Taking an All-Stock-Footage Approach to Video Production

Spin Creative • April 7, 2020

When most people think of video production, they think of in-person shoots, hired talent and at least a few crew members. Unfortunately, producing video like this isn’t always possible – nor is it necessary.

Rakuten Brand Film using all stock-footage, showing a women walking looking at phone and drinking coffee,

with 3d motion graphics added. Produced by Spin Creative .

Take, for example, a global health crisis like the 2020 Coronavirus, which has forced a majority of the nation to distance themselves from others. Filming for a video – no matter the length – isn’t safe or possible. However, this does not mean that businesses have to go without new video advertising.

Creative agencies have many video tools at their disposal – one being stock footage. Despite the common belief that stock footage can only produce generic videos that don’t fit a brand’s specific message, taking an all-stock-footage approach to video production can actually work quite well for your business, particularly during times like these. Here’s how.

Stock-footage video relies on design and graphics

A massive library of stock video and images is waiting to be used. It just takes a keen eye for design and a skill for creating motion graphics to transform it into engaging content.

Stock footage is great for simple videos or graphics that are used for social media and advertising. Some videos may appear like static images with slight movement that catches the viewer’s eye. Others may be longer and will string together similarly themed pieces of footage to create a cohesive piece.

Many videos that use stock footage rely on the addition of text, font, color, voiceovers and a strong thematic approach to pull the clips together. The end result is a beautifully designed short-form video that didn’t require any in-person filming.

Rakuten Brand Film using all stock-footage, showing a women on a surf board in the ocean,

with 3d motion graphics added. Produced by Spin Creative.

Rakuten Brand Film using all stock-footage, showing a women on top of car looking at mobile phone at night,

with 3d motion graphics added. Produced by Spin Creative .

Benefits of using stock footage

Although stock footage is not appropriate for every video production, it does offer numerous benefits for certain projects.

• Lower-cost footage: It’s no secret that video production can come at a hefty cost. Although the quality of a large-scale production is often well worth the investment, stock footage offers businesses a lower-cost alternative for smaller projects – especially those with a lower projected ROI.

• Widely applicable: Stock video and images are specifically created to be generic and fit in a wide range of projects. While this might not be ideal for a niche product or an innovative reveal, it can be a great option for simpler projects that tell a basic story.

• Fast turnaround: Filming for a video can be time consuming. You need to organize the shoot, meet on location and do multiple takes. Once footage is acquired, you still need to review it and edit it into the final piece. With stock footage, you save time by cutting out the in-person shoot, letting your creative team jump straight into editing after downloading the clip.

This gets your finished piece back much faster. It also makes stock footage a great choice if you want a monthly retainer, since it’s easily deliverable on a regular basis.

Filming in person isn’t the only method of creating high-quality video. The team at Spin Creative has created many stock-footage video projects leveraging our skilled design. If you’re in need of video that’s created from a distance, say hello!

About Us

Spin Creative is a video production company and creative agency helping marketers create winning video and creative strategies that engage, inspire and activate targeted audiences. Spin is headquartered in Seattle with offices in San Francisco and London, serving brands around the globe.