Short answer
A video editing brief tells the editor the goal, audience, platform, length, style references, brand rules and call to action. Below are four filled-in examples you can copy: an Instagram Reel, a podcast clip, a UGC ad and a real estate listing reel.
What makes a brief useful
A good brief answers the questions an editor would otherwise guess: who is this for, what should they feel or do, what should it look like, and what must never happen. It doesn’t need to be long. Half a page per format is usually enough, and you write it once. The blank version is in the video editing brief template; here’s what it looks like filled in.
Example 1: coaching Reel
FORMAT: Instagram Reel, 9:16, 30–45 seconds
GOAL: Get comments with the keyword "PLAN" (free guide)
AUDIENCE: Women 30–45 who want to start strength training
FOOTAGE: One talking-head take + 4 gym b-roll clips
HOOK: Start on "You don't need a gym membership to start"
STYLE: Clean white captions, one yellow keyword per line,
light punch-ins, no meme sounds
MUSIC: Upbeat, low under voice, cut on the CTA
MUST: Show the 3 exercises as on-screen text
NEVER: Text under the like/comment buttons; slow intro
CTA: "Comment PLAN and I'll send it to you" + text on screen
Example 2: podcast clip
FORMAT: Vertical clip for Shorts + Reels, 45–75 seconds SOURCE: Episode 42, timestamp 18:40–20:05 (guest story) GOAL: Drive people to the full episode on YouTube HOOK: Cold-open on the guest's line "I lost the account in one email" REFRAME: Speaker-follow crop; switch to two-shot for the reaction CAPTIONS: Hand-checked, guest name lower-third once NEVER: Start with "So, um" or the host's question END: "Full episode linked" card for 2 seconds
More on finding moments like this in the podcast repurposing guide.
Example 3: UGC ad
FORMAT: TikTok + Reels, 20–30 seconds, 3 hook versions
PRODUCT: Vitamin C serum, 30ml
STRUCTURE: Hook (2s) / problem (4s) / product in hand (8s)
/ texture + result (8s) / CTA
HOOKS: A) "My skin looked dull for months"
B) close-up of the dropper, no words
C) "I didn't expect this from a $24 serum" (price confirmed)
CALLOUTS: Product name + one benefit on screen when mentioned
NEVER: Claims the creator didn't say; medical claims
SAFE ZONES: Keep text out of bottom 20 and right 15
The thinking behind this structure is in the UGC video editing guide.
Example 4: real estate listing reel
FORMAT: Reel + TikTok, 25–35 seconds LISTING: 4 bed, 3 bath, pool; price and suburb on screen OPEN ON: Pool at golden hour (clip 14) ORDER: Pool > kitchen > living > master > backyard > front TEXT: Price, beds/baths, suburb; agent name at the end BRAND: Brokerage logo bottom-left, colours #0A2540 / #F5B700 MUSIC: Light, modern, no lyrics NEVER: Slow pans over every room; the garage CTA: "DM 'TOUR' for a private showing"
See also how to edit a real estate listing reel.
Brief mistakes that cost revisions
- “Make it engaging.” Every editor thinks they do. Give a reference video instead.
- No “never” list. The things you hate are the first things to write down.
- No CTA. The editor can’t guess whether you want follows, comments or calls.
- A different brief every time. Write one per format and reuse it; only the footage notes change.
Briefs welcome
Send a brief like these and get the first draft close.
Every client’s brief becomes a saved style, so video 50 matches video 1.
About the author
Yash, founder & creative lead at YASH EDITS
Yash is the founder and creative lead of YASH EDITS, a short-form video editing studio for coaches, consultants, founders, brands and agencies in the US, UK, Europe, Canada and Australia. He sets the editing standards behind every project (pace, story, sound and retention), and every video passes the studio’s quality check before delivery. More about Yash · The Retention Edit method