Guide
Setting up a Video Asset Management (VAM) system for freelance editors
Stop hunting through folders. A local-first video asset management workflow gives freelance editors instant recall of every clip, SFX and VFX pack — without paying for cloud storage they don't need.
Why editors need a VAM
Most freelance editors accumulate hundreds of gigabytes of footage, stock, music and graphics scattered across drives. Cloud-only tools add latency, cost and a re-upload step. A local-first video asset manager keeps everything on your machine, indexed and searchable.
Organize video assets the right way
- Group by kind (footage, SFX, music, VFX, LUTs) — not by project.
- Tag once, reuse forever. Tags survive folder renames.
- Preview before dragging into your timeline in Premiere Pro or DaVinci Resolve.
A faster post-production workflow with LUME
LUME indexes your existing folders, previews clips instantly, and lets you drag straight into your NLE. No re-encoding, no cloud upload, no subscription for storage you already own.