1. Decide what you need first
Before you look at a single portfolio, write down three things: the format (vertical short-form, long-form YouTube, podcast episodes or motion graphics), where the videos will be posted, and how many you need each month.
This tells you what kind of editor to look for. Someone brilliant at cinematic wedding films may not be the right person for fast, captioned TikToks, and the reverse is true too.
2. Know where to look
There are three common ways to find an editor, each with trade-offs.
Freelance marketplaces
Large choice and buyer protection, but a lot of profiles to sort through and quality varies widely.
A freelancer directly
You work with the person doing the edit, with no platform in the middle. Look for their own website, real examples and clear terms.
An editing agency
A team that can take on large volumes, usually at a higher price, and your videos may be passed between several editors.
3. Read the portfolio properly
A portfolio tells you more than any sales call, if you know what to look for.
Your format
Look for work in the format you need. Short-form skills and long-form storytelling are different crafts.
Before and after
Raw footage next to the finished edit shows what the editor actually added.
Consistency
Watch several videos, not just the best one. You're hiring for the average edit.
Sound
Turn the volume up. Clean audio, music and sound effects separate good edits from great ones.
The first three seconds
For short-form, check whether each video makes you want to keep watching.
4. Questions to ask before you hire
Ask these before you agree on anything. Clear answers are a good sign on their own.
Turnaround
How long does a first draft take for a video like mine?
Revisions
How many rounds of revisions are included, and how do I give feedback?
Brief
What do you need from me before you start?
Delivery
Which formats and sizes will I get, and are project files included?
Music
Where does the music come from, and is it licensed for my platform?
Volume
Can you handle my videos every week, on a set delivery day?
5. Watch for red flags
Be careful with an editor who can't show work in your format, who promises unlimited revisions with no timeline, who won't put the price and delivery date in writing, or who starts without asking anything about your audience. A vague start almost always means a long list of changes later.
6. Start with a test edit
The best way to know if an editor is right for you is to see them edit your footage. A short test shows their style, how well they follow a brief and how fast they reply, before you commit to a batch.
That's why I offer one for free: send me one raw clip and I'll edit the first 15 seconds, back within 48 hours. Like it? Let's work together. Don't? Keep the edit anyway.
