. If you just slap on a template without customizing it, your project’s gonna look super generic, and we don’t want that, do we?

So go ahead, and use those templates as a starting point, but make sure you add your own flair to really make it yours. 

You can get amazing templates for your video editing software on Envato Elements.

6. Forgetting To Color Correct

You know how sometimes when you’re filming, the lighting can switch up on you? Maybe a cloud passed by or the sun started setting? Well, that can throw your colors all over the place.

So, once you’re editing, it’s super important to do some color correction. This way, all your clips have a consistent look.

And hey, while we’re on the topic, there’s also something called color grading. It’s not the same as correction. Grading is more about setting the vibe or the mood for your video. Think of it like adding a unique filter to make everything feel just right.

And speaking of color grading, We’ve put together an awesome pack of over 100 color-grading LUTs, and guess what? They’re, totally free!

7. Not Paying Attention To Pacing

Pacing is everything in a video.

Have you ever watched something and just zoned out because it dragged on forever? Or blink and miss a quick scene? Yeah, we’ve all been there.

It is all about finding that sweet spot with the rhythm of your video.

I am not saying every scene has to move at the same pace. It’s more about making sure everything flows and feels natural.

Keep it engaging, keep it smooth, and your viewers will be right there with you!

8. Neglecting Storytelling

At the end of the day, editing is all about telling a story. You could have the most jaw-dropping shots, but if they aren’t pushing the story forward? They’re just… pretty pictures.

So, whenever you’re in the zone, cutting and trimming, always ask yourself: Is this serving my story? Remember, every cut should bring something to the table and push that narrative.

9. Not Using Keyboard Shortcuts

Video Editing is a time-consuming process but if you want to get things done quicker, one of the best things you can do is learn the keyboard shortcuts for the software you’re using.

Once you get the hang of it, not only will you work faster, but everything will just flow better. You’ll be able to make your videos way more easily and they’ll turn out better too.

10. Not Reviewing The Final Cut Multiple Times

After hours of editing, you might feel like wrapping up the project fast. But doing that might make you miss some mistakes.

Always go over your work a few times. And if you can, get someone else to check it. Someone new might spot things you didn’t see.