Best Advice for Difficult Video Editing Clients

editing insights Jul 21, 2025

In this video, I sat down with my longtime friend and collaborator Scott Rice—an experienced commercial director and professor—to share some hard-earned lessons from working with difficult clients. This one’s packed with practical advice and mindset shifts for navigating tough edits and creative differences with grace.

Keep in mind there are two different types of difficult clients: truly toxic ones (those who disrespect and mistreat you), and those who have major creative differences (fortunately this type is much more common).

Scott and I swapped stories—like the time I turned a 60-minute artist documentary into an 8-minute cut because I just didn’t connect with the footage (not my best move). Or when Scott jumped the gun and trimmed a feature film down by 20 minutes before the director even saw the raw material. Lesson learned: always start with what the client expects.

Here are a few key takeaways from our chat:

  • Start with their version first. Give them the cut they’re expecting before offering creative alternatives.

  • Use the feedback sandwich. Lead with praise, deliver the critique kindly, and close with another positive comment.

  • Admit mistakes quickly. Owning up to an error diffuses tension fast and shows you're a team player.

  • Separate ego from the work. If a decision is out of your hands, focus on the craft and enjoy the process.

  • Build long-term relationships. Once you find someone you creatively click with make sure to spend the time and effort it takes to nurture the relationship. 

This job isn’t always easy, but professionalism, kindness, and humility go a long way in navigating the difficult parts of the editing profession. 

Happy editing!


Austen is an ADDY award-winning film & commercial editor with over 20 years of experience. He has worked with global brands like Meta, KPMG, SAP, and Christianity Today. His PSA work has championed causes like school safety (with Matthew McConaughey), driving safety, and anti-tobacco. A thought leader in the editing field, his online lessons quickly amassed over 100K views after launch.

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