
When you’re contracted to produce a video for a client, try to negotiate a deal where you retain the rights to the footage, so you can sell it as stock. At the very least, you can ask for permission to use the extra b-roll or outtakes that weren’t used in the final production for your stock portfolio.
Full Answer
What is stock footage and how to sell it?
When you are selling stock footage, you’re not selling the footage itself. You are only selling legal permission to use the footage, also known as a license. When a buyer downloads your clip from the agency website, they get a license for using that particular video in their productions.
Can I Sell my Rights-Managed footage for exclusive use?
Some agencies have the option to sell your rights-managed footage exclusively on their platform. However, selling your footage for exclusive use restricts you from selling the same clip or related clips of that shoot on other stock sites.
Where can I get free stock footage for my video?
There are a lot of websites and even YouTube channels offering completely free stock footage. While some of them are serious regarding both content quality and legal status, they are immersed in a pool of less-reliable sources with poor resolution and outdated videos, unclear or plain dodgy copyright, and licensing info, or both.
How many videos can you get for free on Shutterstock?
Get 40 free videos from Shutterstock now! And as if that wasn’t enough, their new Small Footage Subscription gives you 5 video clips per month for just $99, and for a limited time Shutterstock is throwing in two curated videos a month, totally free of charge!

How much does it cost to license stock footage?
How Much Does Stock Footage Cost at the Best Stock Video AgenciesVideo ResolutioniStockShutterstockHD$60 / $170$794K$60 / $170$199
Is stock footage copyrighted?
Stock footage, unlike public domain video, is created specifically for others to license and use in their own creative works. It's still copyrighted (unlike works in the public domain). However, you can use many stock videos when you purchase a royalty-free license, even for commercial purposes.
Can I use my own stock footage?
There are quite a few websites where you can sell your footage, but we mainly suggest Pond5 and BlackBox. You can join for free and upload your own footage. The difference between them is mainly in: On Pond5, as an exclusive provider, you get higher sales percentage.
Is stock footage free to use?
Free stock video clips are free for personal and commercial use, unless it's a seriously high-budget production. Stock Footage for Free provides a detailed license agreement (opens in new tab) that makes explicit all the intellectual property information you're likely to need.
Can I use stock footage on YouTube?
Yes, you can. Royalty-free stock photos grant you the right to use them in videos intended to be played online. This includes YouTube and social media, as we just saw, but also pretty much any other online platform, like Vimeo or your website.
Who owns the rights to a video?
The default rule under the Copyright Act is that the moviemaker owns all copyrights in the video. This would include both the raw footage and the final, edited version of the video.
Where do Youtubers get their stock videos?
12 of the best sites for free stock videosPixabay. Pixabay offers over 2.3 million images and videos, all released under a simplified Pixabay License. ... Videvo. ... Pexels. ... Videezy. ... Life of Vids. ... Coverr. ... Splitshire. ... Clipstill.More items...
What is royalty free footage?
Royalty Free videos are likely the most popular choice. The Royalty Free license grants you non-exclusive rights to use the shot in multiple ways and perpetually, for a one-time, flat fee. This means you only have to pay for the license fee once, and you get to use the clip in a wide range of ways, forever.
What does royalty free footage mean?
“Royalty free” simply means that a piece of content is free from royalties, meaning that it is free from ongoing payments. Often times, when a song is used in a movie or a piece of artwork is featured in a video, the creator will negotiate some form of ongoing payment for the use of that content.
Is Pexels copyright free for YouTube?
Yes, you can upload Pexels images and videos to YouTube as long as they are used to create your own video. What is not permitted is simply uploading Pexels content to your own channel with no modification.
Who uses stock footage?
One of the largest producers of public domain stock footage is the United States government. All videos produced by the United States military, NASA, and other agencies are available for use as stock footage.
What is fair use?
In its most general sense, a fair use is any copying of copyrighted material done for a limited and “transformative ” purpose, such as to comment upon, criticise, or parody a copyrighted work. Such uses can be done without permission from the copyright owner. This is the ‘loophole’ used to create the great video mashups and satirical re-edits that are common online, but it’s an option that should be used with extreme caution.
What is a copyright free license?
Footage owners generally sell license their material in two ways; ‘Copyright Free’, which means you are free to use the material how you like and where you like, for as long as you like, and ‘Rights Managed’, in which case the footage is licensed under specific terms, usually specifying where it will be used, in what format and for how long. Generally speaking higher quality, rare and unusual footage is offered under a ‘rights managed’ license as the copyright owners are keen to control its use and maximise their revenue.
Royalty-Free (RF)
Royalty-Free licenses are the polar opposite of Rights Managed licenses. Royalty-Free licenses often constitutes a one-time payment that allows the buyers the flexibility of using the clip in multiple productions over an unlimited period of time without incurring additional fees.
Editorial Use
When purchasing stock footage, you may also come across some files that are marked with an “Editorial-Only” or “Editorial Use” disclaimer. Video clips with this licensing are very limited in the types of projects they may be used in.
What is free video footage?
The name couldn't be more straight-forward: Free Video Footage is a website offering a large collection of stock footage free of charge, ready to download and use. It's developed by Stock Photo Now, a network of online stock media shops under the Stock Photo Press umbrella. It has content up to HD quality, and it's all Royalty Free and commercial-use enabled.
What is ArtGrid stock footage?
Artgrid is a young, yet very high-end stock footage site. Their subscription-based service offers thousands of videos produced with the ultimate cameras and skills, in a storytelling format designed to inspire creativity. Find out more in our Artgrid review.
What is Storyblocks video?
Storyblocks Video is an innovative and very popular stock footage provider, offering flat-fee memberships with unlimited downloads from a large collection of HD and 4K footage. Learn more in our dedicated Storyblocks review.
What is istock stock?
iStock is a pioneer stock media company with an excellent reputation, backed by renowned stock photography agency Getty Images. With years in the market, they offer a large collection of high-quality stock footage that includes a high-profile collection of exclusive clips.
What is the best way to target the footage in your shoot?
From movie and television studios to advertising agencies and small businesses, consumers are looking for footage that helps tell their story and represent their brand.
What is travel footage on Shutterstock?
Travel footage is one of the most popular categories on Shutterstock. Another option is to produce shoots specifically for stock. Hire some models (and be sure to get model release forms signed) and find a great location. You can film your group of friends on an adventure, grabbing a cup of coffee, or playing sports together.
How much does Shutterstock pay to its contributors?
Shutterstock depends on high-quality content from great contributors. In fact, Shutterstock has paid out over $400 million to contributors.
What are the most popular categories on Shutterstock?
The most popular categories include sports, food, travel, healthcare, business, animals, leisure, and lifestyle. International sports are some of the most popular searches as of late. Shutterstock has seen a surge in searches for the past World Cup and upcoming Olympics.
Can you repurpose old clips?
If you have the rights to repurpose older or unused clips, consider submitting them. If you don’t have any stock footage taking up hard drive space, then consider shooting some. It’s always a good idea to keep your camera on you during any personal adventures.
What is stock footage?
Stock footage is an excellent low-cost solution for self-employed individuals, small businesses, or others who operate on a tight budget to get high-quality video content in their productions. Stock footage can be anything — aerials, landscapes, time-lapses, lifestyle, cityscapes, etc.
How many stock images does Shutterstock have?
Shutterstock is one of the biggest stock media companies in the market as of today. It is enormous, having approximately 300 million stock images and 16 million stock footage in their library.
How many stock clips does Pond5 have?
Pond5 is only one of these four agencies that are mainly focusing on stock video. They have over 17 million stock clips in their collection. They do offer also images, but with only 36 million images they are a very small player in the market. They also sell 3D models, music, sound effects, and AE templates.
What is a model release?
A model release is a document where the model can give written consent for the videographer to sell the footage for commercial use. Both the model and the videographer sign the model release. The videographer then includes the model release with the footage when uploading it into the stock platform.
What is a right managed license?
Right-Managed license is limited to a specific use of the footage in one project only. For another project, a new license must be obtained. The rights-managed licenses may be specified by. Medium – news, commercials, television, etc. Usage – theaters, online, live shows, etc.
How long should a video be cut?
Also, the possible shaking at the beginning and at the end caused by pressing the record button should be cut out. If your footage is longer than 60 seconds, you should cut it into shorter 5-60 second pieces. That is a typical clip length preferred by the stock media agencies.
What is royalty free license?
A royalty-free license is what is typically being used in this day and age. The royalty-free license does not mean that the license is free. The word “free” refers to the license’s flexible usage rights. The royalty-free license allows multiple uses of footage in as many projects as the licensee wants.
