How to get your first video editing client (step by step)
December 29, 2025
Over the course of building Malloy portfolio tool, we’ve spoken to 100+ individual video editors.
These were real editors using our portfolio tool. Different experience levels. Different niches.
Some were just starting out, trying to get their first client.
Others were fully booked and turning work down.
Same job.
Very different outcomes.
When we asked how they got their first client, the difference was clear.
Beginners usually did this:
They kept learning.
They kept tweaking their edits.
They waited until their work felt "ready.”
They said yes to everything.
They were focused on getting better before showing up.
Fully booked editors did something else:
They showed up early.
They were clear about what they did.
They talked to real people fast.
They figured things out along the way.
That’s how their first client happened.
Here’s what that looked like.
First, they picked one thing to focus on
Not "I edit videos."
More like:
“I edit gaming short-form clips”
“I edit podcast YouTube videos”
“I edit finance talking-head content”
Simple. Clear. Niche.
You can do more later.
At the start, clarity wins.
Then, they put their work in one place
Not a big website.
Just one clean page with:
What they edit
Who it’s for
A few examples
Some didn’t even have client work yet.
They used:
Practice edits
Re-edits
Personal projects
They didn’t wait. They shipped.
Next, they reached out to a small group of people
Not everyone.
Usually 10 to 20 creators.
People who:
Post often
Are growing
Could use better editing
This made replies easier.
They kept the first message short
No pitching. No selling.
Something like:
Hey ___
I’ve been watching your videos on ___
I edit ___ content
If you ever want help improving your edits, happy to do a small sample
That’s it.
The goal was a reply.
Not a deal.
They didn’t work for free
Most offered:
One video
Small fixed price
Clear deadline
This filtered out time-wasters fast.
Then they used that first job as proof
They added it to their portfolio.
Wrote one line about it.
Used it to reach out again.
From there, things got easier.
That’s the real difference we saw.
Not talent.
Not luck.
Just clarity and action.
If you don’t have a simple place to show your work yet, start there.
That’s why we built Malloy.
Create your portfolio here → https://malloy.sg
P.S. Every fully booked editor we spoke to started exactly where you are now.
They just stopped waiting.
