Selling Stock Video Footage.

[Gary Huff]

Originally Posted by Doug Jensen

But because those 4900 clips have generated an average of $24 each, then the 2000 new clips should also generate an average of $24 each over the coming years.

That's quite a leap, especially because it begs to reason that, out of those 4900 clips, you have some that have not sold at all. It could be that the 2000 clips you just uploaded are more of the same as the genre/style/shots that don't sell very well. It's not really a good way to look at it.

Does Shutterstock give you such a breakdown? Or does it just give you a "you sold x number of clips and have made $x dollars"?

[Jim Michael]

Given the sample size and his increased knowledge of what is more likely to sell, extrapolating future income like he has seems reasonable.

[Doug Jensen]

Originally Posted by Gary Huff

That's quite a leap, especially because it begs to reason that, out of those 4900 clips, you have some that have not sold at all. It could be that the 2000 clips you just uploaded are more of the same as the genre/style/shots that don't sell very well. It's not really a good way to look at it.

Does Shutterstock give you such a breakdown? Or does it just give you a "you sold x number of clips and have made $x dollars"?

It is not a leap at all. All of the new footage is of different subject matter, and subject matter that I know is more popular. Plus I am now much more experienced at doing the metadata. If anything, I predict my sales of the new clips will exceed the sales of the older clips but I never count my chickens before the hatch. Besides, the content or quality of the clips themselves accounts for less than half the equation of having successful stock footage business. Furthermore, my newest clips are all 4K which means they will be selling for the next decade.

Gary, for someone who has no practical knowledge of the stock footage business or what I'm submitting or how I am doing it or how Shutterstock works, you sure don't have any shortage of opinions. There are so many aspects of this business that you clearly don't understand. I'm happy to answer any questions you may have, but I find your negative attitude kind of insulting. I know my business better than you do. Ask questions, yes, but keep your opinions under wraps unless you can speak from knowledge.

[Doug Jensen]

Originally Posted by Jim Michael

Given the sample size and his increased knowledge of what is more likely to sell, extrapolating future income like he has seems reasonable.

Bingo! That's exactly right.

[Gary Huff]

Originally Posted by Doug Jensen

for someone who has no practical knowledge of the stock footage business or what I'm submitting or how I am doing it or how Shutterstock works, you sure don't have any shortage of opinions.

Nah, I’m the only one here asking you specifics as related to the business, you’re just coming off as exasperated that I won’t just up and purchase your workshop instead. But thinking you can bully me into it is an odd tactic.

[Doug Jensen]

Gary, you are completely wrong . . . again. As I said, I'm more than happy to answer questions. But when you start making statements about my business model that are based on speculation and a lack of knowledge, what would you expect me to say? Just ignore it as if whatever you say must be fact? If YOUR experience selling stock footage is different than mine, I'm sure we'd like to hear about the specifics of it and then we could put your statements in proper context.

[Mark Williams]

Gary likes to get a rise out of folks. I learned a long time ago to ignore his posts as they don't add anything meaningful to the discussion. Doug, nice job with your tutorial trailer.

[Gary Huff]

Originally Posted by Doug Jensen

when you start making statements about my business model that are based on speculation and a lack of knowledge, what would you expect me to say? Just ignore it as if whatever you say must be fact?

What are you talking about, Doug? I have pointed out how you are speculating and am asking questions to get a clear understanding of what you are doing. You have a vested interest in selling a workshop to people, 99.9% of whom will not achieve anywhere like the numbers you are giving out. So I want to know what the real details are, not the santatized version. If you cannot relate to me like an equal, then at least give me the respect of not attempting to insult me into buying your course, it won’t work.

[Doug Jensen]

I have never suggested here that you or anyone else buys my course. I didn't even start this thread. So if you have felt that sales pressure, that is in your own mind. Not once have I suggest that you buy my course. Not once. I did suggest you watch my intro video because all of your questions would be answered there (for free) and you could see that I am not giving anyone the "sanitized" facts. But you don't want to bother with that. Fine. I am happy to answer your questions one by one, but when you start telling me how to run my business, well then you have crossed the line.

Just because you know you cannot achieve success with stock footage doesn't mean that others won't be making just as much money as I am, so relax and let others go their own way. Nobody needs a naysayer who has no experience or special knowledge of stock photography pissing on it.

By the way, speculation and forecasting are two different things. If you knew anything about running a business you'd know that every business has to forecast future earnings based on past earnings and other factors. Business101.

[Bob Safay]

Doug, I just finished chapter 8. It really is a great course. Now I have a better understanding of how it all works, of course I am only 1/3 through it. I really enjoyed chapter 7 where you talk about what type of equipment you need. Not what camcorder to buy but rather what features to look for such as built in ND filters, electric viewfinder, XLR inputs etc. It reinforced my belief that with the Canon XF300 (soon to upgrade to 4K) and a flowtech 75 tripod I am pretty much set to go. I am looking forward to learning about mega data. I think that is what messes most people up. Thanks again for putting this together, with your help I am sure I will be able to sell some clips. Bob

[Gary Huff]

Originally Posted by Doug Jensen

If you knew anything about running a business you'd know that every business has to forecast future earnings based on past earnings and other factors. Business101.

If you knew anything about running a business, you'd know that claiming you won't count your hours filming as "work" is complete b.s.

You have material you have shot all over the country, so that entails travel and the costs of travel. For instance, you have content that you shot in Yosemite. Why did you go to Yosemite? Did you drive or fly? How much did gas/ticket cost you? If you flew, how much did you have to baggage check in order to be able to capture this footage? For instance, on the job I am currently on, it will be $70 each way for my checked gear. Is that what you paid?

You have footage of Homeland Security during a drill. Did you happen to come upon this? Read about the drill in the news? Were you shooting footage for a paying client and then turned around and reprocessed it as stock? Because, technically, the client in a "shoot for hire" scenario owns that footage. Did you get an agreement?

You have footage from Salinas Valley California. How much did it cost to fly out there? How much was your hotel room? Why are you filming people on private land (where their face is clearly not obscured) and not getting releases? Or did you get releases? (you say in the video you linked twice that you don't have to deal with model releases).

You also have a lot of wildlife shots. I know that filming wildlife involves a lot of waiting and being there for the right moment. You don't show up on site, hit record, and a Pelican immediately starts running across the water towards camera. You spent a lot of time to be in the right moment to get that shot. And you don't count that time? That's completely ridiculous.

And speaking of wildlife, that really requires a lens longer than 200mm, what lens do you have just for wildlife? How much did it cost? When do you use it otherwise other than filming wildlife and rocket launches for your stock portfolio? How big is it? How do you fly with it? Again, you don't count the costs of things you should be counting, which you would be if you knew how to run a business.

Or maybe you're just neglecting this because you're only interested in selling this $153 course, and those numbers just "muddy" things?

[Doug Jensen]

Good questions, Gary.

You are exactly right. If shooting is a chore for you, then there's no point for you to shoot stock. If you never travel for pleasure with a camera, then yeah, you wouldn't like it. If you don't have opportunities in your normal course of business that you can take advantage of to kill two birds with one stone by shooting stock, you wouldn't like it. If you don't have an eye for spying opportunities when they present present themselve, then stock is wrong for you. If you can't tell the difference between commercial images and editorial images and how each can be leveraged, then it's not a good fit for you. If shooting stock footage would be no different to you than digging a ditch or washing dishes, yeah, it will all seem to be work.

So, we are in complete agreement. Stock footage would be a huge failure and waste of time for you. Fortunately, none of that applies to me and most of the people I meet that who have even a modicum of entrepreneurial spirit.

BTW, your suggestions of how or why I shot certain clips in my portfolio are quite comical when I think of the reality behind them . Hilarious really that you think you have some kind of insight into how, where, or why I have shot my clips. Wow.

[Doug Jensen]

Originally Posted by Bob Safay

Doug, I just finished chapter 8. It really is a great course. Now I have a better understanding of how it all works, of course I am only 1/3 through it. I really enjoyed chapter 7 where you talk about what type of equipment you need. Not what camcorder to buy but rather what features to look for such as built in ND filters, electric viewfinder, XLR inputs etc. It reinforced my belief that with the Canon XF300 (soon to upgrade to 4K) and a flowtech 75 tripod I am pretty much set to go. I am looking forward to learning about mega data. I think that is what messes most people up. Thanks again for putting this together, with your help I am sure I will be able to sell some clips. Bob

Bob, thanks for the feedback. I really appreciate it. With your can-do attitude you are assured of success. All that my video can do is point you in the right direction, give you a road map, and a kick in the ass to get moving. It is up to you from there and I can tell you're already on your way to success.

[Gary Huff]

Originally Posted by Doug Jensen

You are exactly right. If shooting is a chore for you, then there's no point for you to shoot stock.

That’s ignorant, Doug.

If you never travel for pleasure with a camera, then yeah, you wouldn't like it.

This is too. I could say that, “If you hate spending time with your family, get into shooting stock footage on vacations!” Do you hate your family, Doug? If you think that’s a stupid thing to say, you’d be correct. It would be, and as equally so as those two statements.

If you don't have opportunities in your normal course of business that you can take advantage of to kill two birds with one stone by shooting stock, you wouldn't like it.

Then you could describe such a scenario from the questions I posed to you.

BTW, your suggestions of how or why I shot certain clips in my portfolio are quite comical when I think of the reality behind them. Hilarious really that you think you have some kind of insight into how, where, or why I have shot my clips.

Except you damn well didn’t answer my questions that I asked, now did you? Why didn’t you, Doug? Is it because the answer isn’t quite far off the mark? Better to just act like it is and hope you don’t get called out? Well...oops?

[Doug Jensen]

Gary, whatever I say will just churn up your anger and animosity even further. Nothing to be gained for me to waste my time on this "conversation". Or is it an interrogation, I'm not sure? I happy to answer questions, but I don't have to answer to you or explain myself. Come to your own conclusions, because I know you will anyway. Have a good day.