Freelance Editing Tips – Setting Up Premiere Pro from Scratch

Setting up Premiere when freelancing on a client’s computer

As a freelance editor, I often work in other people’s edit suites. To get me up and running quickly, working comfortably, and to keep from getting surprised, I find it helpful to slow down for a few minutes at the very start of the day.

By taking this time, I minimize surprises while starting to get comfortable with the room, the display, and the storage setup.

Key takeaways from this Insight

In this Insight, you’ll learn how I modify my Premiere Pro workspace when sitting in a new edit suite. You’ll learn the preference settings, keyboard shortcuts, and other essential things to check before you start work. I’ve run through this routine so frequently that it’s become second nature. By the end of this Insight, you should know:

• The keyboard shortcuts I consider critical for your success
• Essential preferences and UI settings you need to confirm or modify
• A few tips and tricks from my preferred way of working

If you have Premium Access to the Insights Library, I’ve added my current Premiere Pro keyboard shortcuts as an Additional Download (found below the video). Feel free to install it on your system to see if there are additional shortcut ideas you want to crib from me.

Comments or questions?

Do you have additional thoughts on setting up a Premiere Pro project on a client’s workstation? Use the comments! I’m eager to hear your optimizations whenever you sit on a new computer and fire up a new project.

– Jonny