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Author Topic: Stock Footage -- Where to Start  (Read 22573 times)

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WarrenPrice

« on: December 06, 2009, 20:36 »
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I'm getting more and more curious about this subject.  I don't have the equipment to start but have started researching ... very earliest stages.  Which site's requirements would you recommend studying?  Which site would be easier for getting footage accepted?  Has anyone heard of places like:
ThoughtEquity, Freestockfootage, or ITN???

Does where they come up on a Google search make any difference?

Thanks for any input ... especially about what equipment might meet the minimum requirements.



« Reply #1 on: December 06, 2009, 20:53 »
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Study and duplicate examples:
WE GOT THAT B ROLL!!


When you're good enough, then you can hire a crew and get all fancy.

« Reply #2 on: December 07, 2009, 02:53 »
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If you didn't see the forum area, there is a whole section with video related topics.
http://www.microstockgroup.com/general-stock-video/

I would get a camera that can shoot 1080.  I had a Canon HV30 which worked pretty well.  I have since bought the 5D mark II and think I would use that with any future video since you can control aperture.  If you have the money for the 5D I would probably recommend that for video since you would also be getting a great still camera too.

« Reply #3 on: December 07, 2009, 04:38 »
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There is lots of good information in the Pond5, SS and IS video forums.  I submit the same files to all the sites but it took me a while to work out what was suitable from my camera.  Sometimes if the files are huge, I will compress them more for sites that allow that.  I haven't bothered with FT because they don't allow files over 300mb and I don't like their low subs prices.

I have gone a similar route to leaf, started with the HV30 and I still use it but I am going to get the 5DmkII.  It is great for stills and I love the look of the video it produces.  Having more control over aperture will be good but I will still use the HV30, as the autofocus is good, it has a long zoom and it is sometimes easier to look through a viewfinder.

Pond5 seem to have the most lenient reviews and the sales are good, so might be worth starting there.  I had lots of problems with SS to start with but they seem better now but sales are low.  Istock are fairly lenient but it can take 2 months to get a review, I do sell more with them though.  Revostock ard Canstock are good but might not sell as much.

Haven't used ThoughtEquity, Freestockfootage, or ITN.

« Reply #4 on: December 07, 2009, 05:17 »
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@WarrenPrice, it looks they are any footage agencies afterall, never heard about the ones you mention:)
I have two posts on my blog related to videos you can have a look if you want:

http://microstockexperiment.blogspot.com/2009/09/from-still-to-motion.html

http://microstockexperiment.blogspot.com/2009/10/hd-stock-footage-agencies-memo.html

I got my first sale last month after two months....

Good luck!
L

WarrenPrice

« Reply #5 on: December 07, 2009, 14:16 »
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Thanks all, good info.
@leaf, I am browsing the video forum now. 
@idambies, my IE won't open your links???

About the HV30... I was just reading about the HV40.  Is it the update to HV30???

Again, thanks to everyone.


« Reply #6 on: December 07, 2009, 14:40 »
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Humm that's odd works for me on IE . Otherwise try the main page http://microstockexperiment.blogspot.com/ and browse back on the pages
Cheers
L

WarrenPrice

« Reply #7 on: December 07, 2009, 16:59 »
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Yes, it is strange.  The site actually opens but then an error message pops up telling me that Internet Explorer cannot open this site and is closing down.  It does the same thing on all the links, including the home page.  ????


« Reply #8 on: December 07, 2009, 17:52 »
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humm I don't know what to suggest except maybe install firefox or do an IE update ....

vonkara

« Reply #9 on: December 07, 2009, 18:55 »
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Work for me using IE8. Must be an update issue

« Reply #10 on: December 09, 2009, 00:18 »
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humm I don't know what to suggest except maybe install firefox or do an IE update ....
Works fine under IE8/Win7 and looks the same as in Firefox. I can't click the video links though, I get thrown into facebook where I don't have (and don't want) an account.

« Reply #11 on: December 09, 2009, 05:50 »
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Thanks all for the links feedback. @FD-amateur, what video links you are referring to?
L

« Reply #12 on: December 09, 2009, 05:57 »
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Thanks all, good info.
@leaf, I am browsing the video forum now. 
@idambies, my IE won't open your links???

About the HV30... I was just reading about the HV40.  Is it the update to HV30???

Again, thanks to everyone.




yeah, that's right.

make sure to check out this thread if you are interested in the HV cameras
http://www.microstockgroup.com/equipment-and-software/canon-hv30-hv20-hv10-corner/

« Reply #13 on: December 09, 2009, 09:18 »
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Thanks all for the links feedback. @FD-amateur, what video links you are referring to?

The ones on the right column of your blog. Maybe you route them through Facebook but I don't have an account there so I get the Facebook page to sign up.
I don't think it's an hijack since I freshly installed Win7 yesterday after a malicious (and new) vbs script that ruined my XP. My usual antivirus programs (iobit 360, avg, adaware) didn't detect it, so I'm not sure where I stand now (sorry for the techtalk). I didn't reformat and I didn't check on my laptop yet.
« Last Edit: December 09, 2009, 09:34 by FD-amateur »

« Reply #14 on: December 09, 2009, 09:31 »
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I see, yes you can forget about them just my fan page on Facebook:) Actually convenient if you don't want to share too much of your personal infos on FB

« Reply #15 on: December 09, 2009, 16:48 »
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I have a HV30, the last 10 month I shot a lot footage with it...I Love it...and I earn more in 10 month footage compare to 1,5 years with microphotos (just about 500 portfolio). For the moment i dont submit to micro pics...My focus is footage and audio and Alamy ... so much more money for the work...
/lena

« Reply #16 on: December 09, 2009, 19:32 »
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@ason that's encouraging I need to get more clips on Pond 5 then:)

« Reply #17 on: December 10, 2009, 06:17 »
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 Idambies
Dont forget Revostock, Istock and Shutterstock ;)

« Reply #18 on: December 10, 2009, 08:17 »
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@ason, I am on it :) what is your best agency so far for footage sale?

« Reply #19 on: December 10, 2009, 14:42 »
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number one are pond5, than revostock than SS.
 Istock is hard to say cause of its extrem long rewiew time, but it seem to be good for sales...
/lena

« Reply #20 on: December 10, 2009, 14:50 »
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I'll probably buy a video camera after the first of the year. Have already been practicing with my Canon Sureshot by pulling samples into iMovie and saving them as NTSC (720 x 480). Also have been playing around with Final Cut Pro at work. That is a great application.

« Reply #21 on: December 11, 2009, 08:07 »
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@ ason Yes istock reviews are very slow, I look forward in 2010 that agencies make submission easier.

If you miss it here is a review I made of Clipcanvas:
http://microstockexperiment.blogspot.com/2009/12/clipcanvas-hd-marketplace-review.html

Cheers
L

Roadrunner

  • Roadrunner
« Reply #22 on: December 12, 2009, 16:55 »
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Sharpshot - I ust checked out Pond5 and discovered they primarily reject images from camcorders with less than 3CCD sensors. I just gotr a feedback from a question I shot at them.  They confirmed that I should not submit anything other than from a camcorder with 3 CCds.  ::)

I only have the Canon HF100 that shoots in 720P and 1080i and has only one sensor (1/3 CNOS).  Are there any sites wherer I can submit with this level camcorder?  I can't afford the $2,200 range.

Roadrunner

« Reply #23 on: December 16, 2009, 02:40 »
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Roadrunner, I have the HV30 and I think that only has one sensor.  They accept clips from that.  From what I have read, it is fine in good light but clips are likely to get rejected if they are made in poor light.  Might be worth submitting a short clip from your camera to see if they accept it.  The HV30 is cheaper than the 3CCD cameras, some of the cheaper digital SLR's will do 720p, I have the Canon 500D and clips from that get accepted.

Roadrunner

  • Roadrunner
« Reply #24 on: December 16, 2009, 15:07 »
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Thanks Sharpshot!  I'll give it a try right after the holidays.  I'm doing some work for our church to produce a video of the Christmas Cantata, and I have some still images to pass through to the stock sites for review.

I did just find an article explaining that the first Memory Chip cameras had problems with artifacts when the images were compressed.  The Canon Vixia series seemed to be a breakthrough as the MPeg 4 compression is a lot cleaner.  So it coud be that my images would appear to be on a par with the HV30.  I will let you know if I make it or not.

Thanks for the tip!
Roadrunner


 

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