The Reels editing checklist we use on every video
By Vaibhav Jalota, founder of Cutframe Studio ·
A reel holds attention when the first three seconds give a reason to stay, every shot earns its place, captions make it work on mute, and it ends before people get bored. Edit for the viewer scrolling past, not for someone who already cares about your brand.
1. The first three seconds
Most people decide whether to keep watching almost immediately. Open with the most interesting moment, a bold statement, a question, or the end result, not a logo or a slow intro.
- Start mid-action, not with a wide establishing shot
- Put a short text hook on screen in the first frame
- Cut any “hi guys, so today…” lead-in
2. Captions that work on mute
Many people watch with the sound off. Word-by-word captions keep them following along and also help people who are hard of hearing.
- Large, high-contrast text kept away from the edges where Instagram’s buttons sit
- Highlight the key word in each line
- Check every caption for spelling, especially names and prices
3. Pacing
- Cut pauses, breaths and repeated sentences
- Change the shot, zoom or angle every few seconds so the frame never feels static
- Use B-roll to show what is being described instead of a talking head the whole time
4. Sound
- Clean voice audio matters more than the camera; use a clip-on mic if you can
- Keep music under the voice, never fighting it
- Use sound effects sparingly to mark cuts and reveals
5. Cover, length and export
- Make a clear cover image so the reel looks good on your grid
- Keep it as short as the idea allows; trim anything that repeats
- Export vertical 9:16 at 1080×1920 so it fills the phone screen
- End with one clear next step: follow, DM a keyword, or visit the link in bio