What services do video editors offer (and what they don’t)?

If it’s your first time outsourcing video editing to a freelancer or an agency you might not be 100% sure what are the actual services they usually offer.

What’s their responsibility?

What is not?

What are the deliverables once the project is over?

We are going to address that in this article.

We, Veedyou Media, are an agency that offers video editing services to all kinds of clients.

Below we are going to list, one by one all the components of the services we are providing or that a third-party agency or freelancer is likely to offer, as a video editing service provider.

We are also going to include services that are optional, some may offer it, some may not, as well as a list of services that are not offered by video editors.

Part 1: What video editing services (must) include

First, let’s talk a little bit about the responsibilities of a video editor.

A video editor is responsible for editing and assembling raw footage and other types of materials into a video that is ready to be published and watched by the viewers.

When editing a video, an editor can work with footage, photos, audio recordings, graphic elements, text, sound effects, and other graphic materials. Depending on the project a video editor can also follow a script or storyboard if provided.

#1 Curating the raw footage

Often times your video editor will watch hours and hours of raw footage and select the best and most important moments that will make it to the final cut.

Removing scenes that are shaky, double takes and any mistakes from a recording is definitely the responsibility of the editor.

#2 Cuts and transitions

Cutting from one camera to another or to a different scene is also under the responsibility of your video editor.

Sometimes these will be simple jump cuts or L cuts, J cuts, or more elaborate transitions.

It will depend on the creative view of the editor, or on the specific instructions that you provide to your video editor.

#3 Text and graphics overlay

Whether it’s a title or captions, an image, or other graphic elements, the video editor can add any of those elements on top of the video.

Moreover, this should be done in a style (e.g. font and color) that matches your branding and company’s visual identity.

#4 Motion graphics and typography

Motion graphics and typography are a step up from the regula text and graphics overalys.

This will make your video more dynamic and more visual appeling to certain type of audiences.

Editors will often use After Effects templates for typhography and lower thirds. These templates can be customized for you or, the motion graphics can be designed and animated from scratch for you.

#5 Multicamera editing and audio syncing

You video editor will also have to auto-sync multiple cameras.

This is common for interviews and podcasts, weddings and what not.

#6 Audio editing and sound effects

Tweaking a poor audio recording, doing some equalization or de-noising audio is something that should also be the responsibility of the video editor.

Here we can also include adding sound effects such as whooshes, dings, bells, and whistles, you name it.

#7 Licensed background music

A video editor or a post-production agency should have access to one or more music licensing platforms and should be able to offer you different options in terms of background music for your video.

This comes in handy especially if you plan on posting the video on social or broadcasting it as an ad on radio or TV.

Double check with your video editing service provider that the music licensing they are using covers the platforms and media you will be distributing your video on.

#8 Stock footage / b-roll

While video editors don’t usually shoot video, they can use stock footage platforms to search for a b-roll that’s relevant to your video content.

#9 Color grading

Color grading is something that all editors should offer. Whether it’s just applying and tweaking a LUT or doing it all from scratch, coloring falls under the responsibility of the video editor.

#10 Revisions

Last but not least, all editors should offer multiple revisions. It’s almost impossible to get everything right from the first cut and most of the time you as a client will have to provide feedback to your editor and collaborate with him or her until you get back the final cut.

We, at Veedyou Media always offer 2 or 3 rounds of revisions for free.

Part 2: What video editing services may not include

There are a handful of requests that tend to pop up a lot that your editor might not offer. Although there are editors who can do these tasks as well, these are not under the responsabilities of a video editor.

#1 Managing social channels

A video editor is not resposible with uploading the edited videos to YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, or any platform.

Video editors are also not responsible on managing a YouTube channel or tracking the number of views or performance of a video.

#2 Animation

While editors usually have at least some basic animation knoledge or skills, creating more elaborate 2D or 3D animations are in the responsabily of an animator or motion graphics artist.

So are special visual effects.

#3 Thumbnails

I look at thumbnails more as an add-on service that can be provided by your video editor.

So that’s something you may want to double check with the editor.

Part 3: What video editing services do not include

Last but not leat, there are a couple of things that might be associated with the whole video creation process, but these are not included in the services rendered by the video editor.

#1 Writing a script

Sometimes videos are built based on a script or storyblord.

These are creative documents that video editors work with to put together the video. However, they are not responsible for creating them

#2 Shooting the video

Recording the footage is in the responsabilty of the videographer or camera man.

Sometimes editors do shoot video, but I can tell you from personal experience that many editors are great at cutting footage, but they have zero knowledge of how to shot great video.

Conclusion

Always talk to your video editing service provider and confirm what is included and what is not in the service that you are buying.

Many people rely on common sense to determine that, but it’s always a good idea to communicate with your video editor and be 100% clear on the responsabilies of each different person.

I hope this helps!