Stock footage... Yes or No?

As a professional video producer, I’ve been keeping a secret from my colleagues. So to all of you skilled editors and videographers I work with on a daily basis, I’m all for using stock video. GASP!! Especially now that video production has essentially come to a stop because of COVID-19.

I know, I know, you can spot stock footage with your eyes closed. You’ve seen the same shots in four different videos. Yada, yada, yada. But right now, stock footage can be a life saver.

Even though many cameras are sitting idle right now, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be pumping out video content. One way to do so is to use stock footage.

So what are the Pros to using stock footage and what are the cons?

Pros for using Stock Footage

The main pro for using stock footage right now is you can keep on producing video content allowing you to connect with your customers and your employees. Generally if you can think of a shot, you can probably find it on one of the various stock footage sites. (See below for a list of my go-to resources.)

Another pro is the quality is generally really good. (Note, I know some of my editor and producer friends are rolling their eyes right now but right now quality isn’t as important as messaging.) I feel the footage you can buy is good enough as long as your message is strong. If your messaging within your video is week, even the best footage won’t save it.

The cost for stock footage can be budget friendly. (Or it can actually cost more than doing a shoot. It all depends on the source.) When using stock footage exclusively, I recommend keeping the video as short as possible to save on costs. The more clips you buy, the more it’s going to cost.

Cons for Using Stock Footage

When using stock footage, you run the risk of losing that custom feel. The shots might not fit your brand exactly as you wish. So in these times, you might need to be a little less picky with your shot selection. For example, if you want a shot of a specific dog breed playing frisbee you might have to settle for a golden retriever rather than a bull dog. You are a little more limited when using stock footage.

Costs can add up. (Yes, I know, cost appears as both a pro and a con.) Some stock platforms are reasonably priced. Others charge a lot per shot. Using the “dog playing frisbee” search phrase, I searched several platforms I’ve used in the past and included the costs for similar shots. They ranged from $198 for one shot all the way down to free. There was a difference in quality and none of them had the exact shot I had in my head. Check it out.

Another con is consistency. Because stock footage is shot by different videographers, the style, look and quality varies between shots. Lighting, composition, angles, etc. will all be different unless you happen to find footage shot by the same videographer.

The final con, the shots you select will be used in other videos. It’s possible they could end up in videos for your competitor. You have no control over the footage.

How Can it Look

I’ve had great luck using stock footage. Sometimes it’s just not feasible to conduct multiple shoots to get the shots you need. Below is an example of a video Agile Video produced for Crystal Star. They wanted a natural look and needed the video rather quickly. Researching locations, finding talent, conducting the shoots, etc. just wasn’t in the timeframe or budget. Lucky for us, all of the shots they wanted had already been captured? We just needed to download them? Take a look.

Todd Vaske