Stock FAQs

how to sell video stock footage

by Chet Quitzon Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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How To Sell Stock Footage – 8 Simple Tips

  1. Plan Your Story. Firstly, videographers always need to be prepared. Don’t just take out your camera and start shooting what you think looks good.
  2. Shoot What You Love. There are several reasons why you should film what you are passionate about. ...
  3. Know What Stock Footage Sells. Firstly, it’s essential to check which styles of stock footage have a higher demand than supply. ...
  4. Use What You Have. If all else fails and don’t have a lot of spare time then don’t worry. ...
  5. Future-Proof Your Footage. While most stock footage used today is in 1080p, resolutions always have a tendency to go up. ...
  6. Use Interesting Camera Movements. Try to add an interesting camera movement when filming for stock. Static lifestyle shots can turn out boring and most likely won’t sell.
  7. Tag Your Videos Accurately. This might sound like a minor detail, but it’s important. ...
  8. Get Release Forms Signed. Most importantly, make sure you have release forms and get them signed by property owners and actors (even that random dude in the back of ...

Where should I sell my stock footage? The Internet has dozens of platforms where creators can sell stock footage, including Getty and iStock (under the same umbrella), Shutterstock, Vimeo, VideoHive, and Pond5. While all platforms give contributors a similar upload experience, some offer better rates than others.Apr 1, 2022

Full Answer

How to make money selling videos on stock footage market?

What you can expect to earn on a monthly basis depends on several factors:

  • How skillful you are,
  • How much you are willing to work for it,
  • How well you understand the market and buyer’s need,
  • The quality and quantity of your content,
  • And do you have a heart for creating stock footage?

How much can you make selling stock footage?

  • How much money can I make from stock footage? I get asked this question all the time. ...
  • I'm so busy. How can I do stock footage? ...
  • Can I make a living selling stock? Yes there are people who make a career out of selling stock. ...
  • How long until I start making money? ...

How to make a video with stock footage?

They can also look to make their projects all the more professional in nature by selecting a great stock footage provider to help boost and ... who is now well-known not just within the stock video industry but also with those who may not even be aware ...

Where to find stock video footage?

Why You'll Love Videvo

  1. Free Stock Footage As a free user you'll enjoy access to over 18,000+ free stock video clips and motion graphics, animated backgrounds , and hundreds of free sounds effects. ...
  2. Hassle-Free Licensing
  3. New Clips Added Daily

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How much money can you make selling stock footage?

Earnings can be at $50 per month at the beginning. When you build a quality and comprehensive portfolio, you will see much larger numbers. For some, it will be from a few hundred to several thousand dollars a month, but the more enterprising contributors will be able to make a good living.

Where is the best place to sell stock footage?

10 Places to Sell Your Stock Photography and Videos TodayDreamstime. ... Getty Images. ... Shutterstock. ... EyeEM. ... Pond5. ... SIPA USA. ... ageFotoStock. ageFotoStock is a stock photography marketplace based in Spain. ... Unsplash. I know what you're thinking — Unsplash isn't a stock photo website!More items...

Can I make money selling videos?

Uscreen allows creators to sell their videos in three ways: a subscription basis, live-stream basis, or one-time purchase. Start by launching your own branded streaming service, then grow your audience using their marketing tools. You can also stay connected with your audience and offer coupons and promotions.

How much does it cost to license stock footage?

How Much Does Stock Footage Cost at the Best Stock Video AgenciesVideo ResolutioniStockAdobe StockHD$60 / $170$79,994K$60 / $170$199,99

How do I sell stock footage on Vimeo?

Step 1: Upgrade to Vimeo Pro or higher. To access Vimeo On Demand and start selling your videos directly to your audience, you need to upgrade to Vimeo Pro membership or higher.Step 2: Create your Vimeo On Demand title. ... Step 3: Customize your title. ... Step 4: Spread the word. ... Step 5: Get paid.

Does it cost money to sell stock photos?

How much does it cost to be a stock photo contributor? Nothing. Most reliable stock photo sites don't charge anything for you to sign up as a contributor and submit your work.

How much does Vimeo pay per 1000 views?

Vimeo claims creators who sell through its Vimeo On Demand platform can potentially pull in $260 for every 1,000 views of a project trailer.

How do I sell a video of myself?

0:322:19How to Sell Yourself in 30 Seconds - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIt could be senior leadership. And ask them if they were going to open up their own company. WhatMoreIt could be senior leadership. And ask them if they were going to open up their own company. What decision would they want you for and why allow them to think about it for a few minutes.

Where can I sell my content?

The best ways to sell your art, photos, videos and other content...deviantART. deviantART is the largest online social network for artists, photographers and designers. ... Etsy. Etsy is a marketplace to sell anything handmade and vintage. ... YouTube. ... Gumroad. ... Zaarly. ... Scribd.

How much should I charge for video footage?

Your best bet is to offer an hourly rate. I've seen numbers ranging from $25 an hour to $75 an hour, for just basic Premiere Pro editing projects. You can be flexible, but the biggest way to ensure fair value is to be upfront about your expectations, based on the project.

How much should I charge for a 30 second video?

From $100 to $1,000 — this is an average number on how much to charge for a 30-second video. Yet, many companies are ready to pay more for high-quality content.

Should you license your video?

Copyright laws (and the general concept of intellectual property) exist to protect creatives. So licensing videos works just like finding images, fonts, music, or sound effects. If you are using something that someone else created, you'll need to license it.

What you need to start selling videos on the Internet

We don’t know if you are an experienced video maker or a beginner, but one of the most important things, before you start, is to have some basic technical knowledge about video recording and editing.

The best platforms to sell stock footage

Artgrid is one of the platforms that has grown the most in recent years in the stock video industry.

12 Tips for successfully selling your videos on the Internet

Now that you know several platforms where to sell your stock videos, we’re going to give you up to 12 tips on how you can succeed as a freelance video creator.

Conclusion

Selling videos over the Internet is something that many people around the world already make a living from.

Why do we use stock footage?

The purpose of Stock Footage is to save time and money for video makers. Instead of filming a specific shot of say Machu Pichu, a travel agency from US can simply buy it from someone who has just made that shot thus saving them time and money.

What is a title in a video?

Every clip has to have a title that briefly describes what’s in the clip. This description serves as SEO (search engine optimization) when someone searches for a clip through outside searches, such as Google.

What is slow motion recording?

It is a great option to use in high speed environment such as sports or to easy your movement while shooting. Slow motion recording enables you get more clips from one shot, maximizing your shot count and earning potential.

Do you have to include people in your clips?

BONUS TIP: If you have the ability to include people in your clips, do it. Clips that have people in them are by far the best selling ones. But be careful: when you film people, you also need to get a statement from them that they agree to being filmed.

Do you have to be a professional to record a video?

You don’t have to be a big professional video producer to record video content! Stock footage market is a large database of diverse videos used by influencers, television companies, agencies, businesses and video productions to save time and money.

Is it too late to start recording videos?

As you go about it more methodically, so will your earnings increase. But now you may be wondering if it’s not too late to start recording and selling your videos. it’s never too late!

Is stock footage a sprint?

But before you quit your job earning with stock footage, here’s a friendly warning: selling stock footage is a marathon not a sprint. It takes discipline and persistence in order to build a wide ranging portfolio of clips.

How much does a video producer make from iStock?

Most providers pay their contributors a percentage of their sales. For instance, a video producer whose work is on iStock will make 15-20 percent of the sale price of their material if they are a non-exclusive provider. If that provider is working exclusively with them, the royalty becomes 45 percent of the sales.

How to make a video without sound?

The content distributors prefer that you create clips without sound, unless sound is integral to creating the clip. If you must use sound, iStock makes the following recommendations: 1 If there are voices in the soundtrack, then those voices must be released. 2 There should not be any off-camera voices (such as director's comments). 3 If sound is included, it should be recorded at proper levels without clipping or wind distortion. 4 No music should be included, even if it was just playing in the background.

Should I put footage together before signing up?

If this is the case, then you should put footage together before signing up, so that you are able to supply them with the necessary information when they request it ; you can build a portfolio while generating marketable content. You will also need to know the length of the clips they're looking for.

Is video royalty free?

Video footage is almost entirely sold as royalty free footage. What that means is that when a client purchases the footage, they are free to use it in any manner that they choose, for as long as they like, and in as many situations as they desire. It is theirs; they paid for it, and they are welcome to use it.

Is standard definition footage valuable?

In a word: no. The time for standard definition footage has run its course and nobody's looking to purchase it any more, unless it has some historical or unique value. That said, some of the old footage that you've been saving since 1981 can be valuable.

Is it free to register your video?

Registering on websites is usually free, but it's not always simple. The companies that will be selling your video footage want to know that they are contracting with someone who is competent and has equipment that meets their standards. Oftentimes, the companies will ask you to provide a reel or a link to your work.

Is stock footage high definition?

High definition stock footage is preferred, but if it's an extreme piece of well-composed aerial footage, or an impossible-to-duplicate piece of time lapse stock footage, the payoff might be higher, but anything the stock video companies need will pay off if your video footage has good composition and framing.

Who buys these clips?

Influencers, marketing agencies, and businesses are always looking for authentic video content to use in different campaigns. You might have seen these video montages during the superbowl and on other nationally televised programs.

Everyone can engage

Really, anyone. If you have a smartphone, and a tripod to stabilize your camera you can start shooting and earning passive income today.

Where do I upload my video clips?

There are various websites you can submit your video clips to. Here are the top 5 places we recommend:

Pond5

Pond5 was the first stock video marketplace, and has one of the highest royalty rates out of all, ranging from 40-60% depending whether you decide to sell your content exclusively or not. They actually allow you to set your prices when you upload your content with a minimum payout of $25.00.

Wirestock

Wirestock is another viable option - a platform that does all the keywording/captions for you and distributes your content to major brands, marketing agencies and stock content marketplaces such as Pond5, Adobe, Depositphotos and Shutterstock. You can easily track your sales from various channels from your single dashboard.

Shutterstock

Shutterstock is one of the largest content marketplaces in the world. Because of this, their interface is extremely easy-to-use. Their royalty varies from 15-40% for each clip sold. Shutterstock’s payment structure changed recently and has been controversial amongst its Users.

Vimeo & Youtube

You can also monetize your content on Vimeo and Youtube. Video monetization on video streaming platforms works through a paid advertisements and subscription basis. This is a decent option as well, if you are making a series of engaging longer videos, rather than short clips.

What platforms can I sell stock footage on?

The Internet has dozens of platforms where creators can sell stock footage, including Getty and iStock (under the same umbrella), Shutterstock, Vimeo, VideoHive, and Pond5. While all platforms give contributors a similar upload experience, some offer better rates than others.

How long should a stock video be?

5. How long should my stock video clips be? Stock videos typically range from 10 to 20 seconds; on iStock, the shortest clip they’ll accept is six seconds. The submitted footage should be a straight shot from start to finish (i.e., don’t edit or cut out a shaky segment in the middle of the clip).

Is commercial footage better than stock footage?

Commercial footage pays better, but it also comes with stricter stipulations; contributors need model releases and, in many cases, property releases to sell stock footage commercially. Most platforms like iStock provide contributors with the proper releases, but it requires a bit more legwork on the contributor’s side.

Is stock photography a saturated market?

While stock photography has been a revenue stream for ages — and is, therefore, a relatively saturated market — stock videography is a different story. Brands are increasingly seeking stock videos to supplement their social, TV, and digital campaigns, but there are gaping holes in the stock video market. It could be lack of contributors, ...

Can you sell stock on multiple platforms?

In short, yes, but you have to check the contract as each agreement is different. In some cases, like selling footage or photos with Getty, exclusive stock content will earn you more money — but, at the same time, selling on multiple platforms could also generate more income. Many experts recommend selling across multiple stock agencies to cast the widest net and, therefore, reach the largest number of customers.

Can I edit stock footage before submitting?

Can I edit my stock footage before submitting? Yes, you can edit or color grade your stock footage, but platforms such as Pond5 recommend only adjusting the clips to look natural. Color grading for certain styles and looks may turn away potential buyers, so the more true-to-life you can keep your colors, the better. 7.

What is a story block?

Story Blocks (formally known as Video Blocks) pioneered a different approach to selling stock video. Customers can purchase an annual subscription to their service and get unlimited amount of stock video clips. They later expanded into offering a traditional marketplace for those looking to purchase clips on a one-off basis. The major draw to contributing with them is that they off 100% (minus fees) of footage sold in their marketplace.

Does Adobe stock work?

Adobe Stock has been growing their portfolio over the last few years. They acquired Fotolia which gave them a huge boost to the amount of content in their library. They have also taken advantage of the rest of the Adobe Creative Cloud ecosystem to tightly integrate Adobe Stock into all applications that could benefit from Stock Footage and image content. This seems to be paying off as the amount of stock footage sales coming from Adobe Stock continues to increase.

What is the safest way to sell aerial videos?

The safest and easiest to sell aerial videos are those that focus on nature. They are also easy to do because there are a ton of subjects out there to capture. From beaches and oceans to deserts and forests, there are practically limitless options for you to capture nature-oriented aerial videos.

What is a good idea to populate your portfolio with shots of urban landscapes?

Urban landscapes. To provide balance to nature shots, it would be a good idea to populate your portfolio with shots of urban landscapes. Just as with the previous item, there are a lot of opportunities for this kind of shots and you are really only limited by your imagination.

Why are drone timelapse videos so interesting?

Drone time-lapse videos are particularly interesting because of the large scope that drones can capture.

What is a Blackbox?

4. BlackBox. BlackBox is a unique site that doesn’t provide hosting to stock media but, instead, forwards them to sites such as Shutterstock, Vimeostock, and Pond5. This is a great platform for immediately expanding the reach of your content without having to upload them to multiple sites.

Can drones shoot timelapse videos?

Some drones are capable of shooting time-lapse videos, a video technique where a series of photos taken over a period of time are compressed to a very short interval, thus creating a sense of fluid motion. This is tough to pull off with a drone because time-lapse videos require perfect stabilization.

Can you do aerial filming with a drone?

Aerial filmmaking is not only one of the most fun things that you can do with drones, but it’s also one of the most profitable. Aerial shots have been staples of professionally produced videos for decades but never have they become so accessible than through the use of drones. If you have a Part 107 license, the good news is ...

Do drone stocks require royalty?

Drone Stock does not require a minimum number of sales for you to earn your royalty – you get your cut from each and every transaction. Being well-established works well for Drone Stock and their exclusive contributors. They typically field requests from filmmakers, directors, and producers for specific shots.

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