Best Stockhouse for Timelapse/Stock Footage?

[Tom Lowe]

I'm interested in getting some of my timelapse clips up with a stock house, and I was wondering if you guys have any recommendations of specific websites? Which have the most traffic and the best deals for the footage provider? Which have the best technology for uploading, etc?

Thanks very much.

[Tom Lowe]

Anyone? :)

[Michael Lindsay]

I have some stuff with Getty... They are OKish with sales but are not very progressive in otherways.. They won't as yet sell the SR or 2k versions I have.. Only Pal and NTSC (I produced the stuff one quite winter 4-5 years ago and put in the extra effort to make sure everything was future proof)..

I'd like to give them allot more stuff but haven't sorted it out yet..

If you find anyone brilliant please tell me?

regards

Michael Lindsay

[Mark Thorpe]

Tom,
With that response I would suggest you invest in some time and self promote. Your work is too good to go giving 50% or more to some office chair polishing dude in any agency. PM'd the Rest.

Cheers,
Mark.

[Tom Lowe]

They take up to 50%?

Yeah, but if I did it myself, I wouldn't really have much technology or traffic coming to my site. I suppose I could get a good URL and hire a web designer to help me. It's an interesting thought.

[johannperry]

Getty only give you 37.5%:angry01: , although they would argue that they have the most far reaching market exposure for your footage.
Just seen artbeatsart's post and wonder what he has in mind. Could be a great idea.

[PaulClements]

Hi Tom,

I created a website called Hive Image (www.hiveimage.com (http://www.hiveimage.com)) to sell stock footage shot on the Red One camera, with an online distribution called hivebank.com where people can download their paid for clips. It's listed quite well if you search for RedOne stock footage on Google.

At the moment I don't have much time to invest in it because of other commitments but over the next few months I hope to start getting some stuff on it as I begin shooting outside of paid jobs. Originally I was going to give 50% to other users and have an affiliate program of 10% per sale. Rather than start from scratch perhaps you'd like to come on board and help run and build up the library with your own stuff. I'd be more than happy to go significantly higher than 50% if you were interested and we could re-brand it slightly to be RedOne and Timelapse footage or something similar, so that your clips fit.

The website works, you can add the test product on there now (Egypt) to your basket and go through checkout, experience the Account section as well as login to hivebank.com and download the clips (Empty zip files for the demo). Essentially it could be populated fairly quickly and sales could start to be made fairly readily. Also I'd be happy to discuss altering prices of volumes if the ones listed are too low for your tastes. Though the prices listed are there in order to sell more volume.

Traffic wise it gets a couple hundred unique visitors a month on average, and given there is no stock footage on there and I've never advertised or marketed it that's not too bad.

An alternative is that we could port the website to another domain name and do a bit of rebranding, new name, logo, colors etc and run a second stock footage shop specialising in timelapse stuff and you could decide the prices from top to bottom and organise everything on there.

If it's something you might be interested in drop me an email to paulclementscx@gmail.com and we'll have a chat about it.

Paul

[PaulClements]

Just noticed Daniels new stock footage site, looks pretty good too, thought I'd better post this here since I don't want him to think I'm plugging because he's just launched, best of luck to him :)

http://www.reduser.net/forum/showthread.php?p=135996#post135996

Paul

[Tom Lowe]

Are there any stock footage sites that really dominate in terms of traffic and sales? I did submit a request to Getty, but they don't seem to place much priority on HD. Really only SD seems available on their site.

[Tom Lowe]

Well, I was accepted at Getty. They want all my night timelapse stuff. But in looking over the contract, it seems they want exclusivity, meaning I could not sell my clips through any other site?

Any thoughts on whether this is worth it?

[BASSAM MSSALATIE]

I could not sell my clips through any other site?



i think it is better to build your own stock website .your timlapse/stock footages are very good .:unsure:

[Tom Lowe]

Is there any turnkey technology for building a stock site, or would I basically just post watermarked samples and do the business via email?

[BASSAM MSSALATIE]

Tom i think it is simple .you must have some SEREVER for footages uploads and buy webpage from any domain companies and some internet loader
and paypal link .. ? if you want it simple ..and later you can grow up .
you can ask REDRELAY OWNER . TO help you in this :blush:

[Tom Lowe]

I already have a server, domain, paypal, etc.

What I'm wondering is if there is any turnkey software for putting up the thumbnails with downrezed video samples, etc.

[BASSAM MSSALATIE]

I already have a server, domain, paypal, etc.

What I'm wondering is if there is any turnkey software for putting up the thumbnails with downrezed video samples, etc.

i think some web applications will do it will ..flash player macromedia,,etc
i don't know exactly but any web progrramer will set thos basics for you.:w00t:

[Steve Thomson]

Getty works great for me.

[Tom Lowe]

Getty works great for me.

mrtimelapse, you're not THE Mr. Timelapse on Getty, are you?

What percentage does getty give you? How is their volume of traffic?

[Tom Lowe]

Here's another short timelapse from the joshua tree trip:

http://digitallions.org/josh-rock-pan-720.mov

[stock rep]

Hi,

Relevant Motion is a start-up motion content stock agency developing a 4k/RED footage line. We handle all subjects and styles. If you have any material or questions please write to:

info@relevantmotion.com

www.relevantmotion.com

[Steve Gibby]

My stock footage has been represented non-exclusively by Mammoth HD for almost three years now, initially SD and HD, but now on the new MHD RED Library. I've been extremely happy with the representation by Mammoth. They're smaller than some stock houses, but Clark Dunbar and the guys at Mammoth are aggressive in their marketing and press release placements, prompt in their payments, and pay a comparatively excellent royalty. The recent MHD RED press release was picked up by about 15-20 trade web sites and magazines. Several RED User regulars are represented by Mammoth HD. As mentioned, I've been very happy with MHD, and I'd guess you would be too.

Link: http://www.mammothhd.com/MHD_RED1.html

[Ed Watkins]

I already have a server, domain, paypal, etc.

What I'm wondering is if there is any turnkey software for putting up the thumbnails with downrezed video samples, etc.

PM'd you about one possible solution.

[Tom Lowe]

Thanks. After talking to quite a few people I am probably going to put my own site up and sell my clips directly. But I guess I might also be able to place the clips on other sites as well, if there were no issues with exclusivity and price differences.

What I really want to do is shoot timelapes for features. The timelapse shots in Jesse James, for example, got a lot of attention. I'd love to do stuff like that. Maybe I will mail Malick my reel and volunteer for Tree of Life. :)

[Michael Schrengohst]

Hi,

Relevant Motion is a start-up motion content stock agency developing a 4k/RED footage line. We handle all subjects and styles. If you have any material or questions please write to:

info@relevantmotion.com

www.relevantmotion.com

Why H..264?? That is a final playback viewing Codec not an editing codec.
H.264 will not work with for example Vegas Video. And you would have to transcode to a native codec in Final Cut Pro to edit. You really need to get submitters to submit at the very least Photo-Jpeg and Pro Res should be available to FCP users. I edit and buy stock footage from just about every house you can name. Some deliver better than others. No one has a lock on a perfect solution yet. All I know is when I need a clip I need it like yesterday because of the fickle clients I work with. Waiting 72 hours would a non-starter much less 72 minutes!!!

LOL

[Tom Lowe]

Why H..264?? That is a final playback viewing Codec not an editing codec.
H.264 will not work with for example Vegas Video. And you would have to transcode to a native codec in Final Cut Pro to edit. You really need to get submitters to submit at the very least Photo-Jpeg and Pro Res should be available to FCP users. I edit and buy stock footage from just about every house you can name. Some deliver better than others. No one has a lock on a perfect solution yet. All I know is when I need a clip I need it like yesterday because of the fickle clients I work with. Waiting 72 hours would a non-starter much less 72 minutes!!!

LOL

Red Guy, can you tell us what the best and most common delivery formats are for someone like you who buys and works with a lot of stock footage? I don't think I can output Pro Res, since I am on a PC.

Here are the options Premiere Pro CS3 gives me for quicktime:

http://img352.imageshack.us/img352/4041/optionsin9.gif

[Tom Lowe]

Can anyone who works with Getty Footage tell me how the deal typically works? Once you upload your clips there, do they have total exclusivity? It seems like once you put a clip up there, it's pretty much out of your hands for a specified amount of time?

Here is what their contract says:


The Representation Agreement

Once both filmmaker and Getty Images express mutual interest in representation, we will offer the Producers’ Agreement. This is an image exclusive agreement whereby Getty Images agrees to market the artist’s footage through its worldwide network of offices. The main points of the contract are as follows*:

Term
5 years with an automatic 5 year renewal

Image Exclusivity
Getty Images will have sole right to market Producer’s footage. Producer agrees not to place footage with any other agency during the term of contract with us.

Would this prevent me from marketing myself to do custom timelapse shots for movies and music videos?

EDIT: I just spoke with getty and they said it would be okay to use my clips for other projects and to do custom shots, etc, but the only thing they ask is that I don't submit similar material to any other stock sites.

[Phil Bates]

Red Guy, can you tell us what the best and most common delivery formats are for someone like you who buys and works with a lot of stock footage? I don't think I can output Pro Res, since I am on a PC.

Here are the options Premiere Pro CS3 gives me for quicktime:

http://img352.imageshack.us/img352/4041/optionsin9.gif

After a lot of experimentation, we use PhotoJPEG at 95 to 100%. Excellent quality for editing and archiving.

Phil
www.artbeats.com

[stock rep]

Why H..264?? That is a final playback viewing Codec not an editing codec.
H.264 will not work with for example Vegas Video. And you would have to transcode to a native codec in Final Cut Pro to edit. You really need to get submitters to submit at the very least Photo-Jpeg and Pro Res should be available to FCP users. I edit and buy stock footage from just about every house you can name. Some deliver better than others. No one has a lock on a perfect solution yet. All I know is when I need a clip I need it like yesterday because of the fickle clients I work with. Waiting 72 hours would a non-starter much less 72 minutes!!!

LOL


Red Guy

LOL?

Read it again, 72 hours is the turn around for vetting into the collection through an upload portal. Delivery time is immediate.

[Michael Schrengohst]

Red Guy

LOL?

Read it again, 72 hours is the turn around for vetting into the collection through an upload portal. Delivery time is immediate.

LOL, I re-read it, thanks. Just was not very clear.
But I still go back to why H.264??
As Phil said from ArtBeats - PhotoJpeg is what I prefer
because the quality is good and it will work with any NLE.
A lot of footage on the cheap sites (istockvideo - revostock)
are kinda hit and miss. They let the shooters upload
wahtever without regard to quality. I guess you do get what
you pay for.

And Tom - 5 years with an AUTOMATIC 5 year renewal?? What is the out??

[Michael Schrengohst]

LOL, I re-read it, thanks. Just was not very clear.
But I still go back to why H.264??
As Phil said from ArtBeats - PhotoJpeg is what I prefer
because the quality is good and it will work with any NLE.
A lot of footage on the cheap sites (istockvideo - revostock)
are kinda hit and miss. They let the shooters upload
wahtever without regard to quality. I guess you do get what
you pay for.

And Tom - 5 years with an AUTOMATIC 5 year renewal?? What is the out??

Wierd, I could not edit my last reply. OK I did go back and look at your website. You have changed it to PhotoJpeg.

[Tom Lowe]

And Tom - 5 years with an AUTOMATIC 5 year renewal?? What is the out??

I don't know. I gotta find out. They sent me a ton of paperwork and contracts to fill out.

I could easily put up my own website, but my fear is that I will always have to be tied to a computer to deliver footage in a hurry when people need clips. Plus I don't know anything about the business end of all this - including contracts with buyers, lawyers, etc. I figure if I put my stuff at Getty, I can go out for weeks at a time and just concentrate on shooting, rather than trying to run a website as well.


One thing I wonder about - will Getty let buyers contact me directly or through them if the buyer wants the clip slightly modified? Someone might want a virtual pan, or a different color correction, etc, and I'm probably the only one who can do it.

[Michael Schrengohst]

?? - I have only had experience with the micro sites.
My fear is that yes you may get some nice sales at Getty -
in the long run who knows? Many of the agencies I work with
try to find the cheapest stuff they can and mark it up.
You know Getty owns istockvideo.com - seems like they
have a strategy of controlling the high and low end.
I have seen some of your work and you are probably
national/international TV spot material.

Maybe you should talk with Clark over at Mammoth before pulling the trigger?

[DouglasKahan]

I own the stock house : America By Air Stock Footage Library.
50% of the library is shot by me (mostly aerials). The other half is from people like yourself who tend to specialize. We have some significant work in our library and will keep it that way.

As a shooter, I personally don't recommend anyone doing an exclusive as you just become one of thousands of suppliers to corporate industries who really don't care about the people who create, just those who dominate the sales.

We represent people who do great work and focus on that work and getting that work into the market, licensed properly protecting the footage owner while making money for both parties with a 50/50 split at all times. Our recent expansion and a new searchable web site in the coming months will enhance our exposure which is world wide, but the bottom line is still focus on the work not the technology.
We have some awesome timelapse work in the library but would like to add to that if its the right stuff. We do a lot of work with studios and features.

We have a Red on order and will be shooting it the first time next week.

If I can help demystify the issues about stock footage representation then please feel free to call (absolutley no strings attached).
I can be contacted at
americabyair@mac.com or tel.561 540 8835.

Douglas Kahan
www.americabyair.com

[Cato]

Hi Tom,

I am new to this forum, but we are working to offer 2k download files for footage shot on RED.

At the moment, we offer them in the ProresHQ codec.

We are working to build the amount of independent RED content offered to our customers, and we do not require any form of exclusivity.

Also, you get a 60% proceed from sales.

You can visit us at http://www.clipcanvas.com

If you decide to get in touch with us, I would be happy to provide you with some more information.

Kind regards,

Cato