8 editing mistakes that make your videos look amateur

Creating video can take years, if not a lifetime, to master. Which is why as fun as content creation is, it can be intimidating, especially for new editors. Even though making mistakes is part of the learning process, there are certain ones that will be a dead giveaway that you’re a beginner.

We talked to several video professionals and editors to learn all about these beginner editing mistakes. In this article, we’ll cover the top 8 mistakes as well as their advice on how to grow from them.

The top 8 editing mistakes beginners make with video (and how to avoid them)

1. Focusing on details over substance

When you’re just starting out with video creation, it’s all too tempting to jump right into the more “fun” parts of your edit. Which is why rushing through editing is one of the common mistakes that beginners make. As Kyle Miller, Storyblocks’ Video Production Manager, gives the example of “Getting really excited about nailing an intro so you jump into sound design, graphics, motion, etc. before getting the rough cut completed.”

This is a mistake even the most seasoned editors have experienced, and it’s understandable—you want to see your finished product ASAP. It’s the most exciting part of being a video producer, after all. Especially if you have a vision for how a scene or part of your video should look.

But, move too fast and you could miss the important details. You might end up with an underdeveloped narrative because you’re too consumed with detailed edits. Of course, an eye for detail is important, but Miller encourages us to think of our a-roll like a “foundation of a house, that you can then layer b-roll, graphics, effects, transitions, sound design, etc., on top of.” He also adds that it’s important to work through your timeline step by step with a linear editing process.

So even though the flashy, fun edits are tempting, don’t neglect the essential beginning steps of putting the foundation of your video together, like assembling your rough cut. That’s where your story really starts getting shaped, after all. Check out our video on the basics of video editing to learn more about shaping your process.

2. Not knowing when to stop adding edits

One of the hardest things for a beginner of any craft to master is knowing when their work is finished. It’s easy to tweak, edit, and refine endlessly, constantly trying to create the perfect version of your vision. It’s also not uncommon for people to want to try out all of the latest effects or editing techniques.

Which is why over-editing is another common editing mistake. Whether you’re applying too many tips and techniques all in one video or can’t seem to be satisfied with your work, this can be a tough habit to break.

Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist, DP, and director Alex Garcia says that when videos look too gimmicky and when you use templates and transitions that “lack resonance with the topic,” this could give your video a “LOOK AT ME” vibe. Freelance editor Rachel Kisela underscores this by sharing that, “If you’re adding a thousand cuts and zooms, as a viewer I can quickly lose my orientation of where things are happening.”

How can you avoid over-editing? Ask yourself while watching if the video is easy to understand. This applies to all aspects—the audio, the visuals, the transitions and effects, the overall messaging. And when in doubt, keep your edits simple and minimal. If your editing choices are distracting from the actual story or goal of your video, it’s probably good to cut back. 

It’ll also help if you leave that video marinating for a day or two and then come back to it with fresh eyes. If it’s not easy to understand or it’s feeling chaotic, chances are you over-edited it. Sometimes, less is more, especially when editing. This can help you better understand where your decisions can improve your video vs just adding flashiness.

3. Not leaving enough things on the cutting-room floor

When it comes to cutting things from your video, some decisions are easy. Like removing long pauses and filler words, like um or uh. But many beginner editors struggle with knowing when to cut scenes or footage that aren’t actually adding value. “A lot of new editors leave extra shots in because it was either A. simply provided, or B. they’re really proud of it,” Miller explains.

Knowing what to leave on the “cutting-room floor,” as Kisela calls it, is an important skill to hone. Because even if a shot is visually stunning and took hours to get right, if it’s not actually essential to your video and the story you’re trying to tell, it shouldn’t be there.

To avoid this mistake, try to practice what writers often call “killing your darlings.” This is where you remove parts of the video, even if they’re really good, if they’re not serving the overall theme or story. Condensing a story into its simplest form is “the strength of an editor,” as Miller puts it.

But while this is a crucial skill to master, it can be difficult to put into practice. Self-awareness and patience will come into play to master the art of killing your darlings. Try to notice where your video drags or feels long, and take an objective look at what parts are essential vs nice-to-have.

4. Not having enough emphasis on good audio quality

“Poor audio can kill a video in seconds,” says Garcia. Given that people have shorter attention spans these days, a subpar audio quality might make your audience move on to the next content faster than if your audio is crisp, solid, and a good match to the video.

To address this, Garcia suggests editing with a good set of headphones (not earbuds), making sure that sound is coming through both ears. He also recommends that beginner editors “switch back to your computer to emulate how others may listen,” so that you don’t miss anything.

Along with those tips, Kisela also points out that it’s important to watch your decibel meters. She adds that, “it can sound jarring” when she hears straight cuts aligned with the visual jump cuts instead of a small crossfade.

Good audio starts with a good microphone. You can find recommendations from YouTubers on their essential equipment in this post.

5. Having poor pacing

Nothing can be more annoying than watching something good, insightful, or exciting, but having to deal with poor pacing. If things are happening too slow, your viewers might lose interest and continue scrolling. On the other hand, if your video is moving too quickly, you’ll lose people by confusing them.

To avoid this editing mistake, you need to understand what kind of video you’re making, which platform it’s for, who your audience is, and what the main purpose of the video is. These are all essential steps that you should have defined during pre-production. After all, all of these factors are important considerations for shaping the content of your video. The pacing for a long-form educational YouTube video aimed at students will be very different from a short-form vlog for TikTok.

For ads and other brand content, make sure you are creating an emotional connection with your audience. Slowing down the pacing might make more sense here. As Garcia puts it, “No one cares about your emotion unless you have the proper, relatable context first.”

6. Improper and unclear text placement

When you’re adding text to your video, you have to make sure it is clean and readable. One editing mistake beginners make is adding a title to a video without paying attention to the background. “It does the viewer no good if the text is obscured by a background that’s the same or similar color,” says Miller. This problem is also prevalent in subtitles or captions that editors add.

To ensure readability, use the correct font style, size, and text effects. 85% of videos on social media are watched by silent scrollers, so captions are important. But make sure you are placing it correctly. Use text background if needed so as to ensure readability. Same goes for the title.

7. Letting the music overpower everything

Garcia describes music in a video as a way to “lift or flesh out what emotion or meaning is already there – not to dominate the scene in a way that clubs the intimacy of a moment.” This description hits the spot because it is another one of the video editing mistakes that make videos look amateur. If your music is too intense and overpowering the emotions of your visuals, it’s probably doing more harm than good. It might distract your audience from what’s happening on the screen.

Aside from not using the same trending music over and over again, Garcia advises being mindful of the emotions present in your video, as this will help you “understand when to lead and when to gently encourage from behind.” If you’re adding music to a scene that slowly builds to an emotional climax, having your music start quieter and slowly build will be far more effective than having the music blast at the same volume all the way through.

8. Not having an outsider’s perspective

The final mistake is one that can help prevent everything we’ve already covered – and that’s getting a second opinion. When you’ve been working on a video for a while and are so wrapped up in it, it’s easy to miss things. It’s not you—this is every creative’s struggle. Which is why getting someone else’s thoughts and feedback on it is important.

As Garcia puts it, “It helps to have someone you trust to give helpful feedback and look at the project without any sense of what it’s about.” Not only will this help you get a sense of how others might view your work, this will also help reveal the “blind spots of logic or emotional insensitivity,” as Garcia calls it, which “prevents people from connecting to your video.”

Share your work with a trusted friend or colleague—they’re seeing it with fresh eyes and they can notice things you may have missed and point them out. And they can help you confirm that the message, emotional tone, and overall feel of your video match what you’re trying to convey before you hit publish. This will help you see which of your visions actually work and which don’t, resulting in a better and more connected experience for whoever views it.

One rule of thumb when working as a creative is to always give space for the viewer’s perspective. Maybe you’re creating for a specific brand, or for your own social media, or for a special project you’re pursuing… whatever that may be, always keep in mind that it won’t stay in a box and tossed under your bed. It will be viewed by other people. They will have their own interpretations. So throughout the production process, be sure to balance audience interpretation and your vision for the project.

Growing and learning from mistakes is part of being an editor

Aside from constantly wondering what are common mistakes to avoid in video editing, it’s also important to acknowledge that video editing is hard. The seemingly overproduction of content is not a sign or guarantee that it’s easy, especially if we’re talking about good-quality video content.

When it comes to editing, “You have tons of options of when to cut, how to cut, etc.,” as Miller puts it. Acquiring the knowledge and skills to avoid making the editing mistakes that make your video look amateur takes time, patience, and dedication.

The first step to becoming better at this craft is to know the level of your skills. Then get feedback from peers or friends, consume content, take note of what you like and don’t like, keep creating, and stay hungry to learn new techniques. Cliche as it sounds, but experience is the best teacher, especially for creatives.

If you’re looking for an easy way to get high-quality content for your videos, Storyblocks is a great subscription for beginners. With unlimited downloads of over 10 million royalty free stock assets to choose from, you’ll have everything you need to make your videos look and sound professional. Explore our plans and sign up today to start downloading.