How to find a trailer editor for your indie game
Your trailer is the first thing most people will ever see of your game, and on Steam a lot of them decide in the first few seconds. I'm making my own game too, and this is how I'd go about finding an editor to make that first impression land.
- Pick the video you need: launch, announcement, gameplay, Steam page trailer or short clips.
- Capture clean footage first. An editor can't cut what you didn't record.
- Watch the first five seconds of their reels. That's what your players see.
- Send footage, music, logos and a clear brief with the length and deadline.
- Put pay, revisions, music rights and who owns the project files in writing.
1. Pick the kind of video
Different videos do different jobs, and some editors are better at one than another:
- Announcement trailer: short, a hook and a mood, often before the game is finished
- Steam page trailer: the one at the top of your store page. Gameplay in the first seconds, works without sound
- Gameplay trailer: shows what the player actually does, often longer and clearer
- Launch trailer: the big one, with a release date and a reason to buy now
- Short-form clips: vertical 9:16 videos for TikTok, Shorts and Reels, a few seconds each
- Devlogs and Kickstarter videos: you on camera plus footage, edited to keep people watching
Tip: Your Steam page trailer autoplays muted for a lot of visitors. Show real gameplay early and make sure it makes sense with the sound off.
2. Get your footage ready
The best editor in the world can't fix muddy footage. Before you hire, capture:
- Clean gameplay at the highest resolution and frame rate you can (1080p 60fps is a good floor)
- A version with no UI, if your engine lets you hide it
- Your best moments: the big hits, the reveals, the satisfying loops
- Your logo, key art, release date and store links
Some editors also capture footage for you, or ask for a build with a free camera. Ask early if you want that.
3. Judge the reel by its first five seconds
Watch a few of their videos the way a stranger scrolling Steam would:
- The hook. Does the first shot make you want to see the second one?
- Cuts on the beat. Good trailer edits move with the music, not just over it.
- Gameplay you can read. Can you tell what the game is after ten seconds?
- Pacing that fits the genre. Horror can breathe. Action shouldn't.
- Clean titles and text that you can read on a phone.
Good places to look are trailer credits of indie games you like, game marketing communities and Discord servers, editors who post on X and Bluesky, and ComposerScout, where video editor profiles show their clips right on the page, vertical ones included. In Find my match you pick the video you need and the feel, and it shows up to three editors with the clip that fits best.
4. Sort out the music early
Trailer music is where a lot of takedowns and mutes come from. Decide up front whether you're using your game's soundtrack, a licensed track, or music made for the trailer. Get the license in writing, and make sure it covers YouTube, Steam and social. If you need a custom track, a composer and an editor working together from the start makes a much better trailer.
5. Send a clear brief
Your brief should cover:
- The game, the genre, and two or three trailers you like (and why)
- The type of video, the length, and the aspect ratio (16:9, 9:16 or both)
- Your footage, music, logo, key art and any text that must appear
- Where it's going: Steam, YouTube, a showcase, TikTok
- How many rounds of revisions, the deadline, and the budget
Tip: Editors usually price per trailer, per video, per finished minute or per hour. Showcases like Steam Next Fest have hard deadlines, so book an editor weeks ahead, not days.
6. Put the deal in writing
Write down the pay and milestones, how many revisions are included, the delivery formats (and whether cut-downs and vertical versions are part of the job), how the editor is credited, who owns the project files, and whether they can show the trailer in their reel. Also write who's responsible for the music license.
Red flags
- Every trailer looks the same no matter the game.
- Slow openings with long logos before any gameplay.
- Music they can't tell you the license for.
- No word on revisions or what happens after the first cut.
Common mistakes
- Hiring before the footage exists, then waiting weeks on capture.
- A two-minute trailer when thirty strong seconds would do more.
- Leading with the logo instead of the game.
- Forgetting vertical cuts. Ask for short 9:16 versions in the same job, it's cheaper than a second hire.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I find a trailer editor for my indie game?
Check the trailer credits of indie games you like, game marketing communities and Discord servers, editors who post their work on X and Bluesky, and video editor profiles on ComposerScout, which show their clips on the page. Find my match on ComposerScout picks up to three editors by the video you need and the feel.
How much does a game trailer cost?
Editors usually charge per trailer, per video, per finished minute or per hour, and rates vary a lot with experience and how much footage work is involved. Agree on the length, the number of revisions and any extra cut-downs before you agree on a price.
What should I send a trailer editor?
Clean gameplay footage at a high resolution and frame rate, a version without UI if you can, your logo, key art, release date and music, two or three trailers you like, the length and aspect ratio, where it will be posted, your deadline and your budget.
Who owns the trailer and the project files?
It depends on your agreement. Write down who owns the finished trailer and the project files, how the editor is credited, whether they can show it in their reel, and who is responsible for the music license.
Is ComposerScout free?
Yes. Making a profile, browsing, matching and messaging are free for game devs, writers, video editors, composers, sound designers, voice actors, artists, VFX artists and programmers. Credit, pay and rights are agreed directly between the people working together.
Find an editor who makes it land
Pick the video you need and the feel, and see up to three editors with the clip that fits best. Message anyone for free and agree on credit, pay and rights together.
Find my editor