A Good Video Edit Is Often About What You Leave Out

One thing I've noticed as a video editor is that a longer timeline doesn't always mean a better video.

It's easy to get attached to a visually impressive shot, an interesting transition, or a small detail that took time to create. But not everything needs to stay in the final cut.

I try to think about what each shot actually adds to the story. Does it help the viewer understand something, improve the pacing, or make the sequence more engaging? If not, sometimes cutting it makes the whole video stronger.

This is also something I think about when working with AI-generated footage. A clip can look great on its own but still feel out of place in the final edit.

I'm curious how other creators approach this:

How do you decide when to keep a shot and when to cut it, even if it looks great?