Workflow & Process

Each project and client is very different but in general they all tend to follow a similar workflow.
If it’s your first time working with me, my first step is to check out some of your work to get a feel for your style (I will also return to this step throughout the editing process). I’ll also ask if there’s anything you want me to keep in mind with the particular project at hand. Then I follow these steps:
 

1. Download Footage - Download your original footage (or proxies if you prefer) and open them in DaVinci or Premiere Pro. 
    

2. Pull Selects - Pick (the best parts of each clip) and organize them. I color code them to later put them with similar clips (ex. Ceremony, Details, Food, Reception, etc.)
    

3. Align Audio - Sync up all available audio and multicam clips (ex. First Look, Ceremony, Toasts, etc) this will later be used as ARoll
    

4. Pull Roll Selects - Pull the most important parts of the ARoll 
    

5. Storyline - Use the ARoll selects to start to line up a storyline (Chronological or Non-Chronological depending on your preference)
    

6. Remove Fluff - Go through this storyline a few more times to remove fluff and get it closer to the length of the final film. 
    

7. Add Music 1 - We can choose the music together, you can give me some songs or I can pick. I usually look at first dances, the ceremony and the reception to figure out the vibe of the couple and what music I think would be fitting
    

8. Add Music 2 - Line up the storyline with the music, chopping up the music and ARoll to make the video flow and create some tension and release to make the video engaging. At this point sometimes I will take a quick look at the BRoll selects again so I have an idea of where I want breaks in the ARoll to fill in with certain BRoll. 
    

9. Audio - Enhance the Audio and really fine tune the music so that it fades in and out with the ARoll. 
    

10. BRoll 1 - Fill in the BRoll (Chronologically or Non Chronologically. At this point I might do some light Graphic Effects (GFX) or Sound Effects (SFX) to remind myself later why I put certain clips in a certain order. 
     

11. BRoll 2 - Pass through the video again to make sure every cut is where I want it to be (with the ARoll or with the music)
     

12. Framing - Frame each clip that needs some adjustment (Cropping, Adjusting the Angle or Stabilizing shots)
     

13. Color Grade 1 - Typically I will Color Correct (Convert Log footage to Rec 709) so I have a better idea of any shots that might not be usable but here is the Heavy grade. I start out by adjusting the ARoll remotely so they all follow the same base grade then I will go through each clip individually to adjust for changes in sunlight/clouds and finally any stylistic Color Grade you typically use. 
     

14. GFX/SFX - If you like GFX this is where I go to town. I usually pass through once to clean up any effects I had previously left in place and add new ones then a second pass to add ambience/laughter/cheering etc. 
     

15. Color Grade 2 - One more pass through to make sure the color grade is on point and everything else passes the quality inspection. 
     

16. Export - I export the deliverable and watch it through once in real time to make sure that everything is on point. 
     

17. Deliver - I send the final video back to you and wait for revisions from you or the couple. 
     

18. Revisions - Most projects include one round of revisions then I charge $35/hour on following revisions. 
     

19. Invoice - I will send an invoice showing the price we agreed on before starting the project along with any revisions that were made at an hourly rate.Invoice/Payment

     

    Here's an episode of my podcast where I explain in detail my whole process: