In video editing as with a lot of other fields, it’s easy to spot a beginner. They are usually the ones who go overboard with everything. In the video editing sense, the beginners are the ones who make the mistake of packing their film with as many crazy editing effects as they can.
Editing effects are nifty tools to make the transitions of your film smoother and more stylized. However, this should not be the highlight of your film. Know that it is the footage—the scenes you capture on your camera—that should be the center of your film. Effects are merely there to add a little punch to your video.
With that said, simple is always better. Professional filmmakers stick to the classic and unobtrusive cut or fade transition. This gives the finished video a cleaner, more serious feel.
photo credit: the random lights