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Selling video footage


jason_crader

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I recently purchased a digital camcorder and was wondering how does

one go about selling video footage to clients. In the past I've sold

still photos to magazines and the like, so I know how selling still

photography works but I have no clue as to how selling video works.

 

Are there video stock agencies? Do tv producers accept freelance

work? If producers do accept work, how does one approach or find out

what the producer needs? Do people make a living as freelance

videographers? etc....

 

I'm interested in learning how to sell all types of video but my main

interest is nature and wildlife. Any information will be greatly

appreciated.

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Jason, although I do work part time in tv production, I'm not totally educated about this topic. What I wanted to pass on, is some info that I learned of when talking to my partner who has been in the business for quite awhile. Our conversation centered around the fact that it is quite possible to put a show together without ever having to shoot a tape. This accomplished by buying whatever footage you need, and which is apparently being done, but I don't know by whom. So obviously there are film catalogs available. I guess you just have to find the stock agencies that handle this product or create your own stock and advertise yourself to various production houses who may have need of your product.
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Selling footage of what? The most obviously marketable footage, would be news based -- but the scoop would have to be pretty good to make it worthwhile. Hardly something you could anticipate. As a television executive producer, the only "library" stuff I ever contemplate buying is either helicopter footage; specialist scientific footage (timelapse usually); or absolutely ravishing nature footage. ALL of which is incredibly expensive to produce, and requires real skill to shoot -- usually on film, or on digibeta at the very least. Dont mean to sound discouraging.

 

Otherwise it sounds to me like you should be thinking of getting a job as a cameraman -- there are plenty of people who work in a freelance capacity doing this -- often withe specialities (like nature and wildlife). Trying to sell your own footage sounds to me like you're approaching this the wrong way round!

 

Good luck.

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