The Importance of Selling Stock Footage
Before learning where to sell stock footage, let’s understand it first. Stock footage refers to different types of pre-recorded video clips. In recent years, a growing number of people like filmmakers and video editors want to buy stock footage for optimizing their video projects. Therefore, the importance of selling stock footage lies in the fact that your stock footage will bring you extra profits in addition to your work.
Simply put, as long as you have created attractive stock footage and uploaded it to relevant platforms, you can make earnings effortlessly. Meanwhile, you still have the freedom to go to work or enjoy your life. However, before you sell your stock footage, it is suggested you know the legal considerations below to avoid the potential problems brought by unconsciously illicit behavior.
Legal Considerations Before Selling Stock Footage
A license has much to offer in affecting the selling of your stock footage. Since different types of licenses will put divergent requirements for stock footage producers, you must understand the requirements to ensure that you won’t violate the regulations of the selling platforms. Simultaneously, you can expand the profits better by understanding these licenses.
A Royalty-Free license empowers stock footage buyers to utilize copyrighted footage all the time as soon as they have paid one time. Therefore, for most purchasers who want a long-time use of stock footage, those platforms that advocate a royalty-free license are an ideal choice to save the cost.
Another one is a rights-managed license. With it, purchasers are allowed to use a specific clip for a concrete project only. When they want to apply this clip to a different video project, these buyers need to pay for it again. Undoubtedly, a rights-managed license is more likely to bring producers more money.
However, the stock footage regulated by a rights-managed license may be exclusively used, which means you can barely upload it to one platform. Otherwise, you will violate the regulation and may struggle in the lawsuit. Therefore, when choosing where to sell stock footage, please consider the license based on your needs.
How to Make High-Quality Stock Footage
To make your stock footage more attractive, below are some important tips that can give you a hand.
Tip 1. Stable Cameras
A stable camera plays a crucial role in the process of stock footage production. For instance, when the camera stability is poor, your stock footage will look less professional and may cause doubt from viewers and purchasers. To ensure the camera stability, you can use some stabilization equipment like a tripod.
Tip 2. Creative Composition
Adopting creative composition is another way to improve your stock footage. For example, it is common to see stock footage with a subject in the frame center. However, such composition may lack novelty. You can make the composition more interesting and creative by visually dynamic shots, which brings you more customers.
Tip 3. Reasonable Subject Selection
The theme of your stock footage also has a significant influence on the selling. To further expand the profits, you’d better find a popular subject for your stock footage. This way, you are more likely to gain a huge purchaser base. For example, you can go to some forums or platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Quora to find out the trend.
Tip 4. Appropriate Lighting
Lighting is an influential factor that affects the attractiveness of your stock footage. Specifically, in the process of making stock footage, you need to ensure a visually appealing and well-lit video subject. More than that, pay attention to the shadows. More importantly, it is recommended you use soft light sources as much as possible and shunt overhead lighting.
Where to Sell Stock Footage
In the following content that recommends six reliable platforms, you will have a better understanding of where to sell stock footage.
Choice 1. Adobe Stock
Known as a popular platform for selling stock footage, Adobe Stock, which is an integral part of Premiere Pro, allows you to upload and edit your video clips effortlessly. For example, you are capable of publishing your stock footage on Adobe Stock directly. At the same time, Adobe Stock will make 33% of all royalties come into your pocket.
Choice 2. Shutterstock
Where to sell stock video footage? As a platform with a huge user base, Shutterstock has provided more than 350 million videos and images. It is reported that Shutterstock has paid a total of one billion dollars to all the stock footage producers. In addition, if sell stock footage on this platform, you can gain additional earnings by referring other contributors and users.
Choice 3. Pond5
Pond5 is another choice for you to sell stock footage. It allows you to set the price of your video clips based on your needs. In addition, if you help Pond5 to gain new users, you can also get a bonus. Plus, Pond5 gives stock footage producers a high commission rate (50%-60%). However, it has strict control over the video clip quality.
Choice 4. Storyblocks
Where to sell stock footage? As a robust platform for stock footage selling, Storyblocks pays earnings for producers according to the downloaded volume of their stock footage. If you have a clip that enjoys a high volume, it is suggested you apply to a Storyblocks contributor.
Choice 5. Getty Images
Serving as a famous stock footage seller in the world, Getty Images has a high visibility. In addition, it attaches great importance to premium content, which means that it is more possible for stock footage creators to obtain more earnings brought by exclusive content. However, it is difficult for novices to become contributors to Getty Images.
Choice 6. Artgrid
Artgrid is the final choice for you to sell stock footage. Like Storyblocks, it requires you to apply to be a contributor. Although it is a smaller site, Artgrid can be a good option for those who have set up a stock footage library to make more profits.
A Professional and Easy-to-Use Stock Footage Editor: MiniTool MovieMaker
Presently, you have known better about where to sell stock footage. However, how to improve your stock footage easily and quickly? more professional stock footage is incredible at bringing you more profits. MiniTool MovieMaker, which is a remarkable video editor, is a can’t-miss choice. With its intuitive interface, regardless of your editing skills, you can edit your stock footage frame by frame without effort.
Meanwhile, MiniTool MovieMaker allows you to add a wide range of elements like motions, filters, transitions, text, etc., to your stock footage. In addition, it empowers you to change the aspect ratio of your stock footage as you want. More importantly, MiniTool MovieMaker enables you to combine multiple clips into one stock footage video.
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To Wrap Things Up
To be an outstanding stock footage producer, it is indispensable for you to follow relevant regulations and adopt some methods to improve your stock footage. Additionally, this article has clarified where to sell stock footage by recommending six selling platforms.
About The Author
Position: Columnist
Eien, who was majored in English at the university, has been an editor of MiniTool now. In his opinion, the software developed by MiniTool has brought great convenience to people, which also urges him to share more articles about the software with readers. In his daily life, Eien has a passion for singing and listening to music.