2. Stock footage producers since 2005
May 2007: Exclusivity with Istockvideo (RF)
Sept 2007: Invited to Gettyimages (RR)
April 2011: Invited to S3D Stereobank (RR)
Avg 2011:
• 16669 video clips online at Istockphoto (RF)
• 840 video clips online at Gettyimages (RR)
• 64 S3D video clips online at Stereobank (RR)
• 11 people employed
Mostly shooting lifestyle and business, not CGI
More info: www.simonkr.com
3. This presentation is based only on our own
experiences working in stock footage industry and it is
not meant to be any kind official market research or
guideline for producing stock footage.
Presentation is only an illustration of how we approach
to the production of stock footage. We would be
happy, if any of this information will help you build your
own successful stock footage portfolio, but we do not
take any responsibility that our approach, discussed in
this presentation, might or might not work for you.
4. Defining stock footage
Becoming a contributor
Essentials in preproduction
Stockvideo shoot specifics
Behind the scenes
Post production
Final submission to your online stock portfolio
Aftermath and strategy
Q&A
6. Stock footage is something that is being used in a
film or video production, but not shot with that
particular production in mind.
Typical productions where stock footage is
commonly used:
• documentaries
• television series
• news programs
• independent films
• commercials
• sports reviews
• movies...
7. Plenty of stock footage suppliers on the market
• http://www.historicfilms.com/
• http://www.bbcmotiongallery.com/
• http://imagesource.cnn.com
• ....
Royalty Free model vs. Rights Managed (or RR)
• RM - having to pay to use the footage according
to the number of screenings, distribution
channels and countries as well as its purpose.
• RF - one time payment to use in a single
production for as many screenings you like,
wherever and for as long as you like
8. Some best selling video clips:
• example 1
• example 2
• example 3
What is common to all best selling video clips?
• Generic / many uses
• Hard to shoot / make
• Creative / unique approach
• Strong concept / story
10. How to evaluate a stock footage agency:
• Web Traffic (Compete.com, Google trends)
• Number of sales for best selling business clip
• Price of the HD video clip
• Royalty rate (excl. / non excl.)
• Total number of clips online / contributors
• Which codecs can you upload, which platform
• Clips maximum duration
• How timeconsuming is adding metadata
• How to upload / choose online / thumbnails
• How you upload releases
• Inspection time
• Average rejection rate
• Average response time from support
• Seminars...
12. General recomendations for newbies:
• Submit at least 1920 x1080p(i)
• Learn basics of lighting
• Get all the releases needed before the shoot
• Make a plan / strategy (hobby vs. business)
Equipment recomendations for newbies:
• Camera device with complete manual settings
• Camera device with 25+ Mbit codec
• Fluid head tripod
• Proper offline editing software
• Basic lights and some grip (slider, jib arm)
• Good internet connection
13. Plan or strategy for a successful portfolio:
• Decide on a weekly upload plan
• Plan your shoots
• Don’t copy directly
• Shoot, edit, upload
• Find ways to improve your knowledge
• Repeat last 4 lines over and over
15. What to shot?:
• Brainstorm for ideas
• Find those ideas, that inspire you
• Make a research on the web, how such ideas are
being used in practice
• Use this research to decide on casting, styling,
location, creative approach,...
• Final decision on the initial idea
Example of brainstorming
Example of web research
16. How to process your ideas?:
• Basic storyline (example)
• Basic scripts (example)
• Basic storyboards (example)
17. How to find locations and appropriate talent?:
• Friends (example)
• Family (example)
• Proffesionals (example)
• Agencies (example)
• Start building your own database (example)
Few things to have in mind when location scouting:
• Sun position (Helios software)
• Access to the location and GPS coordinates
• Electricity
• Existing color temperature of the location
• Parking
• Private / Public
18. Location design, styling, props, make up:
• Find reference photos (example)
• Organise your props (example)
• Logos and design – your 2 biggest enemies in RF
• Use only proffesional make-up (example)
• Problem with renting props
Releases (model & property):
• Get all releases signed before the shoot
• Organise your scans
(yyyy_mm_dd_shoot_name&surname)
20. Lenght limitations (5-30 sec)
Creative freedom (skipping, adding shots)
Usually no sound recording
• directing talent even during the shot
• more locations and equipment are suitable due to no
noise issues
Stock video vs. stock photo shoot:
• acting vs. posing, different directing approach
• video needs usually longer time to set up
• electricity problems (frequency, wattage)
• only constant lights (more power)
• grip set-up time
21. How big should a crew be?
• Director / DOP
• Props / AD
• Make up artist / Styling
• Grip / Gaffer
• make good contracts regarding the copyright
SimonKr team:
• 1x Director / DOP / AD / CEO / Post p. supervisior
• 1x Make up artist / styling / casting / coordinator
• 2x Grip / Gaffer / maintainance
• 2x research
• 2x location scouting, second AD
• 2x post production and metadata
• 1x administration, accountant
22. Directing an inexperienced talent:
• First shot is usually the best one
• Test them and find, what emotions suit them best
• Catch the moment
23. Benefits of a 4 day shoot on 1 location vs. 4 times 1 day
shoot on 4 locations :
• More relaxed
• More creative
• Less transport and set-up time
• More clips per hour of total operation
101. How to edit footage for stock:
• Import
• First selection
• Lenght of 5 - 30 sec
• Leave 3-4 sec at the end / beginning
• Look for “action” in the clip and execution of it
• Final selection
Color Correction
Color Grading
How much color correction for stock use? (e1, e2)
Logos and rotoscoping
Noise reduction (Neat video)
Exporting and archiving, backups
At least 3 dislocated copies in a (422) format
103. What do you need to submit?:
• video clip in appropriate codec
• thumbnail
• releases
• metadata
Benefits of pre-keywording (example)
Applying metadata online (taging vs. keywording)
Ways of promoting your work:
• banners (example)
• lightboxes (example)
• showreels (example)
• social media (example)
105. RPS (revenue per shoot)
RPD (revenue per day) – eliminating the time period:
• gives you an idea of budgets for different concepts in a
long term
SimonKr average RPD: x
Business shoots RPD: x3
Lifestyle shoots RPD: x2
Sports shoots RPD: x
Proffesion shoots RPD: x 0,5
Abuse shoot RPD: x 0,1
106. Exclusivity vs. Non-exclusivity
• exclusives get higher royalty rate
• exclusivity grants more power to contributor
• non-exclusivity is a self-competitive concept
• non-exclusivity = more work
• BUT due to the current situation, it will be soon time to
calculate, what is indeed better for individual
RM vs. RF
• RM = less sales per day, higher price per sale
• RF = more sales per day, lower price per sale
• best selling concepts are different
