Editing Workflow for Maximum Efficiency

Post-production is where the story truly comes together—but without a solid workflow, it’s easy to get lost in the process. Whether you're editing a short social clip or a full-length corporate video, having an efficient editing workflow can save time, reduce stress, and improve the final product.

1. Organize Before You Begin

Before opening your editing software, organize your assets. Create folders for footage, audio, music, graphics, and project files. Consistent naming conventions will help keep your timeline clean and reduce errors later on.

2. Use Proxy Files for Faster Editing

Working with high-resolution footage? Use proxy files—lower-resolution copies of your media—to speed up editing performance. Most editing programs like Premiere Pro and DaVinci Resolve offer built-in proxy workflows. Additionally there are many cameras (such as Canon's C500 mkII & R5C)today that will record proxy files to a seperate card at the time of shooting.

3. Build a Rough Cut First

Start with a rough cut by placing your clips in order and trimming the unwanted clips or sections to the major beats. Don’t worry about polish—this is about finding the pacing, structure, and flow of your story.

4. Polish with Precision

Once the rough cut is solid, begin refining transitions, adjusting color, enhancing audio, and adding graphics. Break this into phases to stay focused and avoid burnout.

5. Save Versions and Back Up Often

Use versioning (e.g., Project_v1, Project_v2) and back up your work regularly—both locally and to the cloud if possible. Davinci Resolve now has cloud project management where for a very small fee, the project is saved/stored to a cloud library with every edit. Editing is vulnerable to crashes, and nothing is worse than losing hours of work.

6. Export Smart

When exporting, choose settings optimized for the platform you're delivering to. Social media, YouTube, and broadcast each have their own compression standards and resolution requirements.

Conclusion: Editing is Craft and Process

Efficiency doesn't mean rushing—it means removing friction. With a streamlined workflow, editors can focus more on creativity and storytelling. Invest the time to set up your process and the edit will follow smoothly.