The Stock Video Seller

Can I make money with stock video?

People ask the question in many ways:

"Is selling stock video worth my time?"

"Can I supplement my income significantly doing this?"

"Is it worth the effort?"

"What kind of money can I expect to make?"

Here's my honest answer: I have been working part-time and now full time in the stock footage marketplace for more than four years - shooting, uploading and submitting. I have been having open and back-channel conversations with struggling and successful stock video producers throughout this time. When I look back at the years I have been selling stock video I can make several statements:

It's going to take time. Unless you already have an archive of good footage, it's going to take time to accumulate one – experimenting and researching as you go to find your niche subjects. This is hard time consuming work. At first, your results will probably be discouraging. If you do have an archive, you'll need to examine it carefully shot by shot, researching what you choose to upload. Having the footage is half the battle; researching, uploading, key-wording and “tending” your online footage the other. Quick money, it is not. Most stock sellers find having a large and topically varied quality portfolio is key to achieving an income stream. That's going to take time.

Upload to multiple sites. Don't get stuck in any “exclusivity” contract with one site. It's bad business no matter what tempting percentage you're offered. You'll make more money submitting to multiple sites. The numbers don't lie - at least from my balance sheet. Since I began uploading to multiple sites my income has tripled. What doesn't sell at one agency, sells well on another. Some accept editorial footage, some don't. Some sites reject a particular shot, others accept it. You'll get a sharper sense of the stock video marketplace, become a more savvy seller, a better photographer and make more money selling on multiple sites. (see my list of recommended sites)

Only upload what sells. Good trick you say! I wouldn't upload 80% of what I uploaded when I started. It simply does not sell. I learned the hard way. The return on investment, ROI, was not worth my efforts. Now I only upload footage my research and experience tells me may sell. What sells, how to find ideas and research them will a longer topic post on this site. Stay tuned.  

Only upload your best. As I know from experience, second rate footage generally doesn't sell. (Unless it is unique and hard to get - then content is king.) If you are submitting your footage in a popular over saturated category, it had better be the very best duck in a pond, time-lapse cloudscape, businessmen shaking hands shot you can do. Otherwise it's not going to sell. Ever. Take my advice and learn from my experience - work the entire process intelligently and efficiently. The return on investment for uploading shots which are over represented, are not unique or special in some way, are poorly key-worded, have a dull thumbnail or are conceptually confused is less that zero. Be brutal with your self. Only upload your great takes and/or most commercial or unique subjects. If they sell, go back and shoot some more.

Don't quit your day job. Candidly, if I only relied on stock footage income to support my family or bankroll my pension, I would be worried. It would have been stressful. The digital marketplace moves very fast, with pricing changes, sales sites coming and going and competition rising exponentially. Your position in the marketplace, as many stock footage sellers have found, can change slowly or quickly. I have seen my sales of particular shots grow from zero, to rewarding amounts and back to zero again. If you have the option, develop stock video sales as one of several income streams.

Grow a varied portfolio. To offset this digital deluge it's best to have a varied array of subjects in your portfolio you have researched well. This way you'll get more consistent sales all year long. Don't get stuck in one niche. 

Shoot what you know and love. If you're serious, semi-serious, you're going to be logging some long hours in front of a computer. These clips will stick to you like glue. Work with subjects you enjoy and are interested in. It will show in your work. Look around you with the stock footage mindset and find subjects, people and places you enjoy and have access to in your city, state or country and personal life which are hard for others to replicate. 

I pay my bills with stock footage income. My income has risen consistently month by month, year by year, as I have become a more savvy seller of stock footage. At this point, I have reached a consistent four figure income every month. It does vary, but it's a good indicator of success. I do and can pay my rent, bills and daily expenses from stock footage royalties. I travel with the money I make to shoot new in locations. I can even afford a new lens or two. You can too! It will take time, effort, talent and a significant learning curve. Read on…

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 Drop me a line - I answer all questions. Good luck!