Quote from: Ozone on April 11, 2019, 22:21
I'm submitting clips to AS/P5/SS/VB using StockSubmitter. Uploading via FTP using FileZilla. All of my keywording is done inside StockSubmitter and when I'm done I export a .csv which I submit to all of the agencies.

You lost me at the CSV part - what's that for?

I have sporadically submitted to microstock, but I have a huge library of quality microstock-worthy content that I'd want to upload non-exclusively.

Lately I've been using MicrostockSubmitter but the free version is limited to just 33 submissions/month. I don't love the idea of paying for something that might return very little as a result. Plus I've had some hiccups with the app anyway.

For most of my model release stuff, I submit to non-microstock so it's easier to manage. All my files are already keyworded but don't have titles or descriptions. Then there is stuff like categories.

Assuming I was okay to skip all model released content, anyone have any suggestions for managing hundreds if not thousands of submissions to multiple agencies? I worry with a huge backlog it would take me so long just to deal with titles+keywords. Most of them accept FTP, so at least I could upload them all quite easily... but then have to submit, too.

I'm worried I'm hovering around the tipping point of whether it's literally worth my time to submit or just hold on to the files that don't and wouldn't exist anywhere on the net...

Quote from: scribble on December 22, 2018, 01:36
Psst...You didn't hear this from me.  Just have one of your friends sign it.  I have never been asked to prove they witnessed the signature.  I often have my wife sign as a witness

I mean yeah, I could "add it in" but ideally trying to follow the guidelines properly. But it just seems there are times where getting the witness part breaks the entire process down, to the point where i'd probably just give up rather than trying to get 3 people together to sign a form.

I have a model release that I've used for a while and been accepted just about everywhere, EXCEPT ShutterStock.

I think the reason it's being declined is because there is no witness. I am often shooting out on the go with people, and in the case of strangers I try to get the release signed on my phone or I'll email them to digitally sign. How does or can a witness come into play in this case?

Hmm interesting - I am well aware the gopro quality isn't way up there... but if something is filmed 4k in linear (no fisheye) mode, isn't that clip usable in a TON of usecases? If not at 4k, downscaling that to 1080p if that's all they need should still look really great? Especially compared to options from 2+ years ago?

My dslr records 1080p but the 4K codec is Motion JPEG which produces filesizes way too large for me to want to deal with

I've got a hero5+hero6. Both can do 4K with the 6 producing better quality - but I'm wondering is this "good enough"? I sort of assume it is, but I'd think 4K+Protune in a linear or at least not ultra-wide mode would be a good option for a small camera to always capture clips on the go?

Or should I just forget about the saleable footage with the gopro source content?

Quote from: unnonimus on May 22, 2018, 12:39
I have filmed around 20,000 stock videos.

I record each video such that I do not need to do any editing. I avoid having to edit 99% of my work, and upload the camera native file. when I first started, I spent too much time editing mostly due to mistakes that could be corrected while recording.

it takes practice to get everything right during the recording process. but it saves tons of time.

Holy, 20k is intense! Got a link to your portfolio?

Quote from: SpaceStockFootage on May 16, 2018, 02:13
Pond5 should be one of your first ports of call. There are certain varying reasons why some people avoid the following sites, but the top Tier on the right are the highest earners on the whole... Shutterstock, Adobe, iStock, Pond5... plus VideoBlocks.

But I think most people agree that Pond5 is one of the most popular. Set your own price, 50% commission, decent sales etc.

Pond5 set some default prices for my uploads, but how much are most people typically setting their prices at? When I see a price in my dashboard but then see the file online, the buy price isn't the same (it's higher on buy page)?

Quote from: increasingdifficulty on May 13, 2018, 17:14

Quote from: kmclachlan on May 13, 2018, 17:08
Sorry to hijack - new to video, but curious how your first video was accepted? Doesn't it have logo prominently displayed on that paddle? I thought just like photos, videos couldn't contain any logos/trademarks/copyrighted content?

You are correct, but it is marked as "Editorial" which makes it all OK. 

Clips like that are a pain to make commercial but it can be worth it. After Effects is your friend.

That being said, I think that particular clip would have a 50/50 chance of being accepted as commercial by a few agencies. It's hard to tell what brand it is unless you pause the video.

Spend the extra time in After Effects and you wouldn't have to worry. It can be done in 10 minutes once you've got the hang of it.

Ah, to be honest I didn't even look. Good to know

1) Get After Effects
2) Learn After Effects
3) Pay off cost of After Effects in a few years :p

Sorry to hijack - new to video, but curious how your first video was accepted? Doesn't it have logo prominently displayed on that paddle? I thought just like photos, videos couldn't contain any logos/trademarks/copyrighted content?

Quote from: SuperPhoto on May 13, 2018, 05:29
While I am 'relatively' new to this video/photo game - a lot of people recommend submitting to the sites on the right, in the order listed. I haven't yet submitted to the top 3 (so I could be potentially missing out on a lot of sales at the moment) - but - those are the sites you could start with.

The time consuming aspect is titling, keywording, and editing your video clips.

Hmm 5d Mark IV - I "suppose" thats an "okay" camera

What kind of footage do you have?

Here's an example of mostly drone footage... and then there is a mix of drone+gopro footage in my other videos

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VHY9H3OAFg

Quote from: SuperPhoto on May 13, 2018, 05:22
Really depends on a lot of things.

a) It seems most sites now prefer as a minimum HD footage (1920x1080). So if it's not that, except in special circumstances (i.e., unique historical/archival footage), probably won't be accepted.
b) Raw is what most people seem to upload - although I've seen some remarkable footage that I know obviously has been edited. I'd say understand what people want. If they want raw, give them raw. But if you think they'd like properly color graded clips, etc, then give them that.

Cool - my footage is from 5D Mark IV (only shoot 1080p) and 4K from DVI Mavic Pro or Hero 5/6. Guess I should at least start uploading some clips and experiement!

Is there a good site to start with? Some of the agencies I already submit to also provide video, but then others I don't submit anything to like Pond5 or Storyblocks

I am a photographer by trade, and have experience with both micro and premium stock, but when it comes to video it's mostly b-roll for some videos I do. I am absolutely not an expert when it comes to video filming or editing, but thinking I might be able to use some of the footage rather than just discarding it.

Wondering though how much work has to go into it - color grading, mixing clips, anything else? Or can an almost-raw-take be uploaded+sold on these platforms like pond5?

Wondering if you guys have noticed success selling editorial travel and outdoor/adventure stock through a specific agency? Obviously not all support editorial to start with, but I imagine some do a better job than others when it comes to editorial?

Been out of microstock for a while, slowly ramping back up. Currently submitting to shutterstock/dreamstime/bigstock. When I log into istock I see virtually nothing on my account. Can't even see my account balance/earnings history/etc.. it's SO confusing.

Seems there is this merger with Getty/the ESP. I got my link and login information, but when I log in there it says I have no data. It has my iStock username listed but seems to have no balance/royalty sales/etc.. again, it also seems super confusing.

Should I even bother trying to get back up and running with istock/getting at this point?

I've got so many protest shots... time to start uploading a lot more!

I'm guessing they ALL need to be editorial?

I'm wondering about the appeal of submitting more of my available editorial photos.

Let's assume I have a shot of someone walking the streets of New York. That can't be used commercially, so what types of companies might buy that photo?

I also have a lot of photos from protests - some are more generic crowds/protesting while others may be specific signs, etc. Do these stand the test of time and can they be used to represent protests in general, or have they lost their value because they were for a specific point in time - some time ago.? Reason I ask specifically about this one is I recently uploaded some editorial photos from the protests in Seoul that was in November, and I already have 2 sales the day after. I forgot to upload them way back in November, but I guess they still have value now?

Quote from: catavic on February 10, 2017, 03:53
You never know. Depends who is reviewing your work . I usually go the extra mile even if is not needed, just to be sure.Keep in mind that model release are not only for reviewers . Its a way to  keep your port safe for any infringement claims especially now. So if you have them use them

Yeah quite a few of these specific shots were while I was in Asia, so most of the time they were quick shots of people in action, or sometimes they'd even pose/allow the photo, but I never tried to get any releases since language barrier was massively difficult as-is...

I haven't yet submitted any model-released photos to shutterstock yet, but have quite a few in my backlog that I think might work.

These are not "people photos", and have things like:
- Silhouettes
- Their backs to you (but not silhouetted)
- Blurred faces beyond recognition because of depth of field
- Body parts - like a hand reaching for something (no tattoos)

Are these acceptable without model releases?

Here is the page of my photo... of me...
https://www.inbestme.com/corto-plazo-versus-largo-plazo/

On a photo sharing website, and it's my own watermark

With this specific photo, it was not actually uploaded to any microstock sites. And I know it didn't sell. Oh, and the watermark is still on it...

https://www.inbestme.com/ is using a photo of mine, and I wouldn't be surprised if MOST of their images are stolen.

I don't speak the language but with translation it appears they are an investment firm? Their FB/Twitter/LinkedIn presence is very small so that's a bit hard to see if they are even a "real" company.

I tried with Pixsy, but they rejected it due to an unsupported country. What could/should I do? It's just a single image. I happen to care more as it's an image of ME.
(this photo is available for sale, but has never been sold)

I don't shoot editorial but had some when I was in Seoul during the protest of the president. Ignoring the lateness and potential devalue of it, all of them were rejected and I'm not completely sure why:

QuoteDescription: Protestors left thousands of sticky notes on the police buses during the Seoul protest of Park Geun-hye
Reason: Unacceptable Editorial Caption -- Caption is either missing factual who, what, when and where information, is too vague, contains inaccuracies or is not relevant to the subject matter.

Do I have to actually mention the date - it's in the photo exif? Most of the photos are of crowd/etc. but there was even one of a statue, with nobody in it

QuoteDescription: A statue representing President Park Geun-hye during the protests in Seoul
Reason: Unacceptable Editorial Caption -- Caption is either missing factual who, what, when and where information, is too vague, contains inaccuracies or is not relevant to the subject matter.

Quote from: spike on January 02, 2017, 19:08
Good folder organization and a free FTP client. Anything more or anything less is suboptimal imho.

folder structure is an archaic way of trying to organize content