Saying Yes To Every Project With Freelance Video Editor And Motion Designer John Gutteridge

Having stumbled into his freelance video editor and motion designer by learning on the job, John Gutteridge has gained valuable experience in this growing industry. Editing videos has fast become an essential skill as more companies want more engaging media as part of their marketing campaigns. John shared with us how he first got into the discipline of video editing;

I got into the film and motion sector by working as a video editor for an e-learning company. After several years of gaining enough knowledge and experience, I left there and moved to work for a video production company which was my first job in the film and motion industry.

We spoke to John about why he says yes to every project brief, upskilling his knowledge on social media and why detailed briefs are important.

We first spoke to John about client briefs and what he looks for before inevitably saying yes;

I always look for a clear brief as having this means the project will run smoothly. But mostly I like to chat to a team/project manager first to see if they seem friendly and approachable, as working with cool and friendly people is just more fun.

When it comes to clients preparing their projects before working with freelance video editors and motion designers, John feels;

Clients could make sure they have as clear and detailed a brief as possible.

Having clear briefs is a continuing theme in all our interviews with freelancers during this series, as many feel clients are too brief and leave vital details out. This can hold some projects back or hinder freelancers and their ability to do their job properly.

Aside from choosing the right briefs, we asked John to share some advice for new freelance video editors;

My advice to new freelance video editors/motion designers would be to work on every project you can, no matter how small, as you never know where it may lead!

As well as working on each project, regardless of size, some of the best advice John has been given;

Make sure to continue learning so you can expand your knowledge and skills and stay ahead of the competition. I try to upskill by regularly completing courses to update/expand my knowledge. Also, keeping track of new motion design trends via social media such as Instagram and Pinterest I think is also essential.

We then asked John to share some of the more recent projects that stood out to him as a freelancer;

All the projects I have worked on via YunoJuno have been super fun, however a project I completed in 2019 for Mirum UK stands out for me. I got to work as a part of a really great team producing marketing materials for Facebook across multiple platforms, which was super fun and rewarding project to be a part of.

And finally, we asked John how he felt on learning he’d become a finalist in the 2021 Freelancer Awards;

Upon learning that I was a finalist in the 2021 Freelancer awards I felt very proud of myself as it’s a big achievement. I also felt very grateful to any clients that voted for me :)

If you’d like to work with John on your next video campaign, why not book him here. You can also check out John's portfolio here.