01
How should the source material be organised before editing?
Keep the original video and audio files available. Group files by shoot, scene, date, or camera when that distinction will help someone understand what belongs together.
Use short folder and file labels that describe the content. A simple structure is more useful than renaming every clip or building a complicated archive. See how supplied clips were structured and edited in the Homeowners real estate editing project (and the Homeowners case study).
- Original video files, grouped by shoot or scene
- Separate audio files, if the project has them
- Logos, approved graphics, and exact on-screen wording
- References in their own folder or link list
02
What should you explain about the result you need?
The footage does not explain the business goal by itself. Include the main message, where the video will be published, the requested format, and the deadline that matters to the project.
Flag must-use moments and anything that should not be used. If there are several deliverables, name each one instead of assuming a single edit can cover every placement.
Say who will watch it and what they should do afterwards: book, call, visit, buy, or simply recognise the brand next time. An editor chooses the opening, the pacing and the ending around that action, so naming it changes the cut more than any style reference does.
- Goal and intended audience
- Primary platform or placement
- Vertical, horizontal, or both
- Must-use clips, names, offers, or calls to action
- Known audio, continuity, or permission concerns
03
What goes in the final handoff note?
Put the essential context in one message or document: what is included, what is missing, who will consolidate feedback, and which date or launch matters to the request.
Treat the note as preparation, not as an assumed production policy. Scope, timing, review method, file transfer, and deliverables still need to be agreed for the individual project.
