Full Review – Using WIRESTOCK to Sell Stock Footage & Photos

Wirestock - The easiest way to sell photos & videos online
Wirestock’s home page

09 PERSONAL reasons why I’m going ALL IN with Wirestock

TL;DR: I took a personal decision to go ALL IN with Wirestock and I have 9 reasons why:

Ok, Wirestock… Well, by the tone of my “happiness” you might think I was paid to say this, but that’s not the case. This is just me happy that someone has finally made life easier for us. By the end of this article you’ll realize why I think these guys will change the game for us stock creators.

*However, I do use affiliate links on products and services I believe.

But who cares about my personal opinion right? So let’s head to the facts – 2 CONS and 9 PROS about Wirestock.

Wirestock: start selling photos & footage right now
Click here to open your account

Wirestock’s PRO #1: Upload to multiple agencies

Starting with the most obvious one. Wirestock can be used to upload your stock files to multiple agencies at once (because, as you know, submitting your files to multiple agencies is the best way to maximize your stock earnings).

So instead of doing the manual process inside each agency’s website, you can use Wirestock to submit your photos & videos to multiple agencies at once.

At the time of this writing, that means: Shutterstock, Adobe Stock, Alamy, Dreamstime, DepositPhotos, and Pond5. 

And you can always choose which agencies you want them to submit your files to. That’s useful to avoid duplicates if your files are already online in any of these agencies.

Wirestock Submission Update Dashboard - Multiple Stock Agencies
Wirestock Submission Update Dashboard – Multiple Stock Agencies

Extra #1:
And actually, it goes beyond that because of 2 other programs called Instant Pay and Extra Channels. These features increase the earnings potential but I’ll tell you more about it later. The cool thing about these programs is that your files might also be available at other stock agencies like 123RF and Canva. 

Extra #2:
Another important reminder is the partnership between Pond5 and Vimeo Stock. So chances are your video files will also be sent to Vimeo Stock.

Wirestock’s PRO #2: Images *AND* Videos

Wirestock allows uploads via browser, ftp, google drive and dropbox
Wirestock allows PHOTOS & VIDEOS uploads via browser, ftp, google drive and dropbox

Also good to mention that Wirestock is also one of the few services that allows submission of both Photos & Videos. 

Aggregators (like BlackBox for example) are usually focused on Photos OR Videos only.

Wirestock’s PRO #3: They Write Metadata For You

Now, my favorite feature of ALL and one that I haven’t seen before is that THEY WRITE METADATA FOR YOU.
Yes guys, you heard read it right. The feature is called “Easy Submission”

In a round of questions I made to the company, CEO Mikayel Khachatryan, told me that Wirestock has a team of metadata experts placed in countries all over the world. They choose to do so to guarantee metadata quality no matter where you shot your content or the cultural specifics of that area.

So by mixing human curation + keyword presets + technology, the whole process can be done with speed and quality. 

That means all you need to do is to simply upload your files to Wirestock, attach releases if needed, and make sure the Easy Submission button is on. And you’re done, their team will take care of the rest. 

Ready to get started?

Manual Metadata

It’s good to notice that Easy Submission is just a shortcut to get your stuff online faster. But in some cases, it might not be the best idea. Especially if you enjoy writing metadata or if the subjects you shoot are way too specific. 

In these cases, all you need to do is to turn off the “Easy Submission” button. That will allow you to manually write your metadata. Also, notice that the “Easy Submission” feature is not available for Editorial content. At least not at the time of this recording.

Still, this is an amazing feature to get your files online fast and the Wirestock team keeps increasing the quality and speed of their metadata. I’ve got to say that I haven’t seen a solution like this before.

Wirestock’s CON #1: Their Own Username

Now, one thing that might be seen as a downside is that your files will be published in behalf of Wirestock, instead of your own portfolio. So whenever a photo or video you uploaded is found on Shutterstock, for example, it’s Wirestock’s name that will be there, not yours. 

Personally, I don’t think that’s a big deal. You probably would like to have your name on your photos, I get that. But a stock agency is not really a trending social network or a hype gallery to get your work exposed.

And I guess that is the reason why Wirestock created a feature called portfolio pages.  

Wirestock’s PRO #4: Portfolios

The portfolio page is a link of your own that you can share and promote on your social networks. This is where all your approved content will be organized and where direct customers can buy your content. 

Example of a Wirestock Portfolio
Example of a Wirestock Portfolio by user mauricio.darias

Right now, if someone clicks “buy” they’ll be redirected to Adobe Stock, but the company plans to implement the ability to buy directly from Wirestock soon. And that also means a higher commission for the creator behind it. 

Wirestock’s CON #2: Commission

You must be thinking: “Cool, but where’s the catch? How does Wirestock make money?”

Well, there’s not exactly a price. Registering and using Wirestock, right now, is free. And you can do so by clicking here.

Wirestock makes money through a commission. They earn 15% of the earnings generated by your files, according to their site.. 

Now, some contributors tend to give up after knowing that. But there’s something VERY important that has to be taken into consideration. And that’s the potential of earning more, despite Wirestock’s commission. 

Let me tell you how.

Wirestock’s PRO #5: Earn even more

Wirestock has a giant portfolio made of files from multiple users. And that gives them commission rates with the agencies you could hardly find by yourself.

Shutterstock Changes

You might have heard about Shutterstock and the terrible changes they did on the commission structure. Every new year, all contributors will go back to level one, which means a commission of 15%. 

It will take you 500 downloads to then get back to level 4 and earn 30%, which used to be the standard. 

Now Shutterstock is just one example. Unfortunately more and more agencies are doing the same, like Alamy for example.

A scene of our YouTube video comparing earnings of a Level 1 Shutterstock user vs. a Wirestock user

The Wirestock Advantage

On the other hand, if more and more contributors unite under Wirestock’s portfolio, it will quickly rank as a level 6 contributor earning 40%.

The difference is huge. Let’s take a $100 sale as an example:

  • If you are a level 1 contributor on Shutterstock, you’ll get 15%. That’s $15.
  • If the same sale happens inside Wirestock, which is probably on level 5 or 6, that would mean $35 or $40, depending on which level they are. Take away their 15% commission rate, and you’ll end up with something around $29.75 and $34. 

For most of us, it might mean up to 225% more.

And that is the thinking behind my personal decision of going all in with Wirestock. Not only does it save a lot of time, as the earning potential in Wirestock is higher too.

At this moment, the commission rate is marked as 15%, but I have no idea if they will change it for users subscribing later. So I highly encourage you to create your account at their website.

Wirestock’s PRO #6: More selling opportunities

As said a little ago, Wirestock opens extra opportunities to make more money with 2 programs called Extra Channels and Instant Pay Program.

The company has a Sales team that works directly with Ad agencies, brands and web platforms to get the Wirestock content sold directly. In these cases, instead of getting the average 30% we usually get from agencies, we the contributors get 50%. 

Based on what other users told me, this income source is bringing an average per sale that is 7x higher than they get from other agencies.

Wirestock’s PRO #7: Digital Releases 

Another feature I love on Wirestock is their Digital Releases system. It is pretty similar to the one Shutterstock got. 

It means you don’t need to handle model & property releases on paper anymore. All you need to do is to fill in basic info including the model’s email. The model will then receive a link where he can sign the release digitally. 

Once it happens, you will be notified and able to add that release to its respective files and you’re good to go.

Seriously guys… ask anyone who used to work with paper releases and they’ll agree how revolutionizing digital releases are.

Wirestock’s Digital Release Feature

Wirestock’s PRO #8: Upload from Your Browser

Wirestock also allows you to upload your photos & videos straight from your browser. This is pretty standard for photos, but when it comes to video files, most agencies require you to upload your files via FTP. Which is not a problem, but it’s cool to be able to save this time.

Not only that, you can also upload files straight from your Google Drive or Dropbox account.

Wirestock’s PRO #9: Mobile App

And finally, there’s the Mobile App.

Believe me or not, mobile apps are still a rare thing among stock agencies. Right now, Shutterstock is probably the only agency with an app for contributors. 

Wirestock’s mobile app is super handy to increase your productivity. Not only will you be able to get releases signed from it, check your earnings and the status of your uploads as you’ll also be able to upload photos & VIDEOS you took from your phone. 

The app is currently being beta tested Wirestock’s Slack Community, so be sure to register as soon as possible to be notified when it happens. 

Conclusion

These were only a few points I wanted to mention about Wirestock and why I’m choosing it as my master tool when it comes to stock submission. Feel free to write down all your thoughts, questions, and critics in the comment section down below.

Try Wirestock Right Now

*Disclosure: I only recommend services I use myself and all opinions expressed here are my own. 
This post may contain affiliate links in which I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you,.

Shoot & Sell – May 2019

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You can turn your photos & videos into money through stock agencies – that’s no secret.

Will every upload get you some cash? Definitely no.

And that’s why I’m here, to guarantee you invest your time on topics that really sell as stock footage or stock photography.

 

You can watch the content in the video above or just keep reading this article.

 

8 topics to shoot now + 5 hot visual trends

This month, not only do we have 9 ideas of what to produce next, as also a list of visual trends – which is exactly where I want to start.

The cool thing about spotting visual trends is that it makes all the traditional and saturated topics new again.

Every quarter, StoryBlocks launches an article about what is trending in searches, what customers are asking for and what is popular in visual design.

 

1.1 Gradient

 

Gradients are the first one and I couldn’t agree more. You probably noticed this being applied in different ways.

Stock Photographer Zamurovic uses it a lot exploring the transition from pink to blue. I’ve illustrated it with more examples in the video.

You’ll see people referring to this style as “holographic colors”. This is very connected to the fashion trends and you will even see graphic designers using wrinkled foil as a background.

This won’t always be a good idea for stock footage, because some buyers prefer having room to do their own color grading, so use it with caution.

 

1.2 Muted Tones

In a similar way, you can also explore muted tones. So instead of making your colors pop, try to mute them. It’s not black and white, though. You will just make your colors a little less aggressive.

 

Photo by Andrew Neel on Unsplash

Once again, the best way to understand it is by studying the fashion trends connected to it.

Still, I don’t think this will work for every video file and I believe it’s better for images made to be used as backgrounds somehow. You can try to color grade your footage as much as you want but always keep in mind that some buyers like having room to work on their own color preferences.1

 

 

1.3 Extreme Close-ups

Then we go to extreme close-ups. Shots that frame a person or object tightly.

Although I wouldn’t state it as visual trend, it’s interesting to learn that stock footage buyers are searching for close-ups.

So that’s something to keep in mind in your next stock footage shootings. Try to explore close-up angles and diversify the number of shots you achieve with the same topic.

 

1.4 Retro Cinema Style

 

Vintage Aerobic Training People On A 80S 90S Retro Tv Screen on Pond5

If you read my article about the bestsellers of 2018, you’ll notice there’s a big number of files like this in the list.

Taking a look at your old Mini-DV tapes can be more profitable than you think.

 

1.5 POV

And finally, there is “POV”, which I believe are alternative Points Of View. Like people filming themselves, first-person view, low angle, flat lays, etc.

 

All these visual trends are cool ideas to apply to whatever you’re producing right now. Practice them in different subjects and you will probably get good results even in saturated categories.

 

 

Don’t forget to check out our online course. We got a special discount for readers of the blog. 

 

 

The Shot List for May 2019

Now let’s go to the shot lists.

These are subjects and topics with high demand and represent actual requests made by the stock agencies.

 

1. Back to School Activities

 

https://www.offset.com/photos/smiling-children-sitting-on-steps-and-eating-pizza-together-at-school-740015

Shutterstock is always planning ahead. They are requesting images depicting children around the world preparing for the new school year.

That can translate into parents purchasing schools supplies like backpacks and pencil cases, the first day at school, from starting kindergarten to walking into a dorm room.

The 4 Shutterstock requests can be read here.

 

2. Newborn Babies

 

Father and toddler son playing in living room on Offset

Newborn babies are in demand once again. Especially when it comes to fathers doing activities with their child as most files only show babies with their mothers.

Breastfeeding was among the requests months ago and came back again proving there’s still not enough quality content about it.

Graphic designers can work on illustrations and vectors for new baby cards, baby shower banners, and new baby celebrations. Photos & Footage depicting baby showers are welcome too.

The secret is including parents and children of diverse ethnicities, ages, abilities, etc. The more diverse, the more unique your files will be.

And that applies perfectly to the 3rd request:

 

3. Inclusive Beauty

 

https://www.offset.com/photos/profile-of-mixed-race-woman-with-eyes-closed-606927

Women and non-binary people indulging in everyday beauty routines. Explore the diversity of beauty, including different ethnicities, ages, shapes, and “imperfections” being celebrated. Work on beauty rituals and makeup application techniques in stunning environments. As well as broad representations of the beauty in women and non-binary individuals of diverse ethnicities, ages, abilities, and backgrounds. That will be images depicting the diversity of beauty including different ethnicities, ages, non-binary people, and diversity being celebrated in everyday beauty routines.

 

4. Criminal Justice

 

Storyblocks is reporting an increase of 150% on searches for “hacker” and “prison” as well as “jail,” “lawyer” and “security”.

Last month, Pond5 had a demand for airport security lines, so I believe it is an authentic request.

According to Storyblocks “content representing crime and criminal justice system are in demand”.

Searches for “hacker” and “prison” have increased by close to 150%, while “jail,” “lawyer” and “security” have also experienced significant search volume spikes. It’s clear that content representing the crime and criminal justice system are in demand.

Read more about Storyblocks’ requests here.

 

5. Farmer’s Market

Now we have 3 requests coming from Pond5.

 

Young Farmer Selling Fresh Vegetables by pressmaster

The first one is related to local farmers markets and their growing popularity around the world. Try to visually represent how these markets provide a place to meet and chat with neighbors, as well as getting needed groceries.

Pond5 suggests the following shots:

 

  • Shoppers and vendors weighing produce/fruits
  • Shoppers smelling/squeezing produce/fruits
  • Shoppers choosing fresh produce, bread, cheese, meats
  • Shoppers purchasing fresh produce, bread, cheese, meats
  • Shoppers meeting and chatting with friends/neighbors
  • Portraits of both consumers and vendors

And the following keywords: Organic Foods, Healthy Foods, Choice, Shopping, FreshnessPeople shopping, smelling, choosing products, chatting to neighbors and portraits of both consumers and vendors.

 

6. Record Shopping

 

Couple At Record Store Sidewalk Sale by TheStacks

The next request connects to the fact that Vinyl album sales in the United States have grown for the 13th consecutive year. Pond5 states that 16.8 million LPs were sold in the country in 2018, 14.6% more than the last year. So this a poorly explored theme full of concepts that reach far beyond the subject matter.

Some suggestions of shots are:

 

  • Shopper shuffling through records in a bin
  • Removing a record from sleeve to examine the record’s condition
  • Listening to record at the store’s listening station
  • Paying for the record
  • Portraits of both shopper and vendor

And suggested keywords are: Choice, Collector, Examining, Shopping, Retail

 

7. Home Studio Recording

 

Young Musician Composes and Records Music by barselona_dreams

Producing & recording music at home have become a new trend in the music scenario. And buyers need visual content to represent that.

Some suggestions of shots are:

 

  • Wide shot of a home studio with and without talent.
  • Plugging instrument or midi controller
  • Playing an instrument or midi controller
  • Navigating through music software
  • Singing into a microphone
  • Portrait of a musician in a home studio

And suggested keywords are: Creativity, Technology, Innovation, Uniqueness, Originality

 

8. Japanese Seniors

And finally, there’s this brief from GettyImages Custom Content. It is specific for their client (FIL) but represents a niche that is poorly represented in stock agencies – Japanese Seniors.

 

  • Groups and individuals taking part in outdoor activities
  • Aligned with the sentiment of people enjoying life in Japan.
  • Must feel authentic, natural and ad hoc, nothing staged looking.
  • Man walking alone in nature, leisurely with a fresh green background.
    Keywords: Nature, hiking, environment, healthy, well‑being, active seniors exercising
  • Couple happily in living room looking at iPad, Skype with their grandchildren. Keywords: Family, couple, lifestyle, enjoyment, togetherness, connection
  • Grandmother with her family and grandkids walking along a park/ beach.
    Keywords: Leisure, nature, outdoor, togetherness, family, enjoyment, healthy
  • Please see the client’s mood board for visual references, and remember while it depicts some non‑Asians, Japanese talent is mandatory for this brief. 

 

And that’s all for today.

Thanks for reading. Stay Creative.

Cover photo by niu niu on Unsplash

 

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Best Websites to Sell Stock Photos & Footage

 

 

If you are starting or considering to sell Stock Photos or Stock Footage online to make some creative, passive income you are probably asking yourself things like:

 

  • What stock agencies profit the most?
  • Should I upload to multiple stock websites?
  • What websites should I start with?
  • Is there a difference between Stock Photography and Stock Footage?

Well, CreativeInco.me is here for you!

 

The content of this article was recorded into the video above.

New Stock Agencies are being launched all the time, and though it is a good idea to diversify your income sources, it can be very frustrating wasting time uploading to agencies that will never get you a sale. That’s why it so important focus on the right stock agencies

With this article, my goal is to expose:

 

 

The stock agencies where I profit the most

I hate taking conclusions too early and assuming things are the same for everybody. After all, there’s a big difference in selling stock footage and selling stock photography. And that connects to what agencies will be the most profitable.

 

My Stock Footage Earnings:

On the Footage (video) side of things, I usually see that the best websites are Shutterstock, AdobeStock, and Pond5.

The image below was captured from my video and shows how Shutterstock is by far the most profitable one. I took the years of 2017 and 2018 to make that calculus.

 

Screenshot captured from my video: Stock Agencies that PROFIT the most

Adobe Stock is not that strong for me because it doesn’t allow editorial content – the biggest part of my content.

iStock/Getty could be something, if only their commission rate wasn’t so messed up – 15% for non-exclusive contributors. Plus footage sales for less than $1. Enough to make me give up on them.

There’s an article where I showcase my best selling files and how much they made in each agency, you can check that if you want to learn a little more with my own earnings.

 

Stock Photo Earnings

As mentioned before, things are very different between stock footage and stock photography. So we will take stock photographer Alex Rotenberg’s earnings into consideration. (Alex is the author of the Brutally Honest Microstock Blog and you should definitely check it out)

In this article, Alex broke down his earnings of April 2019. By that time he had a portfolio of 10,500 images on a total of 19 agencies which made him $896 that month (considering images only).

This is the breakdown of his April earnings (I took footage out of the calculus:

 

  • Shutterstock: 40%
  • iStock/Getty: 20%
  • Robert Harding: 18%
  • Adobe Stock: 10%
  • Alamy: 4%
  • Rex Features: 2.4%
  • 123RF: 1.5%
  • Dreamstime: 1.3%
  • BigStock: 1.3%
  • Pond5, Canva, Colourbox, DepositPhotos, Sign Elements: ~1.5%
  • Arcangel, Creative Market, Picfair, Storyblocks, Wemark: ZERO sales

It’s important to say that some are not really microstock agencies and will work in a different way (sometimes exclusive, sometimes Royalty Managed. I suggest you read his articles if you want to learn more about it.

Alamy is also a good agency to sell photography. Sales are not as frequent as they are in Shutterstock, but they’re known for getting the highest pricing sales. Many contributors have experienced sales above $100 there.

 

Google Trends

If you are already a student of our online course or subscriber of the YouTube channel you noticed how I’m a big fan of Google Trends.

This powerful tool allows us to compare how specific search terms are made along a given period of time. So I obviously compared how the most known agencies are being searched.

That is clearly not directly connected to how much you will sell on these agencies, but is still interesting data.

 

Comparing searches for “Shutterstock”, “Getty Images”, “iStock”, and “Adobe Stock” on May 2nd 2019.

This proves how Shutterstock is still the biggest player of the market having 57 points compared to Adobe’s 20, Getty’s 19 and iStock’s 14. All other agencies didn’t get anything close to these 4:

 

  • Shutterstock: 57 points
  • Adobe Stock: 20 points
  • Getty: 19 points
  • iStock: 14 points
  • 123RF: 5 points
  • Alamy: 4 points
  • Creative Market: 4 points
  • Dreamstime: 2 points
  • Storyblocks: 1 point
  • Pond5: 1 point
  • Deposit: 1 point
  • Video Hive: 1 point
  • Robert Harding: >1
  •  

 

What is the future for stock agencies?

And it gets more interesting once you analyze how the graph is evolving since 2004.

 

Notice how GettyImages used to be the biggest agency reaching a peak in June 2006 – pretty close to when they have acquired iStock.

But then Shutterstock arrived and from then on it is clear that things haven’t been so good. Both Getty and iStock went down in searches and that is also reflected in contributors that More than a decade ago. Shutterstock is the top payer for almost every stock creator.

There’s no way to prove it, but I’m pretty sure that contributors had a strong part on the iStock decadence. The iStock/Getty group became the most hated among contributors because of their lack of transparency, bad commission rates (15% for non-exclusive), and low respect for the contributor. So you can see how both companies started to go down in Google Searches.

In the meanwhile, Shutterstock was growing constantly from 2006 to 2014, when the searches stabilized. And that’s probably because a new player joined the game –Adobe Stock.

Their growth since 2015 hasn’t stopped yet and that makes Adobe a very important agency for both Photo & Video. I really believe they’ll soon get closer to Shutterstock’s leadership.

 

Alexa Ranking

That gets clear when we use Alexa Ranking, another tool that can be used to analyze the most visited websites on the internet.

Here are their positions in the Global ranking:

 

  • Adobe.com: 64*
  • Shutterstock.com: 186
  • DepositPhotos.com: 940
  • 123RF.com: 998
  • iStock.com (or iStockphoto.com): 1.093
  • GettyImages.com: 1.790
  • Dreamstime.com: 1.562
  • VideoHive.net: 1.829
  • Alamy.com: 2.857
  • VideoBlocks.com: 3,984 (StoryBlocks.com is at 15,353)
  • Pond5.com: 6,151

It puts Adobe.com on the top because they use the “adobe.com” domain which is used for way more things than just Adobe Stock. That’s why they appear in the top 100 most visited websites. So you can’t really conclude that Adobe Stock gets more visitors than Shutterstock.

In this ranking, Adobe Stock and Shutterstock are clearly the best marketplaces. And they’re both good for Footage & Photography. Right now iStock and Getty get fewer visitors than DepositPhotos and 123RF, which I would say are better for selling photos over videos.

 

My personal advice

 

For photographers,

I would advise starting with Shutterstock and AdobeStock.

They have the best platforms, good reviewal times and will get you the biggest number of sales.

Shutterstock has a mobile app that lets you edit metadata and submit files from it. You can even upload pictures you took from the phone.

Then as soon as you get the taste of it, grow your portfolio to other agencies. Alamy would be the first one because of the high price sales I told you a little ago. Then I’d go to more agencies like DepositPhotos, 123RF, Dreamstime, and Pond5.

To then try all the other new or small agencies.

The best way to upload photo files to multiple agencies is by using Multi-uploaders like StockSubmitter or Xpiks. It’s not that hard to learn how to use and I do cover them in my online course.

 

For filmmakers,

I suggest this order: Shutterstock, AdobeStock, Pond5, and Storyblocks.

In general, that’s what I believe are the most profitable and also the easiest to deal with.

Video demands a whole different workflow and uploading through FTP. Not as hard as it sounds and I also cover the process in my online course.

I also got my eyes on other agencies like Vimeo Stock, Dissolve, and Film Supply, for high-end content. ArtGrid and Envato are also coming with quite interesting business models and might grow in the next years.

Just as in photography, I suggest you use a multi-uploader if you want to submit to multiple agencies. StockSubmitter works well too.

But for footage, we have BlackBox, a platform that submits your footage to 5 agencies at once. I wrote an entire article to help you learn more about it.

 

https://youtu.be/PZIiKTgJ6_Q

 

Thanks for reading

What about you? What are the most profitable agencies in your opinion? What do you think the future of microstock will be like?

Thanks for reading. Stay Creative.

 

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Shoot & Sell – Apr 2019

This post is part of a series I write monthly to help stock creators with ideas and insights on what to produce next as well as relevant news of the industry.

You can watch the content in the video above or just keep reading this article.

Don’t forget to check out our online course. We’re now raising the price to $30, but you can still get it for $20 using the coupon code: APR2019

 

The Shot List

1. Environmentalism & Plastic Awareness

https://www.offset.com/photos/front-view-of-toddler-boy-carrying-bag-full-of-plastic-waste-around-783390

Environmental issues & solutions, and Plastic Awareness are the first demand from Shutterstock. This is an interesting topic wherever you live. You can work on plastic pollution in water or land. Beach and forest clean-ups. And any creative way to showcase zero-waste and environmental solutions.

Read more

 

2. Football (or Soccer)

https://www.offset.com/photos/boy-playing-football-in-the-ground-on-a-sunny-day-762689

The second demand is Football. And I’m sorry my fellow American friends. I’m talking about real football, not that thing you call football. That’s not a ball, and you don’t even use the foot enough. So… yeah… sorry. That’s not football.

Joking apart, we’re talking about people playing and watching soccer around the world. You can explore the local traditions and how people interact with the sport wherever you are. This topic has a strong demand for illustrations and vectors. Shutterstock suggests vectors with various sports balls, not only soccer.

Read more

3. Home Improvement & Spring Cleaning

https://www.offset.com/photos/bearded-man-painting-wicker-armchair-at-home-537877

Next, we have home improvement & spring cleaning. That includes people cleaning their houses, like floors, surfaces, TVs, laundry, etc. Before-and-afters are getting nice results in this subject. Read more

4. Pride & the LGBTQ+ Community

https://www.offset.com/photos/young-gay-couple-in-love-sitting-on-steel-girder-of-a-footbridge-769367

The last Shutterstock request is related to the Pride Month, and that means images celebrating Pride and diversity communities. Things live events, flags, as well as individuals, couples, or friends in everyday situations. Read more

5. Creative Brief: Teens and Social Video

We also have three creative briefs from Pond5. The first one is related to Teens and Social Media.

We know how much teenager’s lives were impacted since Instagram launched Stories. If it was for better or worse, well, that’s not the point. 

So Pond5 is looking for photos & videos that capture teenagers creating and spreading their stories. You can cover texting, selfies and everything in between.

Suggested Keywords: Social Media, Communication, Individuality, Entertainment, Connection, Obsession, Wireless Technology, Portability

Pro-Tip: More than likely, a teenager’s room might be covered with copyrighted posters, images, and products peppered with logos from popular brands. There are plenty of ways to keep your environment real without compromising your vision for fear of capturing copyrighted materials. Shoot with a shallower depth of field, which will blur out TV programs, appliances, computers, magazines, books, logos, and any other trademarked objects. Also, prepping a safe location takes a little more effort, including greeking logos and avoiding areas that pose a risk or are impossible to navigate around.

Pond5 was specific about ages between 13-18, but I would also explore different ages. From kids becoming early users to older people that got the same habits.

Read the full brief here.

6. Creative Brief: Airport Security

The second request from Pond5 is pretty specific and also pretty hard to do. And that’s Airport Security. It can be tough to obtain access to a security checkpoint but not impossible. It also doesn’t have to be an actual security checkpoint as you can simulate one like these contributors probably have.

Explore scenes like passengers putting laptops and shoes into plastic bins, metal detectors, x-rays, passports, and even dogs sniffing.

Suggested Keywords: Security, Safety, Examination, Surveillance, Travel, Occupation

Pro-Tip: Try to find a local airport with less traffic, or stage your shots in an alternative facility or studio that can be “cheated” as an airport security checkpoint with close-ups and props.

Read the full brief here.

7. Creative Brief: Automated Assembly Lines

And last we got “Automated Assembly Lines.” This is a strong one for anyone working with 3D or Motion Design. Robots are quickly displacing humans in manufacturing plants, and that’s what they want in pictures.

Some ideas are robotic arms creating a product and assembly lines. Not only in the automotive industry, but also medical, electronic, welding, food service, and even law enforcement.

Suggested Keywords: AUTOAPRIL2019, Automation, Technology, Industry, Manufacturing, Engineering, Assembly, Innovation, Intelligence, Efficiency

Pro-Tip: Industries that successfully utilize automation include automotive, medical, electronics manufacturing, welding, food service, and law enforcement. It’s often handy to volunteer your services as a filmmaker or photographer at places in these sectors in exchange for keeping the footage. A proposal such as this can be the solution for obtaining access to an otherwise tough location.

Read the full brief here.

8. Babies with fruits and Vegetables

https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/photo/strawberry-in-hand-royalty-free-image/122181227

Finally, I’ll borrow this request from Getty Images Custom Content.

They’re looking for images with babies discovering and interacting with different fruits and vegetables. Not only eating but playing and satisfying their curiosity.

Key Requirements: 

  • Babies playing with ingredients showing curiosity, the awakening of senses, discovering food, touching, etc.
  • Playful staging of the ingredients. Think color, form, and textures.
  • Photographed outdoors, in nature, and some indoor. Must be all unknown, unrecognizable locations.
  • Some images can work as triptychs (think of an Instagram feed).
  • Clothing: dressed modern and trendy, simple or very colorful (see mood board).
  • Dishes/plates: wood, bamboo, plastic.

Technical Requirements:

  • Natural light.
  • Selective focus can be used to make specific objects stand out.
  • Square and vertical formats.
  • Shot ideas: from the front, from behind, wide field of view, tight shots on the expression of the face, the child’s hands, etc.

Read the full brief here.

What is going on with Pond5 Exclusive?


I may be overreacting when I call it the Pond5 Bomb but this for sure is the only thing stock creators are talking right now. Is it a bad thing? It really depends on how you work with them.

In case you missed it, Pond5 did a Live Streaming on YouTube yesterday announcing important changes in their royalty structure. They also sent an email to all contributors right after that.

Here are my 3 objectives with this article:

  • First, to give you a summary of what changes Pond5 is doing.
  • Then insights based on real earnings to help you take your decision, I will even tell you how much Pond5 represents in my total income for 2018.
  • And finally my own opinion on all of this.

Ok, here’s the summary.

Pond5 is changing the way royalty is paid to contributors. Our revenue used to be 50% of every sale. After this change, you will have to decide between being exclusive or non-exclusive with Pond5. If you go exclusive your commission rate will now be 60%. If you choose to be non-exclusive, your royalties will go down to 40%.

  • Exclusive Contributors: Royalty is increasing from 50% to 60%
  • Non-exclusive contributors: Royalty is going down from 50% to 40%

The revenue-share isn’t the only difference. Here are a few more:

  • Although they promise that ranking on searches won’t change, there will be an extra “Exclusive Branding” on those clips. This should be similar to Shutterstock’s “Select” branding
  • The curation time should be smaller
  • The marketing & support should also be a little better, though I don’t see it as a big deal. This means being part of curated collections, the Pond5 blog, social media pages, and emails sent to customers.

The Pond5 Move

To me, it’s pretty clear what they are doing. Even though they are one of the most honest companies, they are still a company and will make all they can to maximize their profit.

You probably noticed there’s a good number of companies exploring a high-end niche of the stock footage market. Stock Footage & Stock Photography did become commodities but that doesn’t mean there aren’t buyers willing to pay more for premium content.

It’s easy to prove that. Shutterstock has Offset and the Select collection. Vimeo launched Vimeo Stock. There’s also Film Supply, Dissolve, etc. They are all made of unique content that is priced way above the standard $79.

And if you watch the entire live streaming and other videos they posted, you’ll notice that they’re focusing on this exact group of experienced stock filmmakers that produce premium content and like to price it higher.

To these guys, it might be a good idea to go exclusive. Vimeo Stock is not that big yet and Shutterstock Select isn’t that easy. So Pond5 is actually a good idea.

Now, should you go exclusive?

Are these benefits enough to make you decide? I will show you how much Pond5 represents in my total income.

Not all of us are owners of studio or cinema cameras like RED or Blackmagic. Most contributors have mirrorless or DSLRs and work on stock footage as a side project. So in these cases, we are rarely producing footage that could be priced at $200. And that’s just fine.

Going exclusive will only be a benefit for those who shoot incredibly unique stuff – not only quality but stuff that is hard to reproduce.

And to be honest, I don’t see myself in that. I do what I can to improve the quality of my footage, but I don’t see myself hiring a whole team or getting a cinema camera to produce stock footage of that level. I just want to have fun and earn.

And that’s the beauty of it all because it’s ok. You don’t have to be the best filmmaker in the world to make money with stock footage.

We have a group on Facebook called Stock Creators. It would be awesome to have you there. I posted what is Pond5 share on my total income there and I’m inspiring other members to do the same to get a general idea.

In numbers, what is Pond5 to me?

To me, Pond5 represented 22% of all my stock income selling stock footage in 2018. The portfolio was pretty much the same in Shutterstock which represented 54%. So you can see why I wouldn’t get off Shutterstock to get 10% more on Pond5.

Here’s more data to help you decide.

  • The Microstock Group forum has a poll on earnings per agency. Pond5 is the 4th, with almost 4 times fewer points than Shutterstock.
  • And there’s more, let’s compare searches on Google for Pond5 along the time. In fact, it did grow since 2008 and then started to decrease after 2016. But let’s compare it to Adobe Stock and Shutterstock. In average, Shutterstock had 27 times more searches than Pond5. Let’s make it clear that this is not connected to stock footage sales, it’s just a comparison of searches on Google. We all know that Shutterstock is also strong on images while Pond5 specialty is video. But even if we compare the search terms with the word “footage” in the end, we will see that Shutterstock has more than the double of searches. Even the triple considering the last 12 months.

All of this makes my personal choice of not becoming exclusive, but I do understand the company move and the contributors who prefer to do so. Until today we only have seen prices going down and is good to see actions going the opposite way.

It’s just bad that we will lose 10% for not being exclusive. What would be nice in this transition is the ability to choose exclusive clips instead of being 100% exclusive. Then we could measure the results before deleting our content on other agencies.

One way to do this, and I still don’t know if it is against the rules, is to create a second account that is exclusive to try this out. This way you won’t have to delete files that are already selling on other agencies.

Shoot & Sell – Mar 2019

For some reason, it took half of March until Shutterstock posted their requests. But, better later than never, here we are with the Shoot & Sell episode of this month!

This is a monthly episode I post with ideas on what you can work next to maximize your earnings selling stock footage & stock photography as well as the relevant news in this microstock world.

You can watch the content in the video above or just keep reading this article.

Don’t forget to check out our online course.

Before we head to the Shot List, let me pull your attention on a few important things happening on Shutterstock and Pond5 during these days.

The Shot List

And without further ado, let’s head to the shot list. These are actual requests made by the stock agencies. It is a good idea to work on them as fast as possible, but that doesn’t mean this is the only time they’re usable. They represent the real demand of stock customers, so if you’re looking for inspiration, be sure to watch the past episodes too.

As usual, this month they are coming from Shutterstock and Pond5, but you can upload and sell them on all stock agencies you work with.

Let’s go!

1. The Middle East

Falafel Bowl on Offset

Let’s start with this big opportunity to anyone living or traveling to the Middle East. And to be honest, you don’t even have to be there to explore this.

Shutterstock is searching for Cultural and religious elements of the Middle Eastern culture. That means any inspired cuisine including falafel, shawarma, and samosas as well as people enjoying shisha and hookahs. I’m sorry if I’m pronouncing it wrong. You can also explore cultural and religious observances pertaining to Ramadan.

As I said, you don’t have to travel to explore this as there is always a demand for how this culture is practiced in different places of the world.

An extra tip is Including people of diverse ethnicities and ages. And always be respectful when working with this or any other culture.

One more personal tip, if you have the opportunity to travel to Qatar before the Worldcup, that would be an awesome place to explore.

2. Tech of the Future

Woman touching air in VR glasses on Offset

Shutterstock is also requesting content related to the Tech of the Future. By that, they mean the latest technological advancements in multiple industries.

Some examples are facial recognition, video conferencing in inspirational environments, augmented reality and machine learning.

I can’t stress enough how impactful it will be to include people of diverse ethnicities, ages, abilities, and backgrounds.

3. Hiring

We are hiring sign on Shutterstock

Then we have a request for Hiring and New Jobs. That covers the recruitment process, welcoming new team members and any kind of sign like “We’re hiring,” “We want you,” or “Join our team”.

Shutterstock was very specific in these sentences so I would use them as keywords if I were you.

4. Elderly Citizens of the World

Senior stretching on Offset

The last Shutterstock request focus on senior citizens and the challenges they face during this stage of life.

Some ideas are seniors, as couples or friends, in everyday lifestyle scenarios.

Also, images depicting hearing aids, dentures, and memory loss conditions such as Alzheimer.

Caregivers are also a cool aspect to focus on.

5. Camping

Slow-Motion Portrait of Young Hiker in Norway by AilaImages

Pond5 has also 3 requests and there are keyword suggestions and extra tips for all of them. Find it in the text article in the link below.

And the first of them is Camping, especially couples.

That would be a couple putting up a tent, sitting by a fire talking or eating. You can also explore scenes like hiking, relaxing and activities like canoeing, surfing, etc.

Portraits will also work well.

Suggested Keywords: Recreation, Idyllic, Freedom, Healthy Lifestyles, Relaxation, Togetherness

Pro-Tip: Embrace the light. Subjects that primarily take place outdoors are prime for using natural light. Add a dog for extra credit. In addition, it’s important to remember that all ages are important when considering your casting choices.

6. Bullying

Teen Bullying by benjikat

Next, we have bullying. This subject has high demand but is still badly explored. Especially when it’s used to raise awareness of this issue. Most of the current content exaggerates too much and it might be a good idea to be careful with that.

Some ideas are a group of youths verbally bullying another youth, leaving someone out, hitting or pinching, breaking another’s possessions, rude gestures and even spitting.

It is a hard subject to work with and I would love to see what solutions you guys have found!

Suggested Keywords: Social Issues, Harassment, Intimidation, Threats, Domination, Exclusion, Anxiety, Despair

Pro-Tip: A variety of locations can provide the right location for your scenes. While most reported bullying happens in a school building, a significant percentage also happens in places like on the playground or on the bus. It can also happen traveling to or from school and in the youth’s neighborhood.

Casting Considerations: Ages 5 to 17 years, gender, and race diversity. Authenticity and diversity will play an important role in the success of your shoot.

7. Cafe Culture

Man Using Touchscreen Tablet in Cafe by AilaImages

And finally, Cafe Culture! The freelancer’s paradise.

Some ideas are someone making coffee, handing it to a customer, customer handing the credit card, someone sipping coffee while working on a laptop, tablet or phone, or reading a book or magazine. Portraits will also be a good idea in this case.

Suggested Keywords: Wireless Technology, Communication, Concentration, Tranquility, Independence, Connection

Pro-Tip: Utilizing areas of the cafe or changing up your setting can provide innumerable angles and concepts, such as placing your talent in big comfortable chairs and couches for a more relaxed vibe or at a communal table for those who want to strike up spontaneous dialogue or collaborate on work projects. (Beware of logos.)

Thanks!

Before we go, I want to invite you to enter in our facebook group “Stock Creators”. I think it is the best way to learn with all the community and be up-to-date with all that is going on.

Also, don’t forget to check out the online course and get a discounted price while there’s time.

I see you in the next days with good updates, I hope, on what Shutterstock and Pond5 are doing![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

the bestsellers of 2018

It is almost the end of January, but I think we can learn a lot taking a look at what files sold the most in the year of 2018 on stock agencies like Pond5, Shutterstock, Adobe Stock, etc. This includes stock footage & stock photography.

I want to show you a bunch of the best selling video & image files in 2018 and some conclusions I learned analyzing them. This should give you cool insights into how successful contributors approach topics and visual references as well.

For a better experience, I strongly suggest you watch the video above. It’s made after the exact same content.

You might also enjoy reading about my own personal bestsellers.

Trendy vs. Evergreen

The main message I’m trying to communicate is: there are two significant types of content you could work on – the bestsellers of 2018 will make that clear. There is the trendy content and the evergreen content.

  • The trendy content includes photos, footage, illustrations of topics that have a growing interest. For example, the latest iPhone, Amazon’s Alexa, Self-driving cars, etc. Topics that are strong now and might get you good sales fast but may get old in the fast.
  • The evergreen content is made of perpetual subjects, that may not get you sales instantly but should take longer to become useless.

I’m not saying one is better than the other. I’m also not telling you to pick one. I’m just showing you two alternatives to work on.

My Brazilian flag video, for example, was a big success in 2014 during the WorldCup and in 2016 during the Olympic games (trendy content), when both happened in Brazil. However, it is still useful these days to anyone searching for the topic “Brazil” (evergreen content).

I hope this trendy and evergreen stuff makes sense to you…

2018 Bestsellers on Stock Agencies

Now let’s talk about the 2018 bestsellers on Stock Agencies. Unfortunately, no stock agency discloses decent data on which files sold the most during a year.

The best resource comes from Pond5. A list of at least 20 videos and 20 images that they post every month. I won’t show you this 500 files here, but you can check each month’s best selling files here:

There’s also no way to find out the order of which stock photos/videos sold the more. So I’m organizing them in categories.

1.Aerial

2018 was the year of aerial shots. At least 45 of the best selling video clips were made with drones. The category is growing so much that DJI and Pond5 partnered to curate and promote the best aerial shots made by drone operators.

The competition is enormous too. If you search for “aerial” on Shutterstock, you will get way more than a million results.

Having aerial shots doesn’t mean you’ll have sales. So try to explore what subjects or what locations still lack good aerial options.

And if you think drones are the only way to produce aerial shots, then you’re wrong. Take a look at this bestseller zooming into the Pentagon. Do you really believe one would be able to fly over the Pentagon?

I mean, this guy deserves it. He probably took a screenshot from Google Earth. Applied some zooming. Blurred out the edges and added some cars in After Effects. This probably took him less than an hour and there he is. One of the bestsellers in 2018.

2. 2D & 3D Animations

At least 33 bestsellers are made with 2D or 3D animations. Some of them are extremely realistic and probably done by a team of 3D professionals. A few others are quite simple to reproduce and still communicate the concept very well.

I personally like this one of the Mona Lisa painting. A very creative way to animate a famous static image. This is editorial, of course.

3. Portraits

Portraits are a perfect example of evergreen content. They have been among the bestsellers for a while and should stay for a good time. One common thing among these files is how well they communicate cultural diversity. It might be age, the activity, the profession, the clothing, the background, etc. This kind of shot can be used in innumerable ways.

I like this one with the girl putting a VR headset. The background has a guy walking with a paper and a team sitting by a desk which makes it clear that they are game designers. The colors, her clothes, and her style are all very well selected. This is surely produced by a team.

4. Objects

The objects category is another example of long duration content and quite easy to be reproduced. The bestsellers in this category are all flawlessly focused on specific subjects and concepts. Creative angles and isolated background seem to be the key to make your files stand out in the crowd.

I’ve seen this video with the showerhead in many other agencies too. The way the camera is positioned is pretty creative and makes the shot unique. Also, notice how the subject is isolated with nothing in the background.

5. News

We can not ignore how much the news affect sales on stock agencies. Poverty, wars, politics and even sports events have a strong influence on what is selling. The multiple storms during the year, the wildfires, and other natural disasters were responsible for some bestsellers too.

This kind of content is usually submitted as editorial. So it might be a good idea to work on creative ways to explore this content under commercial usage.

This one is among the bestsellers and was submitted as commercial. It’s not visually appealing like the others. But the fact that you can’t recognize the place makes it possible to be used for other storms too. I don’t doubt the author of this clip changes the title every time there is a new hurricane, no matter where.

6. Vintage

In the same line, the vintage category is growing stronger every year. I believe most of them are made after public domain content adding some effects on top. Pond5 seems to bring better results than the others in this category because they allow multiple takes in the same clip. This is a dangerous area because the rules are not clear about what is public domain and what you can really make with it.

Some contributors are also making good sales by reproducing these old shots. This astronaut, for example, is clearly not Neil Armstrong.

7. Self-driving Cars

Self-driving cars was a strong subject last year and will keep getting stronger in the future. You can’t easily get one of this cars, but you can definitely reproduce the concept.

This example among the bestsellers is my favorite. If you look closely, you can even see a glimpse of what should be the arm of a person turning the wheel. This proves how you don’t need a self-driving car to work on this subject.

8. Other Categories

And here are some more categories that were always in the bestsellers and will only get you sales with high-quality files or very specific shots. They are Sports, Family, Technology, Business, Nature, and Education.

A good part of the best selling files is made of these categories. There are already thousands of excellent options for the buyer, so you have to be smart if you plan to explore them. One way to do it is getting very specific like this one explores Paralympic race and this one shows a man using technology in agriculture, a unique background.

There are actually way more bestselling files and categories than the ones I showed you. Just to mention some of them:

What about you?

And now I want to know about you. What were your bestsellers in 2018? If there’s a good number of people participating, I guess we can do a video with our own bestsellers and the lessons learned.

After all, this is how Creative Income works. We’re a community learning to achieve financial freedom together.

What to Shoot – Jan 2019

what is selling as stock footage and stock photography in january 2019

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Wondering what to shoot in December and January to increase your income with Stock Footage & Stock Photography? You can read the text content below or watch the video made after the same script.

Oh, I finally launched my Online Course on Stock Footage & Photography. The original price is $35 but I’ll keep the Udemy promotion price for a little longer. So you can actually buy it for less than $20 if you do it soon! I’ll constantly update it with advanced stock techniques and raise its price as well. So here’s your Christmas gift!

The Shot List

Ok, let’s go to the shot list!

As I always say, these suggestions come from Shutterstock, Pond5 and Getty Images. But they represent a true demand of the whole market.

The requests were made in the month of December of 2018 but that doesn’t mean this is the only month they’ll sell. They’re normally evergreen content and a true demand from stock customers. So if this is the first video you’re watching, I do suggest you also watch the other episodes I did in previous months for more insights.

Fashion & Design

So let’s get started with Pond5. They’re doing a request on Fashion & Design related content. If you decide to work on any of these 3 following sub-topics, you can find suggested keywords in this link.

1. Design Teams

“Design Teams” is one example. All kind of shots that represent a group of people working on ideas and creativity will be fantastic for this. Designers with a team leader around workstation while passing materials to each other. Environmental designers studying architectural models & plans. Designers reviewing mood boards or posting notes on glass or wall.

You can also focus on individuals like a designer on his computer, sketching with pencils or even texting and making calls. There’s a lot of texting and calling material on the market right now, but if somehow you manage to represent a designer talking to his client, I think you should make good results.

Suggested Keywords: Creativity, Innovation, Planning, Occupation, Cooperation, Strategy, Skill, Expertise

Pro-Tip: Avoid high key lighting and minimal set dressing, which usually happens on shoots with themes such as these. Make it feel real.

2. Fashion Designer

If you can, narrow the focus a little bit more to fashion designers. This subject seems to have a big demand but low supply. So it is definitely a good opportunity. Even now, I couldn’t find enough examples to reproduce:

A Designer flipping through clothes, studying drawings, inspiration boards on a wall, using a sewing machine to stitch fabric, draping, pinning and measuring fabric on model or mannequin and even taking a photo of a dress and sending it via text.

Suggested Keywords: Measurement, Precision, Innovation, Concentration, Preparation, Individuality, Ambition, Occupation

Pro-Tip: It’s highly recommended that you hire a real fashion designer. Get coverage with a variety of angles on your subject. In addition, adding a cell phone conversation and texting scenario to a few setups is worth the effort.

Casting Considerations: 23 years and up, gender and race diversity.

3. Fashion Shoot

Along the fashion line, there’s also a big demand for fashion shoots. As funny as it sounds. The point is: there’s already a ton of fashion photos & footage on stock agencies. But not enough shots of the professionals behind it. For example:

A fashion model in front of a mirror with a stylist and a makeup artist. A photographer conversing with a stylist. Photographer and model interactions such as talking and even getting the shots. Assistants capturing RAW images, a series of poses, and the reviewal of the work on a laptop.

Suggested Keywords: Creativity, Focus, Connection, Glamour, Concentration, Fashion Industry, Occupation

Pro-Tip: It’s more about the process and the attitude, rather than the focus being on the clothes. With that said, the clothes should be as contemporary as possible. Avoid fashion trends that can be fleeting. Get coverage with a variety of angles on your subject. Other than a model, a band, athlete, or “celebrity” type would work well.

Business

Pond5 is also requesting stock images & stock video clips of specific business events. The business category already has strong competition. So I would avoid making the classic stock style.

4. Press Conference

“Press conferences” is one of them. You can try an actor behind a desk with a variety of microphones on his front. An actor behind microphones, recorders, and phones. A reporter raising a hand to ask a question. Actor pointing to the reporter with a raised hand, etc.

Suggested Keywords: Technology, Media, Journalism, Press Conference, Communication, Information, Interview, Persuasion, Announcement

Pro-Tip: Casting and revolving talent that represents a politician, a celebrity, an athlete, and so on can stretch your shoot to hit a variety of important targets, including those related to entertainment.

5. Business Seminar

In a very similar scenario, “business seminar” is also a request. Try to capture a variety of angles and perspectives from both the speaker and the audience.

Suggested Keywords: Education, Communication, Strategy, Inspiration, Development, Entrepreneur

Pro-Tip: Capturing a variety of angles and perspectives from both the speaker and audience positions are key to a successful shoot. A candid or editorial-style camera approach could work as an added perspective to that of a participant.

6. Windows and Glass

The combination of glass or other transparent elements in business shots is something really trendy these days. The glass reflection on cityscape, businessperson, conference meeting, etc should result in something pretty original. Writing on the glass is also a very cool idea and simple to reproduce.

 

 

Disabilities

GettyImages came up with a very specific request that I really believe should make good sales in the future.

7. Blindness & Deafness

They’re searching for authentic representations of individuals living with visual and hearing impairments doing daily activities.

Capture the models having a conversation with sign language, reading braille, going shopping, traveling, getting ready for the day and more. We want to see people of the deaf and blind community enjoying themselves with friends and family.

  • Real people: Always use actual persons with disabilities to represent people with disabilities.
  • Dignity: Make sure the images represent the subject respectfully. Keeping camera angles on the same eye level or below are recommended vs. “looking down.
  • Humanize: Show a whole person in an image rather than only an assistive device prosthetic limb, assistive technology, or other accommodation. Bring their whole self to the photo.

8. Inclusive Sports

Inclusive sports is another strong subject. People with and without disabilities playing together. The disability shouldn’t be the focus of the image. Focus on the engagement instead. You can also consider showcasing the diversity of sporting equipment.

Capture the joy of people with and without disabilities playing sports together. We want to see inclusivity with active players engaged in the game, where the disability is not the main focus of the image. – whether it is training, competition, victory, loss, and everything in between.

  • Some suggested sports include, but are not limited to: tennis, soccer, basketball, baseball, hockey, golf, cycling, kayaking or running; as well as fitness activities such as yoga, pilates or dancing.
  • Consider showcasing the diversity of sporting equipment such as gripping gloves, adaptive cross trainers, railings, or pool lifts.
  • Remember to illustrate people from different ethnicities, including African-American, Asian, Hispanic, not only Caucasian; and a wide age range from children to seniors.

9. Tech

And to close, we have the Shutterstock requests. The first one is related to the latest phones, tablets, laptops and smart technology. It might be a good idea to avoid recognizable logos and trademarks.

You can focus on smart technology in action, like smart homes, voice assistants, facial recognition, cybersecurity, etc.

10. Plant-based Food

Plant-based food is another request. That means colorful, healthy foods in flatlays and stylized settings. Poke bowls in lifestyle environments, avocado toast, and groups of people having fun around this kind of food.

Extra requests for January

The following requests were made by Shutterstock in January, so they’re not in the video above.

11. International Women’s Day

  • Inspirational photographs celebrating women’s equality and achievements.
  • Groups of diverse women in the workplace and beyond.
  • Women shattering traditional stereotypes and working in a variety of careers.
  • Friendships among women.
  • Working parents balancing home life and work life.
  • People of all genders celebrating and fighting for women’s rights and gender equality.

12. Spring Sports

  • Baseball, basketball, softball, and other outdoor sports activities.
  • Sports specific to your area of the world.
  • People of diverse ages, genders, and ethnicities having fun playing sports outdoors.
  • Unique sports such as motocross, mountain biking, kayaking, and horse racing.
  • People wearing proper safety gear for the sport they’re playing.

13. Global Awareness

  • Content showcasing the diversity of global cultures and experiences.
  • Images depicting equality, diversity, and the interconnectedness of the human experience.
  • Diverse people around the world campaigning for human rights.
  • People displaying a wide range of emotions in real-world environments.
  • People speaking to large audiences about global issues, including climate change.
  • People of diverse backgrounds and abilities in real-world situations.

14. Skin care

  • People applying skincare remedies to acne-prone skin.
  • Product hero images of natural skin care remedies.
  • Flat lays of skincare remedies styled with natural materials.
  • People at a dermatologist’s office.
  • Images showing the effect that junk foods such as candy, chocolate, and sweets can have on the complexion.
  • Models of various ages, genders, abilities, and ethnicities.

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Shoot & Sell – October 2018

Drone (and not) subject ideas that sould get good sales on stock agencies.

Here are a few suggestions coming from Shutterstock, Pond5 and Getty Images. They represent a true demand of the whole market. Most of them will be useful for all kind of arts. So no matter if you do video, photo, motion graphics, illustrations, etc. These insights can be used in every art, in every agency.

1. Aerial Filmmaking

Drones are getting more popular each day and though there’s a big competition already, there are still categories with supply smaller than demand.

There are 3 categories with high demand on Pond5, for both Photography and Footage. Each category has a code that, if included in your file’s keywords, will let Pond5 know what you’re focusing on. I believe they use it to prioritize for approval and maybe include your file on featured packs.

1.1 Agricultural: this category is known for being always in demand and having no expiration date. Wheat fields, Cornfields, Vineyards, Patchwork, Fruit orchards, Tractors, Farms, and Grain Silos… These categories will always work well and can be even better with aerial shots. Some tips are trying to shoot low-flying shots at sunrise and sunset.

Suggested Keywords: Harvest, Organic, Arable Land, Cultivation, Vegetation
Keyword Code: AERIALOCT2018

 

1.2 Industries: Industrial subjects have always been a hot topic and are still underexplored when it comes to aerial shots. Here are some ideas: containers on a dock, on the ship, being loaded and unloaded; new cars on a dealership or shipping center, solar farm, wind turbines, construction sites, oil rigs on land or sea, factories, trains, oil refinery, etc. Tips are shooting wide enough to avoid release issues. Avoid logos or any other copyrighted features that are recognizable.

Suggested Keywords: Distribution, Commerce, Industry, Transportation, Production, Trade
Keyword Code: INDUSOCT2018

 

1.3 Villages and Suburban: Different global clients look for images representing how people live around the world. There’s a big demand for Suburban track homes and neighborhoods, but also apartment buildings, condominiums, parks, commercial streets, small to big stadiums and courts, etc.

Suggested Keywords: Community, Development, Subdivision, Suburbia, Construction, Architecture, Neighborhood
Keyword Code: SUBOCT2018

 

2. Global Holidays

You might think Christmas is a saturated topic – and you’re right. Cause it is.

But it’s still a big market and a golden pot if you explore it the right way. One good example is exploring its celebration in different countries.

There’s a high demand for images and videos of Christmas and other holidays being celebrated in Austria, Brazil, Colombia, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Iceland, India, Malaysia, Norway, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, and Thailand.

You can explore celebrations such as (forgive my pronunciation) Hanukkah, Purim, Makar Sankranti, Pongal, Chinese New Year and its year’s animal.

I know, it’s not Christmas time yet, but there are a few strategies you can use: Search for old materials stored in your HD, reproduce a small Christmas celebration or at least be prepared for when Christmas comes so your content is online to be sold next year.

If you live in any of these countries, try to achieve authentic feelings with real people on real scenarios. Forget the classical stock agency look and what tourists would often focus on.

Illustrators can also explore the birth of Jesus, including Jerusalem, the three wise men, nativity scenes, baby Jesus on a manger, etc.

 

3. Vacation Mode

Also connected to Holidays there’s a request from Shutterstock they call Vacation Mode.

It is all about winter vacations, and people heading to celebrations in the winter time.
Winter activities including traveling down a winter road, snowshoeing, enjoying a fire in the snow, and ski trips.

Trips to warm destinations will also sell. Beach activities, pool activities, etc.

 

4. Self-Improvement

And last comes another Shutterstock request on Self-Improvement. Especially for lifestyle changes influenced by the New Year.

That means representing people starting or researching diets; mind-body improvements, such as meditation and yoga; Goal setting and writing down resolutions; Healthy eating habits, etc. Try to mix the common healthy lifestyle content with New Year’s resolutions.

 

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What to Shoot – September 2018

These 9 subjects can increase your stock sales in September 2018

Pond5 and Shutterstock have already released their shot lists for September. Although each agency has its specific needs, they represent a real demand of the whole market.

These trends are useful for whatever the kind of art you do. Video, photo, motion, 3d, vectors, etc. Apply the trending style for your type of art, and you should get excellent results out of it.

As always, the agencies are planning for the next months, and you might find it is still too early for some of the suggested topics. So do remember that agencies and companies also anticipate the work on their marketing campaigns.

 

1. Holiday Decor & Parties

The first example comes from Shutterstock, listing Holiday Parties & Decoration as a hot topic to work on.

– Every kind of image representing thanksgiving or shot in a Thanksgiving-themed scenario should do well. Searches are big for images representing kindness, giving thanks, family meals, and celebrations.
– Use your creativity for alcoholic drinks like champagne, whiskey, or mulled wine.
– If you can, work on Christmas decorations such as mistletoe, holly, garlands, confetti, glitter, and tinsel.
– Kitschy and exaggerated holiday elements and events are also trending. Ugly Christmas Sweater parties and Secret Santa surprises are a few examples. Try to get as weird as possible.
– On the other hand, there’s still a big demand for holiday-themed table settings. This is a saturated subject, so explore it with the current image trends. Flat lays are the perfect example for 2018.

 

2. Sale Shopping

As Black Friday and other global sales approach, there’s a big demand for assets representing this subject.

– Both online & inside store images will do well.
– People using a credit card in-store or at home, people of different ages and style browsing an e-commerce website, etc
– There’s also a big demand for vectors that can work for cards, coupons, or sale flyers.

 

3. Winter

The third request from Shutterstock is related to the coming of winter in the northern hemisphere.

– Although there’s still not enough snow out there, this is an excellent opportunity if you have old files inside your HD. Now is the time to bring them back to life. Falling of snow, close-ups of snow and snowflakes should get beautiful results.
– Illustrators and motiongraphers can also make good use of the high demand while many filmmakers and photographers aren’t able to do it.
– Every kind of winter sport & activity is also worth the shot. Skiing, snowboarding, ice skating, etc. As well as winter animals like penguins, polar bears, and moose.
– Try some shots of people enjoying winter beverages like hot cocoa and mulled wine (as mentioned before). Both indoor & outdoor, also people enjoying a holiday fire.

 

4. School & Education

And the last request from Shutterstock is related to school & education.

– Educational tools such as whiteboards, chalkboards, podiums, and craft supplies. There’s also demand for arts and crafts like scissors, rulers, collages, watercolors, and oil paints. These are cool objects for flatlays.
– Graduations celebrations like people receiving diplomas and awards.
– Another cool suggestion is organized team sports like basketball, badminton, hockey, and soccer as well as images picturing winning awards like trophies and podiums, and even speeches on podiums.

 

5. Pickup games

Pond5 is also making 3 requests for this month. The first one is connected to the approaching of the basketball season.

Especially to images and footage of people practicing the sport on urban scenarios. Pond5 gets specific with angle ideas and insights for keywords. Before heading to that path, be sure to read the entire suggestion. Players celebrating a victory, practicing, dribbling, texting on phones, etc.

As always, focus on different ages and race diversity to enforce the authenticity of your shot.

 

 

6. Rooftop parties

Rooftop parties are a great way to end the summer and a subject often requested by stock clients.

Images of friends toasting, dancing, eating, preparing barbecue, group selfies, etc. These are all cool ideas with increasing demand, especially from the food & beverage industry.

Try different shots with and without alcoholic beverages to ensure it will fit all needs. Adapting this to different cultures might also get good results.

 

7. Working late

The last Pond5 request is for images & videos of people working late. This is a hot topic in the health & business world and can be made in every country of the world.

Some ideas are evening shots of an executive eating at the desk, printing documents, shuffling through papers, rubbing eyes, working on a computer desk with a single desk lamp or screen light.

Just be sure to keep it as real as possible and give it a natural look. Avoid exaggerating on the subject’s tiredness.

 

8. Working Outside

Getty Images also revealed there’s a growing demand for images and videos of people working outside their office in authentic and diverse environments like cars, trains, cafés, and outdoor spaces. The model should be using a tablet, phone, laptop, and even virtual reality devices.

As always, target for diverse ethnicities, ages, looks, etc.

 

9. Seniors in Healthy Lifestyle

There’s a high demand for African American and Latino models living on a healthy lifestyle.

Diversity is the key here, as there are already too many images of Caucasian models.

Seniors wearing athletic but casual wear and interaction in casual environments like coffee shops, parks, casual dinners, etc. Not only practicing a sport but also socializing.

Subtle inclusion of technology as smartwatches and fitness trackers are also welcome.

 

 

Stock-related news of September

1. Vimeo Launches Vimeo Stock

The biggest story of the month is Vimeo announcing their new royalty-free video marketplace – Vimeo Stock.

Their CEO says their goal is to set a new standard for creative footage & put more money in contributors’ pockets. Though some might hear it as cheap talk, they seem to be promising 60-70 percent of the revenue to the contributors. That is way above Shutterstock’s 30% or Adobe’s 35%.

For now, they’re only accepting invited contributors and say they aren’t yet looking for more submissions but will be in the future. You can show your interest to be part of the collection by filling a form in which they say they’re prioritizing submissions from creators interested in selling exclusively.

HD files are being sold for $79, while 4K files are sold for $199. That’s for non-exclusive files.

Exclusive files prices are $299 for HD and $499 for 4K.

I got to say I’m curious to check how often these non-exclusive files will sell. So I’m not sure if they’ll keep these prices for too long. The only thing I want to believe is that they won’t change this commision rates later.

2. Storyblocks Update

Talking about that, In our last video, we discussed the controversial fact of Storyblocks changing their commission structure and adding a rate of 50% on their video sales.

The company sent a new email telling about the feedback received and the concern with the member price for HD footage set at $49 and decided to raise their HD price to $79.

So by October 15, Storyblocks guests will be charged $79 per clip. The same price will be charged from members; the difference is that they’ll get a 10% instant rebate after checking out.

They will also no longer collect a guest fee from nonmember purchases.

After these changes, you’ll now get $35.55 per clip sold to Storyblocks members and $39.50 per clip sold to a nonmember.

We all want to believe these changes were made with contributors in mind, not just for the good of the company. Only time will let us know.

 

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