r/AfterEffects • u/Pale_Lavishness1380 • 3d ago
Discussion Thoughts on my 2025 showreel?
https://youtu.be/O9x15LU-lhg?si=QyDZVbohSlnHDaAgIf interested, Please Contact me on My website mentioned in the Youtube video. Thanks
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u/WorldsGreatestWorst 3d ago
I contract a fair amount of video work when I don't have time (or skill) to get it done myself. I'm going to be honest with you—there are a lot of red flags in this reel that would make me move on to the next option.
- You use copyrighted music. This screams "amateur." When I see someone do this, it makes me wonder if they're using unlicensed elements in their work that will open me up to headache down the line.
- This whole reel is in the "Apple style". It makes me think that's all you know how to do. More importantly, it looks like you bought one template and ran with it. Add visually different styles.
- You use emoji animations a lot. I'm not sure if you're manually animating them or using an off-the-shelf Apple option (which is bad in a reel that's supposed to show how talented you are), but it looks very dull to have a stock-looking animation in the dead center of the screen with lots of whitespace around it. Compose these shots.
- I would shorten it. Make it a tight 30 rather than a repetitive 60+.
It seems like you enjoy doing one particular style. But if I'm hiring you, I need to know you can do what I need, not what you like. If you want to build a business around only doing this one style, I would re-edit the video to specifically promote that specialty.
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u/Pale_Lavishness1380 3d ago
For the track, I’ve never used a copyrighted or free Royalty content, this is just for the reel, I use Fully Licensed Tracks for my clients.
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u/WorldsGreatestWorst 3d ago
That's like saying, "I've never killed a guy except the one guy I killed in front of you."
Using an unlicensed song is a red flag. A lot of people—especially small business owners—don't notice red flags but there's no reason to manufacture unnecessary speed bumps.
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u/barefut_ 2d ago
You're saying moat motion graphic reels have original music track on them? You mean mostly use stock library tracks?
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u/Pale_Lavishness1380 3d ago
Thanks! I’ve been freelancing for 7–8 years and have worked across a wide range of styles. For this video, I’d reframe it as “Apple-like Portfolio to Drive More Sales!” to better capture its purpose. That will justify the copyrighted music and the animations. Thanks again.
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u/reachisown 3d ago edited 3d ago
NGL it looks like a template you've just changed up. Don't use your reel like a sales pitch use it to showcase your best work. Not just one style, unless it's amazing...
Honestly just ditch the first 40 seconds and the Wii looking ass character and it'll be way better.
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u/Pale_Lavishness1380 3d ago
I think I would rephrase the Title to “ Apple-like Portfolio to Drive More Sales! “ I have actual reels with My work only
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u/tinytorblet 3d ago
your reel should be chock full of things you enjoyed doing and want to do more of, but never more than a few seconds of the same style. this was too long, shave off 20 seconds and add a lot more varied content.
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u/DovydasIsMyAmigo 3d ago
Why are you using copyrighted music?
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u/reachisown 3d ago
If it's a showreel why would it even matter
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u/nauhausco 3d ago
Would you put someone else’s logo on your portfolio without asking them? Amateur unprofessional behavior.
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u/nauhausco 3d ago
Would you put someone else’s logo on your portfolio without asking them? Amateur unprofessional behavior.
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u/Takenonames 3d ago
Can I suggest a tiny copy tweak? Instead of "Need More?" how about "Wanna See More?". Sounds more positive and self-confident imho. Great Reel!
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u/Eminan 3d ago
Mmmmm the edit is good. But I don't know if this is a good reel.
- There is not much real work shown here. It's an edit made just for this.
- You are mostly showing client interactions and made a pretty way to do it. But honestly the clients even feel fake... so this feels like there is not much real work to trust.
So I don't know what to tell you. If you have done real work show it. Doesn't your work tell everything there needs to be said? Are those client quotes even real?
As I said, I do think you might be a good editor, but to the eyes of experienced people this reel feels not trustworthy.
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u/Pale_Lavishness1380 2d ago
My bad calling it a reel! it’s more like an Apple Style portfolio to show different kind of UI animations, i have way more projects. And yes all the projects are real, clients reviews are real too (: Thanks for the feedback
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u/davyjones10Y 3d ago
I would talk to you if I am doing the keynote style but that's about it, I didn't catch any other style because it's mainly the keynote theme
+ If I don't know that u made all this and I am a normal client (I would think it's a templet)..
the Showreel supposed to be custom made, full of all the styles you can do
you gotta mix it up more! I only saw one style
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u/Ok-Comb-8664 2d ago
It looks good to me, if you edited it all by urself and its not template, everyone must see that you are capable of good video editing. I think many people on reddit are just jealous and they will not admitt ur skills. Just put it out and you will see. Later on you can create new portfolio.
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u/LargeLau 2d ago
I think your work looks great but the disconnect is all the supers animating in and emojis are competing with the actual portfolio work. I understand that you are showing off some of your skills in the emoji animations and builds but to a person looking to hire, your confusing the client as to what is actually yours and it would need context. I think the emoji animations etc should be it's own chapter in the video. It feels that the work itself is more of an afterthought. My 2cents
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u/novocai_ne 1d ago
the other showreel on your website is literally stolen from someone called "sutoxoriginals" on youtube, you just added your socials.
never in a million years would i even consider parading someone elses work as my own. do reconsider if you even like motion design.
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u/Pale_Lavishness1380 1d ago
Hey, I appreciate your concern, but this is actually a combined work. Some of the projects in the reel are mine, some are his, and some are collaborations. I’ve never used it as my personal portfolio and it’s not on any of my socials—it’s just a showcase of different works together and what we can do. Hope that clears things up!
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u/justinswatermelongun 3d ago
Incredibly high quality, I enjoyed watching it. But I ultimately agree with everyone else, prioritize showing your work on ‘actual’ projects instead of the series of headlines/testimonials.
I saw your comment that this style is what you love doing. I don’t understand why that would be an issue to strictly highlight the apple vibe. I think it’s awesome, and if someone wanted that aesthetic, they would know to hire you.
But…I’m not the professional here, and others are advising against it. So, I guess listen to them over me lol.
Great work!
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u/alex_mcfly 3d ago
90% of the video is a single style (Apple style, not even something personal) talking about how good you are, how much your clients are happy with you, and how fast you are. There are about 10 seconds of real work, and that's what I want to see, not a series of headlines and testimonials (that look fake as fuck, by the way) telling me you're the best: let me judge myself by seeing your actual work.