Stock video sites have millions of clips. So why does it feel like you’re getting the same five clips over and over? Here’s a few tips to keep your results fresh and help you find exactly what you’re looking for.
1. Keywords Are Key
Start by writing down your main keyword and a list of secondary keywords. Keep your main keyword, but rotate in the secondary ones to see different results. Good words to include on that secondary list include: aerial, establishing shot, timelapse, hyperlapse, handheld, loop, and cinemagraph.
2. Dive Into Artists You Like
Like someone’s style? Check out the rest of their portfolio. More often than not, they’ll have a series of similar video. You can also search for specific content within a portfolio to narrow your search.
3. A Visually Similar Search is Worth 1,000 Words
Nodding Triplets by bladetucker
It doesn’t get any easier than using Pond5’s Visually Similar Tool. Click the Visually Similar button and get ready to see clips that are the same colors or styles as the one you like. This is especially helpful if you are trying to match shots or styles.
4. Filter, Filter, Filter
Boy Sifting Flour by shutter2u
If you’re looking for a needle in a haystack (or even if you’re not), it helps to weed out the results that don’t belong. If you know the resolution, number of people, or if you want commercial or editorial, you can easily narrow down the results with a filter. To view and hide the filter options, click the carrot next to the word filters on the upper left-hand side of your search results.
5. Then Filter Again (By Budget)
You might not know your exact budget, but you can probably figure out what your maximum is. Set a filter to that so you don’t see anything unrealistic for your project. Looking for high-end content? Try the Marquee filter. Trying to be economic? Get a Pond5 membership for budget-friendly options.
Computer Hacker by Gorodenkoff
Still can’t find what you’re looking for? Most stock sites have a team that can assist you with your search. Contact the Pond5 Research Team for fast and free help, catered to your budget. We’ll put together a customized collection of media to meet your needs.