Stop Wasting Time: The 5-Step Workflow That Saved My Sanity

If there is one thing I learned quickly in my first year of videography, it's that talent and potential mean nothing without organization.

I used to run-and-gun every shoot. I would show up, film whatever looked cool, dump the footage into a chaotic folder on my desktop, and then spend hours crying in front of Adobe Premiere Pro trying to make a story out of nothing. It was exhausting. Don't do that! If you're doing that now, stop it! (I say in a somewhat joking manner)

Over the last four years working with clients like Pure Health and Tranont, I’ve developed a 5-step workflow that keeps my projects clean, my clients happy, and my sanity intact.

1. Pre-Production: The Blueprint

Do not pick up a camera until you know what you are shooting.

• The Concept: Write down the goal of the video in one sentence.

• The Shot List: Create a checklist of the specific shots you need.

• The Audio Plan: How will you capture sound? Do you need a boom mic or a lavalier?

• ProTip: I use the Notes app or a Google Sheet for this. It doesn't have to be fancy; it just has to exist.

2. Gear Prep: The Night Before

Nothing kills a professional vibe faster than a dead battery on set.

• Charge everything: Batteries, gimbals, lights, and monitors.

• Format SD Cards: Don't be the guy deleting old footage on set while the client watches.

• Pack the Bag: Double-check your lenses and audio cables. Make sure you have everything you need before the shoot.

3. Production: Shoot for the Edit

When you are filming, stop thinking like a cameraman and start thinking like an editor.

• Hold the shot: Don't cut too early. Give yourself "handles" (extra seconds) at the start and end of a clip.

• Get coverage: Get the wide shot, the medium shot, and the tight detail shots.

• Check the audio: Wear headphones. Always. If the audio is bad, the shot is trash.

4. Ingestion: The "Folder Structure."

This is the boring part that saves your life. When you dump footage, do not just throw it all in one folder. Use a standard hierarchy:

• 01_Media (Subfolders: A-Roll, B-Roll, Drone)

• 02_Audio (Subfolders: Soundtrack(Music), SFX, Dialogue)

• 03_Project_Files (Premiere/DaVinci files)

• 04_Exports (Drafts, Finals)

5. The Edit: Order of Operations

Don't start color grading your first clip immediately! Follow this order:

1. Assembly Cut: Put the clips in order.

2. Rough Cut: Trim the fat and set the pacing.

3. Audio Mix: Clean up dialogue and add music.

4. Color Grade: Make it look pretty.

5. Export: Render and deliver.

Mastering this workflow is the difference between a hobbyist and a professional. Try this structure on your next project and watch how much faster you finish! Comment on what your favorite step in the production process is!