When companies need video clips, it’s often much more economical to buy or license them from stock video libraries rather than doing their own in-house filming. That doesn’t mean stock video can’t be lucrative, however. Major TV and film producers have been known to pay hundreds of dollars for each short clip they need.
Stock video sales are a common way for professional videographers to supplement their income, but anyone with a good eye, the will to learn and the right equipment can do it. This guide will help you to get started.
What Kind of Equipment Do You Need?
HD stock video libraries generally require that your video be shot in High Definition 1080p resolution at a minimum. High-end television and film producers will usually only be looking for video shot in 4K resolution, however.
Many digital cameras (and even most smartphones) are capable of shooting in 1080p, but shooting in 4K requires a specialized type of video camera that usually starts at around $700 retail.
Many video libraries do allow 720p resolution for certain types of slow-motion or accelerated filming, such as doing time lapses.
As far as frame rate goes, 25fps to 30fps is usually what’s expected, while slow motion videos usually are shot either in 50fps or 60fps. Stock clips are generally between 5 and 30 seconds long.
One final consideration is that you’ll need a computer capable of editing the video you take. HD stock video is generally well under a minute per clip, but if you’re working with 4K you’ll still need a pretty healthy CPU, a powerful GPU and good amount of RAM to even trim shorter clips. If you don’t have a good enough computer, look for “hackerspaces” or “hack labs” in your area that you might be able to work at.
Can People or Private Property Appear In Stock Videos?
Yes, but you’ll need signed waivers from the people (or property owner) for the site to accept it.
Stock video creators sometimes incentivize people to appear in their video with a one-time payment or by promising them fractional revenue from each sale. Of course, all of this will need to be in writing, and some stock platforms may not be willing to accept such arrangements – it’s a signed release or bust.
What is the Application and Licensing Process Like?
Some stock video companies will let anyone create an account, and will simply review each video they attempt to upload. Others ask that creators submit an application, and the review process can take several days or weeks.
If a stock video platform asks you for an application, you can expect them to ask for the following at minimum:
- Basic personal information (name, address and a contact number)
- The type of footage you expect to upload
- Details about your equipment
- Links to your published work (self-publishing on YouTube or Vimeo is usually good enough)
Stock video platforms vary widely in the licensing schemes they offer. Many only accept non-exclusive video and pay you a fixed royalty. Some will offer the option of higher royalties for making your video exclusive to their platform.
How Skilled of a Videographer Does One Have to Be to Qualify?
Most stock video platforms just ask that you take a stable shot of your subject. If you have a camera stand and a good idea for a clip, that’s probably going to be good enough. But it’s important to try and distinguish yourself and find unique angles that can grab the attention of a potential customer.
Stock video platforms usually require that each shot be clear and free of blur or artifacts. Some will make an exception for blurry or out-of-focus video that has significant emotional content or is newsworthy, however.
What Are The Major Stock Footage Platforms, And What Do They Offer?
There are several websites around that offer stock images.
- Adobe Stock Contributor (35% royalty, $50 minimum cashout)
- Dissolve (minimum 30% royalty, varies with license type)
- Envato (from 12.5% to 55% royalty depending on sale price and exclusivity)
- Getty Images (varies depending on collection; minimum of 20%)
- iStock (20% royalty)
- Pond5 (50% royalty)
- Shutterstock (30% royalty)
- Videoblocks (100% for exclusive, one-time full-rights sale)
- Videohive (30% royalty)
Building a Stock Video Library
Selling stock footage is a slow, long-term game. You might not see revenue for months, but the sooner you start building your stock video archive the better. The biggest factors are to have a large library, to identify categories of clips that are in demand but not yet saturated by other videographers, and to capture subjects from multiple angles so that customers have a wide range of options.