Adjustment Layers

Step 0 — Get your footage

1. Download all wedding video clips from the shared Google Drive folder
2. Create a new project: YourName_Wedding
3. Create three bins: Ceremony, Reception, BRoll — import all clips into the correct bins
4. Set your sequence to 1920×1080 at 25fps
5. Set Auto-Save to every 5 minutes: Edit > Preferences > Auto Save

Step 1 — Edit your timeline

1. Open each clip in the Source Monitor — press I to Mark In and O to Mark Out, selecting the best part of each clip
2. Press comma (,) to insert onto V1 — do not drag clips onto the timeline
3. Use at least 8 different clips, building to a total duration of 1 to 2 minutes
4. Suggested order: venue wide shot > ceremony > vows > ring exchange > kiss > portraits > reception > first dance > celebration

Step 2 — Add speed effects

1. Choose one emotional moment (ceremony kiss, first dance, key exchange) — right-click > Speed/Duration > 50%, tick Ripple Edit / Shifting Trailing Clips and Maintain Audio Pitch
2. For one energy shot (guests celebrating, confetti) — right-click > Speed/Duration > 150% or 200%
3. On a third clip, apply Time Remapping for a smooth speed ramp — right-click > Show Clip Keyframes > Time Remapping > Speed, add two keyframes, drag the line down between them, add curve handles for a smooth ramp

Step 3 — Add text and titles

Using the Essential Graphics panel (Window > Essential Graphics), add:

Opening title (first 3 seconds)

• Text: couple names and year — example: "Mr. & Mrs. Smith | Bangkok | 2026"
• Font: Bold, minimum 44pt, White
• Animate: slides in from left + fades in, using Position and Opacity keyframes
• Visible for at least 3 seconds

Lower-third (over ceremony section)

• Line 1: couple names — Bold, White, minimum 40pt
• Line 2: wedding date or venue name — Regular, light grey, minimum 26pt
• Background bar: dark colour, 85% opacity, with an accent colour line above the name
• Animate entry and exit using copy-paste keyframes

Scene labels (at least 2 more)

Add a text label at the start of each major section — examples: "The Ceremony" / "First Dance" / "The Reception". Each must animate in and out.

Step 4 — Add transitions

1. Apply at least 3 transitions between clips at major scene changes — Cross Dissolve, Zoom Blur, or others
2. Do not put a transition on every single cut — mix with hard cuts
3. Click each transition > Effect Controls > change Duration to 1–1.5 seconds

Step 5 — Create an Adjustment Layer

1. Go to File > New > Adjustment Layer — settings must match your sequence (1920×1080, 25fps) — click OK
2. Drag the Adjustment Layer onto V2 of the timeline and extend it to cover the full duration of your sequence

Step 6 — Apply Lumetri Color

In the Effects panel, search Lumetri Color and drag it onto the Adjustment Layer on V2 — not onto the clips.

Step 7 — Fix white balance

1. In Lumetri Color > Basic Correction > White Balance, click the eyedropper (WB Selector)
2. Click on something white or neutral grey in your footage in the Program Monitor — the colour temperature corrects automatically
3. If it looks wrong, try a different white area
4. Fine-tune Temperature manually if needed: +10 to +20 for a warm wedding feel

Step 8 — Click Auto

In Lumetri Color > Basic Correction, click Auto — Premiere adjusts Exposure, Contrast, Highlights, and Shadows as a starting point. Fine-tune any sliders that look wrong; a typical follow-up is increasing Saturation to 110–120.

Step 9 — Apply the S-curve

In Lumetri Color > Curves, click the RGB Curve line. Click once in the upper area and drag slightly upward (brightens highlights); click once in the lower area and drag slightly downward (deepens shadows). The line should form a gentle S-shape — more contrast, a filmic look. Keep changes subtle.

Step 10 — Add vignette

In Lumetri Color > Vignette, set Amount to -1.0 to -1.5 and Feather to 80–100 for a soft, natural edge. If it looks obvious or harsh, reduce the Amount.

Step 11 — Export before/after frames

1. Click the eye icon on V2 to turn the Adjustment Layer off
2. Move the playhead to a strong moment, press Shift+E to export the frame as PNG, name it YourName_Before
3. Turn the Adjustment Layer back on, go to the exact same frame, press Shift+E again and name it YourName_After

Step 12 — Final check and export

1. Play the full sequence — confirm text is readable, transitions are smooth, and the grade looks natural
2. Save: Ctrl+S / Cmd+S
3. Export: File > Export > Media > Format: H.264 > Preset: Match Source — High Bitrate > file name YourName_Wedding_Export
4. Final video must be 1 to 2 minutes