10 Mistakes That Make Your Short Videos Look Unprofessional

[{"selector":"#anim-dfeff4a8-6b76-4235-b4f3-a7f58d7071aa","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":700,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-836eac16-27cb-40e7-8b34-f2235e0c0f08","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(-270deg) translate3d(0px, 5155.55534%, 0) rotate(270deg)","rotate(-270deg) translate3d(0px, 0px, 0) rotate(270deg)"]},"delay":700,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Reviewed by: Ayush Sharma Written by: Kailash Kumar Credits: Canva Video Editor

Poor Lighting

[{"selector":"#anim-971890b1-6c7a-41bc-82bf-a8c0556c312b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":350,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-46991a9f-6b82-47da-aed2-b6ac4ec84de0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-28a606d1-a292-46d3-bb18-e8a6ed0c0bd8","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-116.609%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d2048ba1-6b66-4b6a-96ba-bc5af9805d4e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b7346c33-75a9-442f-a1f9-2622d073e74c","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.18988%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-29ea7e8e-7ee1-49ce-ae67-1441c434cc2e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":700,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9cbff669-51ab-48e6-88be-0729aba56329","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-367.92448%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":700,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3f9455e2-9b0c-4707-8ef2-01c485e3ff10 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] White Frame Corner Low lighting makes your video hard to watch and unprofessional. Use natural light or affordable LED lights to create a clear, well-lit frame that feels polished. Credits: Canva

Shaky Camera Work

[{"selector":"#anim-f11a6a90-87f0-4c67-bfac-fe7397cb8d9c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e0b11072-54b3-49c9-8b65-97151d242cf1","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(117.04179%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7c7645c8-66e1-4037-9bca-a2c1221a2373","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1070caee-20ac-4ffa-9869-7dd593282442","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1445ee9a-0456-4c53-94ad-12e2fa857e13 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-180fc550-fd06-4781-b095-e88c16894301","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":700,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c251f672-54a0-4537-9550-9a085992eb54","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(120.75469%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":700,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Viewers hate shaky shots. Use a tripod, gimbal, or even lean your phone against a stable object to get smooth footage that looks clean and watchable. Credits: Canva

Weak Hook in First 3 Seconds

[{"selector":"#anim-4406517a-934e-4e99-9cb7-a65f759ac842","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-09687053-f6fd-46d3-97ef-5e304c314380","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.43409%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7c19c43f-e97f-44c5-bc97-49c7025d8667","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-52ad3628-9b4b-4e45-9cbd-5296374e5fdc","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.18988%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-20a28a73-3783-41a2-854e-97205af20659","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":700,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2999ddee-75f5-4fae-aad1-eddca3f44da4","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-367.92448%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":700,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] You lose viewers fast without a strong start. Open with bold text, a surprising fact, or a question to hook attention within the first three seconds. Credits: Canva

Bad Audio Quality

[{"selector":"#anim-fd56b62b-e864-419f-bd51-ac8b54bb89a0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e762acef-df04-4471-9362-8ad995fdd70c","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(117.04179%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-74534ed1-80fb-4ef7-9aa2-59c1e169ba24","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-57b7f40d-6d2c-4ea2-a11d-bfe3bf8395ff","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-933e1849-dc1b-4ddd-95d0-773214a2560e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":700,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f5bca271-2c50-402a-b7f1-e6be9e2643d6","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(120.75469%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":700,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Crackly or echo-filled audio turns viewers away. Record in a quiet space or use a mic. Clear sound instantly makes your video feel more professional. Credits: Canva

Overused Effects or Filters

[{"selector":"#anim-61fcd2e9-1487-4e71-846f-5c66b41d8829","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d62047e1-e9ea-46c6-81a1-381e302d5d57","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-114.67891%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8e8cceb2-10fd-4ebf-97ed-a205146e43f0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ae44bae6-8afb-46c1-bfe6-69011200f4c1","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.18988%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-50bd591a-f89b-4c92-ab80-f9e9b4269984","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":700,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-da636b0c-7ba0-4a81-8a08-4307f4a4bfe1","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-367.92448%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":700,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Heavy effects look cheap. Use transitions, filters, and text sparingly, only when they add value or clarity. Keep edits clean to look professional. Credits: Canva

No Captions

[{"selector":"#anim-4c1e761a-5a03-45bf-928d-b279db4c8486","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-47e07930-80b3-40eb-ab24-2066e7c54a8c","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(111.31498%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-360ef545-c962-4813-bb48-ebc5afb6bcaf","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d0fe1001-c181-402d-ab21-28a3739b6b1f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bcfc7050-de17-458a-b72f-8fecd69d8487","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":700,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-867d18d2-9b75-49c2-8bb7-5cf8975d2e4a","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(120.75469%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":700,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] 85% of videos are watched on mute. Without captions, your message gets lost. Add clear, synced subtitles to make your content accessible and engaging. Credits: Canva

Too Long or Rambling

[{"selector":"#anim-07130a8b-b12f-48ac-9438-7ca4cbd353ee","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ee40fdac-49c9-46e0-8a87-596f199757bd","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-114.67891%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-522130de-79b9-4f1e-9876-253d8a797a8c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fc3d4175-2fd9-4ecc-8853-493190298880","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.18988%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5a1487db-022a-4b12-a455-747319eb077c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":700,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e40d7eee-e15e-4704-b70d-a65c45f4b8df","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-367.92448%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":700,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Short videos need tight pacing. Cut fluff, script your points, and respect viewer time. Rambling loses attention within seconds, even before your point lands. Credits: Canva

Not Optimized for Vertical View

[{"selector":"#anim-3eb66621-2c25-4ece-aad8-1bc7bbb87c0b [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ba667384-ef9d-462a-a2c5-a01afdc2c897","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f14601f8-e091-49e6-9f2c-7dcdb4c98726","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(111.31498%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-25d9c9a3-a090-43c8-8f15-2c5104be5026","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d1d5286e-d1a7-4d19-815d-ceaeba4baa27","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-deb2d456-5f5d-4913-adc4-52725eba0ffe","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":700,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b695f423-f99f-4784-8699-92abad4645f6","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(120.75469%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":700,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Shooting in horizontal wastes space on vertical apps like Reels or Shorts. Always film in 9:16 format so your subject stays centered and fully visible. Credits: Canva

Reusing Long-Form Content Poorly

[{"selector":"#anim-21b10bf1-af5b-466d-9c98-31071c1e9659","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-352e9d91-c26b-47da-9124-5772fcbca2f7","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-114.67891%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-216db80f-5203-456a-9b18-497b535e796f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4c2b578b-bb62-4073-b2b4-c88c5ff1f170","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.18988%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-905f4f65-f311-46c2-b6d1-5bd55090695b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":700,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8458d430-d28f-4c0d-99ce-bcd7d1aa01f8","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-367.92448%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":700,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Don’t crop and drop. Use AI tools like quickreel to trim key moments, auto-caption, and reframe clips into clean, short-form content. Credits: Canva

No Branding or Style Consistency

[{"selector":"#anim-737a5171-a7bb-4688-8746-f2a768f37786","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f6e82345-e251-457c-8800-19f43f2f498c","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(111.31498%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ed55cae9-7d79-44e7-a957-09e697527905","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-94bc21ef-9ef9-4c76-a93a-8aa339e0f1f0","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f2362dc7-e642-4379-8628-d307ae7a262a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":700,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-63916cfc-46a6-4552-8380-bfd2683a2c81","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(120.75469%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":700,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Switching colors, fonts, or tone confuses viewers. Stick to consistent visuals and voice to build brand recognition across all your videos. Credits: Canva

Level up your videos—fix these mistakes with smart editing tools.

[{"selector":"#anim-870fab81-3ad7-4a00-8c08-1f6e0e83c666 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Thanks for Reading Thanks for Reading Explore Now