The edit starts the moment your editor opens your files. If they spend the first hour hunting for the right clip, guessing which take to use or waiting for missing audio, that's time not spent making your video better. A good handover is simple once you've set it up, and it pays off on every project.
Choose a transfer method
Video files are big. Email won't work. Common options:
- Cloud storage like Google Drive, Dropbox or OneDrive. Easy shared folders, good for ongoing work.
- Transfer services for one-off large uploads.
- Review platforms that combine upload, review and feedback in one place.
- Physical drives for very large shoots or slow connections.
For regular work, a shared folder that both sides can access is usually simplest. Pick one method and stick with it so nothing gets lost across platforms.
Send original files
Always send the original camera files, not compressed copies. Messaging apps and some phone sharing options compress video heavily, which ruins quality. If you shot on a phone, upload directly from the phone to cloud storage at original quality, or transfer by cable to a computer first.
Organise the folder
A simple structure works for almost everything:
- /Footage: camera files, with subfolders per camera or angle if you shot multi-cam.
- /Audio: separate mic recordings, if any.
- /B-roll: extra shots, product footage, screen recordings.
- /Assets: logos, fonts, graphics, music you want used.
- /Brief: notes, script, references.
For ongoing work, add a level by date or episode, like "2026-10-19 Episode 42".
Name files sensibly
Camera file names like "C0042.MP4" tell the editor nothing. You don't have to rename everything, but labelling key files helps: "Intro_take3_BEST.mp4" or "Product_closeups.mp4". At minimum, group related clips into clearly named folders.
Audio: don't forget it
If you recorded audio separately, with a lavalier mic, a recorder or a podcast setup, include those files. They're usually much better than camera audio. Clapping at the start of each take makes syncing easy. Note which audio file belongs to which video if it isn't obvious.
Write a short handover note
A few lines save hours:
- What the video is and where it will be posted.
- Which takes are best, or timestamps of key moments.
- Anything to cut, like mistakes, private info or off-topic tangents.
- Anything that must be included.
- Deadline and any links or CTAs to feature.
For more on writing a complete brief, see how to brief a video editor.
Check before you send
- Are all files fully uploaded? Large uploads sometimes stall.
- Does the editor have access to the folder?
- Are audio files included?
- Is the brief or handover note in the folder?
- Are brand assets up to date?
A quick check avoids the "I can't open this" message a day later.
Privacy and security
Footage can contain private information: faces, addresses, screens, customer data. Share only with people who need it, use access controls on shared folders, and remove access when a project ends. If something on screen must be blurred, say so in your note.
Filming habits that make handover easier
- Record in consistent settings across a shoot.
- Clap or say the take number at the start of retakes.
- Leave a second of silence before and after each take.
- Shoot extra b-roll and label it.
- Check audio levels before you start.
For ongoing work: set up once
If you publish regularly, create a shared master folder with the same structure every time, a permanent assets folder, and a simple naming convention. Your editor will know exactly where everything is, and handover becomes a two-minute job.
When something goes wrong
Corrupted files, missing clips or audio out of sync happen to everyone. If your editor flags a problem, check the original files on your device before re-uploading. Keep raw footage backed up until the final video is approved; deleting it from your phone or card too early is a common and painful mistake.
Multi-camera and podcast shoots
If you shoot with more than one camera, keep each camera's files in its own folder and note which angle is which. Start all cameras and recorders before the first take and clap once on camera, so everything can be synced quickly. For podcasts, send each speaker's audio track separately if your setup records them that way. It gives the editor far more control over levels and noise.
The short version
Send original files in one organised folder, include separate audio and your brand assets, add a short note on best takes and deadlines, and check access before you hit send. Set up the structure once for ongoing work and every handover after that takes minutes, not hours of back-and-forth.
Related guides
Part of our working with editors series. See also how long editing takes, giving editors feedback and shooting b-roll. See our work or get started.