table of contents
- Preface
1. About the Author
2. About the Book
- Chapter 1. What is Stock Footage?
1. Microstock Defined
2. Royalty-Free Defined
- Chapter 2. Equipment Needed
1. Traditional Cameras
2. The DSLR Revolution
3. Non-Traditional Cameras
4. Light Kits and Tripods
5. Animation and Motion Graphics
6. Computer
7. Internet Access
- Chapter 3: What to Shoot
1. In What Resolution Should You Shoot?
2. Frame Rates
3. Working with Actors
4. Model Releases
5. Property Releases
- Chapter 4: What to be Cautious Of
1. Logos and Trademarks
2. Editorial Clips
3. Now What?
- Chapter 5: Clip Preparation
1. File Types
2. Codecs
3. H.264
4. PNG
5. Animation
6. DV
7. Photo-JPEG
8. File Organization
9. Keywording
10. Release Storage
11. Alternate Resolutions
- Chapter 6: Where to Sell
1. My Agencies
2. Revostock
3. Pond5
4. ShutterStock
5. iStockPhoto
6. Fotolia
7. ClipCanvas
8. Other Agencies
9. Pricing
10. Dealing with Rejections
11. Becoming Exclusive
- Chapter 7: Market Yourself
1. Build a Website
2. Make a Demo Reel
3. Use Social Media
- Chapter 8: Final Thoughts & Considerations
1. Backing Up
2. Bookkeeping
3. Custom Work
4. How Much Can You Make?
5. Affiliate Income
6. Final Thoughts
- References
1. Stock Footage Study
2. General Information
3. Producer Informational Pages
- Acknowledgements
about the book
Learn to navigate the stock footage industry and supplement your income with creativity!
This e-book contains basic tips, tricks, and hints on what to shoot and how to prepare your footage for submission to several of the more popular microstock footage agencies on the Internet. Video examples, charts, and even sample financial data included!
If you're thinking about getting into the stock footage business, or are a new producer struggling with technical issues while preparing your clips, this book will serve as a valuable resource.
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about the author

Written by James Orlowski, an accomplished videographer and producer with nearly 20 years of video production experience and the owner/operator of OrlowskiDesigns Royalty-Free HD Stock Footage. A graduate from Penn State University with a Bachelor's Degree in Communications and a Master's Degree in Multimedia from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA, he has years of experience shooting and selling stock footage on many of the major Internet-based microstock footage agencies.
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rave reviews from people in the industry
"A simple guide that has everything needed to understand
and start shooting stock video footage."
Scott Cornell, Stock Footage Producer
"Simple to understand but detailed in content.
Very helpful information for any stage of your stock video career."
Jake Hellbach, Owner, JHDT Stock Images
"Finally, a step-by-step book that is written for any good videographer
to make a higher-than-average income."
Chris Rasmussen, Owner, Deadeye Marketing
"I wish there was a guide like this when I started doing stock."
Bryan Bush, Stock Footage Producer
"With a background in television advertising,
James has a unique perspective of the stock footage industry."
Mark Holmberg, Stock Footage Producer