Over the years as a video production company we have often been asked, ”Can you edit our footage that we have filmed ourselves and give it a professional look and sound?”

The answer is YES.

We have edited a wide variety of projects across the US and Canada.

This not only includes projects with 100% of the client’s footage but also projects with a combination of client footage and new footage we filmed to fill in the gaps.

Below you will find a variety of techniques we apply to your footage and audio to maximize its appearance and sound.

Color Correction

There are many ways videos can be edited to give them a more professional look. One of the most common techniques is Color Correction. When a video is properly color corrected, the lighting will be enhanced, the colors will be in balance, and the details will be more visible. Color corrections often include adjustments to white balance, contrast, exposure and ISO Noise.

In the example below of the London Bridge in Lake Havasu, AZ, notice how the image of the bridge is brought to life. In the original footage you will notice how dark it is under the bridge archways. Also notice how dull the bricks are as well. After color correction is applied, you can now actually see the detail under the bridge archways and the bricks.

Color Grading

After color correction is completed, the video can then be Color Graded. Color grading sets the theme for the video. For example, a mystery murder movie filmed in NY might have a dark blue cast on it, while a light comedy filmed in California might have a soft warmer look. Color grading often applies to color, genre, location, mood, time of day and often a variety of film stocks which all give the video a different “look and feel”. In the example below, using the same color corrected video above, the theme has been changed to the Golden Hour.

Framing Interview Videos

Interview videos can be filmed in a variety of formats for most impact, such as a long shot, a medium shot or a close-up. If the original footage was filmed on a 4K camera or well focused HD camera, then it is possible to punch in on a medium shot and also provide a close-up view without losing to much quality, assuming the output will be 1080p HD format.

In the example below, one camera produced a medium view and a close-up view. If you film with two or more cameras, you can double the number of views as well by repeating the same process. We also cleaned up the audio by removing some of the background noise from the construction sites.

Image Stabilization

One of the issues we often have to work on is the stabilization of the footage we receive from our clients. The footage we receive is often filmed handheld, which results in shaky footage. This often leads to slanted images as well. We always recommend to our clients to use some form of stabilization, such as a monopod, tripod, or a gimbal of some kind that will give them smooth and level footage. In the example below, the original footage was filmed from a handheld camera on a boat, which led to shaky footage, as well as the horizon not being level. By applying a few techniques we were able to stabilize the footage and level it.

Bringing it all together

In the corporate video below we have combined all of our techniques to provide a compelling company overview. The video includes images and videos provided by the client. We filmed the interview and added a few other building clips to complement the videos and still images provided by the client. The target length of the video (and most corporate videos) is to be less than three minutes long.

Music - Music selection is one of the hardest processes to go through for any video. It has to have a tempo that matches the overall theme of the presentation, yet not dominate the conversation. Music also needs to be properly licensed so that your video is not in any copyright violation. We provide music through a variety of music companies.

Interview - Probably the most important part of the interview is the audio quality. Using professional microphones in a quiet setting, without background noise (A/C, ceiling fans, outdoor traffic, etc) produces the best result. Lighting is also critical in the interview. As mentioned above, the interview can be filmed with multiple cameras or just one. Filming in 4K gives you more framing choices in the editing process. Since the interview process can be challenging, we are often called in to assist with that portion of the video.

B-Roll footage - B-Roll footage is the video you see playing while the interviewee is talking. It usually supports the talking points of the speaker. It is also very helpful in the editing process, since you can make cuts to the recorded voice and remove unwanted um’s and ah’s so you have a more professional presentation.

Still Images - Still images are often a great back up for B-Roll that you might not have been able to capture. By adding motion to the still images, they will appear to be video clips as well and seamlessly fit into the overall final video.

Graphics - Graphics are very important to include to help with the talking points of the presentation. Also the intro and outro graphics which include animated logos and contact information help with the overall branding and marketing components.

Video Formats

Before we begin the editing process, or filming process if we are part of the film production, we always need to know up front where the video will be played. Sometimes company web videos will be played on multiple social media platforms. Each platform recommends a variety of formats. The traditional video format is a landscape 16X9 format, which is common on television and most websites. When videos are primarily displayed on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn or Twitter, a square format is very popular. Also, vertical videos are very popular for Instagram Stories. With the advancement in Digital Signage, it is very common to see vertical screens in hotels and airports and other public locations. Sometimes we will produce the same video in 3 or more formats, so the client can then choose which one best fits the target display as seen in the example below.

Example Projects

Check out our projects, from major motion pictures to corporate clients, non-profits, and families.

We look forward to having an introductory conversation with you. Simply send us a note on our Contacts Page, and we can begin a conversation.

Hot Water

The trailer for Hot Water sets the scene for the movie’s mid 2020 release. We were part of the film crew and filmed many scenes in this trailer. From an editing perspective, we color corrected and color graded the entire feature film and also helped the producers in the QC (quality control) process to get it approved for professional distribution channels. We also filmed and edited the Behind The Scenes video, which can be seen on the movie’s website.

Africa Bound Safaris

This video was filmed by a family on an African Safari, as part of a two year world tour. The family visited every continent and provided over 1,500 videos and over 20,000 still images. We filmed the interviews as part of the feature film. This video can now be seen on the Africa Bound Safaris website.

Sadie Robertson - Live Original - Roma Boots

This video was a short edit Roma Boots asked us to do for them, combining video they took at a photo shoot and the Guatemala boot drop video we had previously produced for them.

Children Rising

The staff of Children Rising, a non-profit in Oakland CA, provided the film, and we completed all the editing in time for a key fundraiser.

Lionsgate & Roma - Wonder Movie

We had the great privilege to team up with Roma Boots and Lionsgate to produce this short video to highlight their collaboration in developing a new boot that symbolizes kindness and hope. This was a combination of Lionsgate footage from the Wonder movie, Roma Boots footage, and our own.

Shoplogix - Smart Factory

This project included stock footage, footage we filmed, 3rd party graphics, and a voice-over we provided. Shoplogix used it for their customer partner kickoff meeting in Toronto.