With greater internet penetration and more remote working opportunities than ever, it’s unsurprising that many creatives are choosing to freelance. Video editing is a skill that’s in particularly high demand, and you’ll find plenty of interesting clients to work with.

However, growing a freelance business can take a while—especially if you have little or no experience in the skill you want to sell. The good news is that you can improve your video editing skills, even without having clients.

This article will show you a selection of video editing projects you can try while searching for business opportunities. You’ll also discover the software you can use to make it happen.

What Video Editing Projects Can I Try for Myself?

Before we identify the software you can use to edit your videos, let’s look at the projects you can try. Below are seven to consider starting.

1. A Time-Lapse Video

While you’ll likely specialize as you gain more freelance experience, trying a broad range of things is a good idea initially. You might also find less competitive niches. Time-lapse videos are a fun way to challenge yourself.

You’ll see time-lapses in multiple scenarios. Some YouTubers will use them as their introduction, for example, and you’ll also notice this kind of videography in certain commercials. Time lapses also work well as standalone videos.

You can get better time-lapse video results by putting your camera on a tripod or another kind of flat surface.

2. A Movie Trailer Made With Stock Footage

You don’t necessarily need to go out and get your own footage. These days, you’ll find plenty of sites selling stock footage—such as Storyblocks and Artgrid.

Making a movie trailer is one freelance video editing project you might want to try. You can find stock footage in multiple categories, and you’ll also be able to add your own soundtrack using royalty-free sites like Epidemic Sound.

To ensure that your movie trailer has a consistent theme, consider spending some time coming up with the idea for your film beforehand. You can do this with tools like Notes or Notion.

3. A Cinematic Travel Video

Travel photography evokes multiple emotions in people, and videography in this genre does the same thing. If you go onto YouTube, you’ll find cinematic videos for multiple cities worldwide; some creators shot their footage with drones, whereas others were closer to the ground.

You can use footage from a recent trip, but you might also want to consider exploring your local area. If neither of these is possible, you can always use stock footage to make a video of this kind for a place on your traveling bucket list.

4. Edit a Friend’s Content

If you’re in the creative sector, you probably have friends that are too. While doing your own projects shows initiative, it’s always good to show that you can edit other people’s work. If you know a friend who regularly shoots video footage, you can always ask if they’ll let you edit their work.

Your friend might be unable to pay you, but it’ll still look good in your portfolio. On top of that, you’ll also do them a favor by freeing up their time—meaning they can focus more on putting together their next video.

5. A Mini Documentary

People enjoy getting a glimpse into other people’s lives, and you’ve probably seen multiple videos on platforms like Instagram that show you what your friends are up to. If you want to bolster your freelance video editing portfolio, why not take your camera and create a mini documentary?

You can create and edit mini documentaries for multiple kinds of events, such as a weekend away or highlights of your summer break. And if you’re interested in a particular topic, you can use stock footage to put together something appealing to others.

6. Short-Form Videos

Short-form videos will probably stick around on social media in the long run, and the demand for people who can edit this kind of content is huge. You can always start by editing your own Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, and TikTok videos to showcase your skills to others.

While you can use your camera to shoot the initial footage, your smartphone is also good enough if you don’t want to carry extra equipment. Besides editing the colors and lighting, you can add text and music. A benefit is that you can simultaneously grow your own presence on social media.

7. Stop-Motion Animation Videos

Videographers have used stop-motion animations in countless films, and you can consider editing these kinds of projects if you want to stand out. If you have a good sense of humor, you can create your own comedy sketches to put together. Alternatively, you can also put a unique twist on the classics already out there.

If you’re stuck for ideas, see these stop-motion animation projects you can do at home. Once you’re ready to edit your stop-motion animation, you can use editing software like Adobe Premiere Pro. And that brings us to the next section of this article…

Editing Software You Can Use

Now that we’ve outlined the different video editing projects you can try if you’re a beginner freelancer, let’s look at some of the best editing software you can use.

Adobe Premiere Rush

Adobe Premiere Rush is an excellent video editing solution if you want to quickly edit your videos on the go. While it’s perhaps not the best option for some of the longer-form content we’ve mentioned, you can use it to edit your Shorts, Reels, and so on.

Adobe Premiere Rush is free, but you’ll need to sign up for an Adobe account.

Adobe Premiere Pro

Adobe Premiere Pro is a more advanced version of Premiere Rush, and you’ll use it on your computer. You can make high-quality edits to your colors, lighting, audio, and more.

You’ll need to sign up for Adobe Creative Cloud to use Premiere Pro. You’ll also need a paid subscription.

DaVinci Resolve

DaVinci Resolve is another popular video editing tool among professional creators. You’ll find many of the tools in platforms like Premiere Pro, including advanced color editing. Surprisingly, for such a powerful platform, DaVinci Resolve is free to use—though a paid version also exists.

You Don’t Need Clients to Build Your Freelance Video Editing Portfolio

Freelancing can be difficult in the early stages, and video editing is no different. But once you find your feet, you can enjoy the perks of working when you want and working on projects that interest you. Rather than waiting for clients, however, you can build your portfolio by participating in personal projects.

As a beginner, you can create multiple kinds of video content, and trying multiple things will help you grow your skills. It’s also worth experimenting with different editing solutions to find which fits you best.