Professional video editing is hard to define, because usually it's something that you hardly notice. It's only when things go bad that you'll notice a lack of professional video editing. Of course, you don't need to hire a professional video production company to get professional video editing.

There are some simple rules of video editing that you should learn, and follow (and even break sometimes).

Easy on the effects. iMovie and Movie Maker each offer an array of special effects and transitions. You should avoid most of these if you want a professional video editing look.

Start with good video footage. Professional video editing is easy if you have good footage to begin with. Good audio recording also makes a big difference in professional video editing.

Practice, practice, practice. Whether you're using a simple, free program like iMovie or Movie Maker, or a complex program like Final Cut or Adobe Premiere, you need practice with your editing system. Professional video editing requires you to take the time to learn the ins and outs of your editing software so that you can make the most of it.