Editing: Maintaining Visual Consistency

 So, funny thing, I realized all my shots look exactly the same. Like, I could shuffle them around, and you wouldn’t even notice. At first, I panicked. Isn’t editing supposed to make things visually interesting? But then I realized, this is actually a good problem to have. It means my shots are consistent, and that’s super important. So, let’s talk about how I’m keeping my film looking clean and cohesive (without it feeling like one long, never-ending shot).

Ensuring a Consistent Look

Maintaining consistency in lighting and color helps create a seamless viewing experience. To achieve this, I have kept my lighting the same throughout filming. Since I rely on natural light, I made sure to shoot at the same time of day to avoid drastic changes in brightness or color temperature. I decided around noon time would be the best while the sun is up being perfect. Additionally, I used consistent camera settings to prevent unwanted variations in exposure and white balance. In post-production, I made subtle adjustments to brightness and contrast to ensure that all shots match, avoiding any noticeable differences that could disrupt continuity. For example this clip was horrible, the lighting was all washed out and white I had to fix it:

Before:

After:

Walking scene 

- It does not look like a big difference but in my movie it does, I still need to add different coloring, this was just a quick draft!

Creating Visual Interest Without Changing Color

Since I’m not relying on heavy color grading, I have to make sure my shots don’t feel boring. Just because they all have the same tone doesn’t mean they should feel repetitive. One way I’m keeping things visually engaging is by using a mix of close-ups and wide shots.  Close-ups emphasize key details or emotions, while wider shots provide context and establish the setting.  Another trick is using contrast within the scene itself. If my background and subject blend together too much, it looks flat, so I try to add some visual separation, whether that’s by changing up props, backgrounds, or even making sure there’s a little depth in my shot.

Overall, I thought all my shots looking the same was a bad thing. But really, it just means I’ve got a solid, consistent style going. Now, my focus is on how I use my shots to keep things interesting. Editing isn’t just about fixing clips, it’s about making sure the visuals tell the story the way I want them to.