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Creative Briefs: Backgrounds


USE THIS SPECIAL KEYWORD IN YOUR METADATA SO WE CAN TRACK AND PROMOTE YOUR CONTENT: BACKGROUNDSP5BRIEF

Background graphics are at the forefront of digital media and product design. This visual device captures attention, expresses moods, and represents brand values—with exciting patterns, colors, and loops bringing projects to life!

In constant demand by web designers, ad agencies, content creators, and artists, uploading your background graphic is always a great idea. Your submission could be selected to elevate work the world over.

 

Stock Media Background Examples

Creatives use backgrounds of all media types in their work. Explore the examples below.

 

Background Footage

Featuring loops, patterns, abstract elements, particles, and various animation techniques, these platforms are likely to use background footage.

  • Web design – Looped and seamless backgrounds make the page pop.
  • Promotional ads and videos – Marketing materials leverage backgrounds to support their message effectively.
  • Film and video production – From news graphics to VFX, artists use backgrounds for various reasons.
  • Visual installations and life events – As stage backgrounds or supplementary visual elements, looping footage immerses attendees in a dynamic environment. Think concerts, art installations, video mapping, etc.

 

Colorful Liquid Shape Abstract Background by airoissei.

 

Background Photos

Photography may work with isolated elements, shapes, lights and shadows, textures, seamless patterns, and more. Here are some common use cases.

  • Web design – Brands often use isolated elements on their websites. For example, green leaves isolated on a white background representing tea.
  • Presentations – Captivating visuals help keep the audience’s attention.
  • Social media content – Attractive visuals are more likely to stop people’s scrolling.

Coffee Beans Background by dusk.

 

Background Illustrations

From digital graphics to print design, illustration can tell versatile stories. Not requiring models and expensive photography, imagination is your only limit! Vector graphics, seamless patterns, and textures are in high demand.

  • Web design and social media – Some products or services require the versatility of illustrations for background images, header images, banners, profile pictures, etc.
  • Print design – From business cards to flyers, textures, and patterns give these touchpoints a signature look.
  • Packaging design – Think Christmas wrapping paper designs, gift bags, and boxes.
  • Product design – T-shirts, socks, mugs, pillows, badges, phone cases, shopping bags, simply everywhere!

Neon Grid Landscape And Sun With 80S Game Style by Swillklitch.

 

Background After Effects

A powerhouse for visually engaging creative assets, After Effects templates enable creatives to make something extraordinary.

  • Social media content – Dynamic backgrounds attract audience attention, and templates such as Instagram stories make it easy for brands to create outstanding professional messaging on that platform.

 

Donut Abstract Backgrounds by DAS1985.

 

Submission Ideas Starters

  • Footage – Try abstract elements, technology-inspired subject matter, short looped and seamless animations, particles, or animated isolated elements.
  • Photos – Snap isolated elements on white backgrounds, or focus on shapes. Shoot subject matter in different styles, from clean and simple to quirky and happy. Feel free to work with gradients, transitions, textures, patterns, and materials.
    • Example: the light and shade in a folded piece of satin cloth, a close up of the grain in wood, etc.
  • Illustration – Seamless patterns and textures are in high demand. However, feel free to experiment with abstract designs, particles, and isolated elements—with backgrounds or transparent alpha channels, and more.
  • After Effects – Social media templates are popular, particularly those reflecting contemporary trends. For this, think Instagram stories, square posts, vertical format for TikTok, 16:9 aspect ratio for YouTube, etc. Remember that trailers, promo videos, music videos, lyric videos, and visual loops also use backgrounds.

Get inspired and explore our existing background media.

 

Suitable Keywords

Background, backgrounds, background loop, background texture, animation, seamless, abstract, particles, alpha matte, alpha channel, bokeh, looped background, seamless, pattern, etc.

 

Target Audience

This evergreen content is incredibly versatile across industries, making for a wide target audience. Think tech companies, web designers, bloggers, ad agencies, content creators, and artists working with digital visuals.

 

Summary

  • Buyers want great backgrounds to help them stand out. Create and upload your background footage, photography, illustration and AE templates
  • USE THIS SPECIAL CODE IN YOUR KEYWORDS: BACKGROUNDSP5BRIEF
  • Ensure your submission falls under commercial use by submitting the appropriate release forms when necessary.

Want visual reference and inspiration? Check out our marketplace!

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Music Briefs – Old School Hip Hop

USE THIS SPECIAL KEYWORD IN YOUR METADATA SO WE CAN PROMOTE YOUR CONTENT: HIPHOPMUSICP5BRIEF

Hip-Hop is a musical and cultural movement that emerged in the late 1970s in New York City’s black communities. Hip-hop has no official anniversary. However, the first hip-hop event occurred on August 11, 1973, in The Bronx, New York. The concert, organized by DJ Kool Herc, is considered a historical turning point in hip-hop history and is celebrated as the International Day of Hip-Hop.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the cultural movement that still defines society today.

 

History of the genre

Hip-hop emerged in the late 1970s in African American communities of New York City as a synthesis of several sources and inspirations, including funk, soul, jazz, reggae, and Afro-Caribbean music.

Keith Cowboy, a member of Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, is considered the creator of the term “hip hop.” Afrika Bambaataa, a DJ and hip-hop pioneer, popularized the word by using it to describe the entire culture and movement. Over time, the term “hip hop” came to refer to the music and the associated dance, art, and fashion.

 

DJ Kool Herc

DJ Kool Herc is a Jamaican-American DJ and music producer generally regarded as a forefather of hip-hop music and culture. Kool Herc mixed music on two turntables, looking for the track’s most rhythmically exciting and danceable parts. He then included these passages in his set and used them in loops, which he played repeatedly to give dancers more time to dance. This mixing approach enabled Herc to produce a new sound that became the cornerstone of hip-hop music.

Old School Hip-Hop

Old School Hip-Hop is the first era of hip-hop music, emerging in the 1970s and 1980s. Its socially conscious lyrics addressed topics such as poverty, racism, and crime in the streets of New York, combined with samples from funk, soul, and disco records. Looping these lyrics and sounds together created the basic beat that defined the genre.

As the genre grew, the artists later used drum machines, synthesizers, and other electronic instruments to generate beats, and the genre evolved into New School in the mid-80s, using more complex rhythms and rhymes, focusing more on personal experiences, wealth, and fame, more complex beats, etc.

 

Pond5 Library Examples of Old School Hip Hop

Check out some examples in the Pond5 library to inspire your submissions.

 

Submission ideas

  • Submit tracks in length between 2 and 5 minutes.
  • The tempo should be between 80 and 120 BPM.
  • Rap or beatboxing is a great advantage and addition to the Pond5 library.
  • Don’t limit yourself. Instrumental tracks are also in demand if you don’t have any vocals available!
  • Use samplers, electronic drums, multiple vocals, beat samples, groovy drum samples, or minimal simple beats that define old-school hip hop.

 

Summary

  • Take advantage of the 50-keyword limit and add both broad and specific keywords.
  • Please do not use recognizable band or artist names!
  • We also encourage you to submit separate :15 and :30 versions of these tracks for social media use.
  • Please note you can apply tags to existing tracks in your portfolio.

Top image: The Beastie Boys Mike Diamond Adam Horowitz And Adam Yauch (Second From Right) by AssociatedNews.

Check out more Music Briefs here.

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Music Briefs: UK Grime

USE THIS SPECIAL KEYWORD IN YOUR METADATA SO WE CAN PROMOTE YOUR CONTENT: UKGRIMEP5BRIEF

UK Grime is an innovative genre of hip hop that started in the UK in the early 2000s, and nowadays, new grime music comes up on the airways and playlists everywhere.

Fast beats, electronic noises, UK accents, and wild energy are cornerstones of grime music. Grime crews, groups of musicians who create music together and perform at underground nightlife venues, make up the grime music scene.

UK Grime History

Richard Kylea Cowie Jr. MBE, better known by his stage name Wiley, is one of the rappers credited with creating the grime sound. Wiley rapped in icy-toned lyrics about his life in London to the sound of heavy beats he called ‘eski-beats.’

With its pounding rhythm and British-accented rhymes, in 2004, Wiley’s debut album ‘Treddin’ on Thin Ice’ established Grime as a recognizable genre. After that, the musician started a group called Roll Deep with other grime musicians, including Danny Weed, Breeze, Jamma, Skepta, and Dizzee Rascal.

 

Most Grime musicians, except for Dizzee Rascal, remained underground, flourishing as a form of underground music aimed toward young people and gaining popularity on pirate radio stations like Rinse FM. Grime music experienced a resurgence in popularity in 2016. New musicians like Stormzy and Bugzy Malone brought this genre into the mainstream.

Genre Characteristics

Grime is an eclectic mix of music genres and techniques, including UK garage music, techno, jungle music, and many more subgenres ​​combined with rap and several UK musical subgenres that were popular in the 1990s.

  1. Grime is an eclectic mix of music genres and techniques, including UK garage music, techno, jungle music, and many more subgenres ​​combined with rap and several UK musical subgenres that were popular in the 1990s.
  2. Quick beat: The average tempo of grime music is 140 bpm, giving it a very quick breakbeat and a powerful bassline.
  3. British accent: Grime was created in London to reflect the lives of its creators. Rappers in the grime genre often have British accents, distinguishing this form of music from American hip-hop. Urban life is a common theme in grime music. Many artists focus on life in gangs, money, social status, and other related topics.

 

Pond5 Examples of UK Grime Music

Have a listen to the tracks dedicated to the genre and get inspired for your next production.

Submission ideas

Submit tracks in length between 2 and 5 minutes
The tempo should be between around 140 BPM
Rapped lyrics are a great advantage but don’t limit yourself to vocals
Use hip hop, sample, and sampler as instruments

 

Summary

  • Take advantage of the 50-keyword limit and add both broad and specific keywords. Please do not use a recognizable band or artist name!
  • We also encourage you to submit separate :15 and :30 versions of these tracks for social media use.
  • Please note you can apply tags to existing tracks in your portfolio.

 

Top image: Dizzie Rascal at Glastonbury 2017 – Stormzy by AssociatedNews.

Check out more Music Briefs here.

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Music Briefs – Neue Deutsche Welle (New German Wave)

USE THIS SPECIAL KEYWORD FOR YOUR NEUE DEUTSCHE WELLE TRACKS IN YOUR METADATA SO WE CAN PROMOTE YOUR CONTENT: NDWP5BRIEF

Neue Deutsche Welle (New German Wave, as known as NDW) was a German music genre popular in the ’80s, originating from post-punk and new wave music with an electronic influence.

One of the earliest uses of the term was in a record-shop advertisement by Burkhardt Seilen in August 1979 in the issue of the West German magazine Sounds. Journalist Alfred Hilsberg then used it in an article about the movement titled Neue Deutsche Welle — Aus grauer Städte Mauern.

Musicians and fans characterized NDW as punk-rock instruments combined mainly with synthesizers, which were then coming to the market and were very interesting in price.

 

History of Neue Deutsche Welle

Neue Deutsche Welle consists of two major parts. The genre was mainly an underground movement with roots in British punk and new-wave music from its beginnings to 1981. Due to the unique sound and rhythm of the German language, it swiftly developed into a distinctive style. Artists like Nena and Ideal, capturing life in West Germany during the Cold War, or Spliff, Joachim Witt, and Trio, using the language in a surreal way, are distinctive genre representatives.

Around 1980 the genre gained popularity, but attention switched away from promoting current bands and toward forging new ones that were more mainstream-friendly. Bands that had nothing to do with Neue Deutsche Welle started to promote themselves as NDW, and commercialization by the music industry made the initiators of the movement frustrated. The NDW era ended around 1983–1984 due to oversaturation in the market with stereotyped, manufactured hits.

 

Pond5 Library Examples of Neue Deutsche Welle Music

Check out some of the examples in the Pond5 library as an inspiration for your submissions.

 

Submission ideas

  • Submit tracks in length between 2 and 5 minutes.
  • The tempo should be between 90 and 120 BPM.
  • German lyrics are a great advantage but don’t limit yourself to vocals.
  • Use electric guitar, the drum kit, electric bass, keyboard, and synthesizers as instruments.

 

Summary

  • Take advantage of the 50-keyword limit and add both broad and specific keywords. Please do not use a recognizable band or artist name!
  • We also encourage you to submit separate :15 and :30 versions of these tracks for social media use.
  • Please note you can apply tags to existing tracks in your portfolio.

Top image: Frank Elstner (3. Von Li.) Mit Band Nena 01/83 Stroe Frank Elstner by IMAGO.

Check out more Music Briefs here.

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Creative Brief: Wedding Time!


USE THIS SPECIAL CODE IN YOUR KEYWORDS FOR YOUR WEDDING SUBMISSIONS: WEDDINGP5BRIEF

With the arrival of spring, the season of weddings begins, peaking every year from spring to autumn. Wedding planning includes creating and sending invitations, preparing wedding photos and reels, program schedules, seating charts, thank you cards, and many other tasks requiring cohesive graphic design. Wedding agencies and individuals rely on stock templates and videos to enhance their projects and simplify the process. This is your opportunity to take advantage of the increased demand!

Weddings, wedding invitations, save the date, and other key phrases associated with wedding planning are becoming increasingly popular among user searches. Have a look at the following list of templates and get inspired!

PRO TIP:
If you already have wedding graphics in your portfolio with a date, please update the year in your template to 2023, so it is current.

 

Wedding invitation templates

Wedding Invitation is one of the most searched key phrases during wedding season, and there are two trends regarding style – the traditional paper invite vs. the digital format. There is demand for both. Whether it’s a decorated card, a letter, a video, or even a website, there’s a lot of space for creativity! Here are some thought-starter ideas to get you started.

  • Wedding After Effects Templates – Perfect for sending a video invitation via e-mail or link on YouTube. Create motion graphics, After Effect slideshows, etc.
  • Wedding paper cards – Many couples use online services or boutique shops to design traditional wedding invitations sent by postal service. They need images, graphics, and font styles, all with a unified design.
  • Wedding invitation website – Wedding invitations in the form of a simple one-page website are gaining popularity. These require graphic elements, such as banners, modules, buttons, stickers, and other helpful website graphics.

 

Wedding Graphics

Setting a wedding theme is an essential step in the overall design. Your graphic templates should reflect consistency. If you intend to create an invitation, use the same template for other formats like a thank you card or table seating card. Predict the buyer will use the same design everywhere. Here’s a list of products that might use your unified graphics.

 

Digital Products:

 

Complete Traditional Wedding Pack by EnchantedStudios.

 

Physical Products:

 

Wedding Invitation And Menu Template With Watercolor Leaves by idressarts857.

 

Keyword ideas:

Wedding, wedding day, save the date, wedding invitation, wedding photo slideshow, wedding reel, wedding video, wedding letter paper, thank you card, seating chart, wedding cake, wedding rings, wedding icons, wedding intro, wedding titles, wedding animation

 

Target audience:

All kinds of customers including ad agencies, wedding planning agencies, digital artists, bloggers, influencers, content creators, etc.

 

Submission checklist:

  • Check out our marketplace for visual reference and inspiration
  • Try to stand out and create something that pops out among the other search results
  • USE THIS SPECIAL CODE IN YOUR KEYWORDS: WEDDINGP5BRIEF
  • Make sure your submission falls under commercial use.

Top Image: Watercolor Vector Set Wedding Invitation Card Template Design With Green Trop by ElenaMedvedeva.

 

Check out our other Creative Briefs here.

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Creative Brief: Valentine’s Cards


USE THIS SPECIAL CODE IN YOUR KEYWORDS: VALENTINEP5BRIEF

Start the year with love! As we are re-adapting to work after the holidays and tackling our New Year’s resolutions, our buyer community is planning for Valentine’s Day and creating campaigns around this beautiful holiday.

This month, we’re calling out to artists of Illustration, After Effects, and templates. Get one step ahead in planning your next production and let your work hit the hearts of buyers.

 

Valentine After Effects

Go digital! Valentine-themed After Effects are in high demand. People are looking for lower thirds, transitions, slideshows, social media frames for Instagram stories and posts and alpha mate/alpha channel elements with transparent backgrounds layered over footage of all kinds.

There’s nothing better than a physical Valentine’s card, but nowadays, with social media, it’s more common to send cards by email or on social media. Even e-shops use the cards in their marketing activities.

 

Submission Ideas

  • Change your graphics to 2023 – If you’ve previously uploaded anything that displays a year, update them for 2023.
  • Motion graphics – Any motion graphics containing hearts, emojis, turtledoves, red lips, Amor (Cupid) and his bow, and other typical elements of Valentine’s Day – People use gifs as one of the forms of Valentine’s cards.
  • Transitions – For video editing software, the gifs, Valentine’s Card short videos posted on TikTok, Instagram, and other social media, etc.

 

Valentine Transitions Pack by polygonmotions.

 

Valentine’s Templates

People want to make their cards as personalized as possible. Templates give them space for their own creation and create graphics as a base for their work. Buyers will also use your templates in their email campaigns.

 

Submission Ideas

    • Isolated Valentine’s elements on Green Screen – A card, hearts, sparkles, red lips, etc.
    • Alpha matte/alpha channel – Make the editing process more user-friendly and upload your work with a transparent background.
    • Social Media Graphics – Instagram stories, YouTube ending screens and Shorts, TikTok frames and filters, Twitch overlays, etc. Try making an Instagram story frame that looks like a Valentine’s Card.

 

Valentine Instagram Stories by polygonmotions.

 

Valentine Illustration

Valentine’s Day is perfect for Illustration artists. Their work is suitable for blog posts, YouTube thumbnails and overlay templates, static social media graphics, Twitch and Facebook broadcasts, profile picture frames, social media stickers, and much more!

 

Submission Ideas

  • Actual Valentine’s Cards – With cute and lovely themes.
  • Isolated Valentine’s traditional themes – Envelopes and cards with hearts, arrows, Amor (Cupid), a flower bouquet, roses, chocolate, pralines, etc.
  • Isolated Valentine stickers – For scrapbooking and DIY.
  • Valentine’s seamless patterns – To use as a background for Valentine’s cards.
  • Profile Picture Frames – Rectangle/circle shapes themed around Valentine’s Day.

Valentine Banners With Cute Animals by frenta.

 

Keyword ideas

Valentine, Valentine’s Day, Valentine’s Card, Love, Amor, Cupid, bow, arrow, lover, sweet, sweetie, sweetheart, boyfriend, girlfriend, partners, marriage, love, heart, bouquet, chocolate, pralines, etc.

 

Target audience

All kinds of customers – especially ad agencies, digital artists, bloggers, influencers, content creators, etc.

 

Submission Checklist

  • Check out our marketplace for visual reference and inspiration
  • Try to stand out and create something that pops out among the other search results
  • USE THIS SPECIAL CODE IN YOUR KEYWORDS: VALENTINEP5BRIEF
  • Make sure your submission falls under commercial use.
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Pro Tip – Capturing Fireworks Step By Step

New Year’s Eve is a unique opportunity to photograph one of the most beautiful moments of the year. Record something enchanted, from local traditions to joyful faces during celebrations to fireworks. This article covers the steps, techniques, and tips required to record and photograph fireworks in high-quality.

 

Step 1 – Determine Your End Goal

First, decide why you want to shoot fireworks. Knowing what you want to accomplish helps you organize for the shoot. Are you posting on social media, making a documentary, or planning to sell the footage for the stock? Each application has different visual requirements and will determine the type of equipment and preparation needed.

 

Step 2 – Plan the Production

 

  • Timing is key– Plan your shoot carefully and give yourself enough time to set up the tripod, camera, etc.
  • Do your research – Search Pond5 and then sort by popularity to see the top shots. You can also check Google, YouTube, and social media for viral posts to see why they went viral and see if something is inspiring to set the stage for your shoot.
  • Scout a location – Look up different venues hosting a fireworks display in your area. Choose one that interests you and provides a clear view of the show. Since you’ll be sitting there for some time, it should be a place where you feel at ease. You can check Google Earth to see access points and get a sense of what the location looks like in advance. Also, you can look for other places nearby that may give you a better view or at least a unique perspective.
  • Consider your vantage point – Check to see if a high-rise hotel is close to the fireworks, where you can book a room and shoot from the balcony. Survey your surroundings. Look for a hill or mountain a couple of miles away that may give a much larger scope to the fireworks. Lastly, get to your location early to set up!
  • Overall Composition – Fireworks with the blank sky in the background are useful as a source for layered photos and footage. However, if you intend to use it differently, look for a location with foreground objects, such as buildings, hillsides, or trees, at the very least to add additional visual elements. Otherwise, the results may look a bit plain. Having people in the foreground is also an option, but you must count on blurred movement as the sensor captures light longer.
  • Check the weather – You can not control the weather, and in the winter, it could spoil a celebration. However, it is feasible to set off fireworks in the rain, so if you are determined, don’t discount this issue, pack your belongings appropriately, and adequately protect yourself and the equipment!

 

A Sea Of Fireworks Explode Through The City Of Los Angeles by Lmprods.

Step 3 – Gear to Pack

 

  • Tripod – ​​Using a tripod is important but set the drag loose to give you the ability to pan and swivel.
  • Several lenses – Don’t count on one or two lenses. Start wide, but using a telephoto or wide telephoto to capture the details is excellent too. Use different frame settings based on your goal.
  • Flashlight/headlamp – Remember, you’re filming in low light. Bring a flashlight or, ideally, a headlamp.
  • Stay comfortable – Take care of yourself and those around you during the shoot. Bring some chairs, snacks, and enough water, and keep yourself warm!
  • Consider the weather – Pack rain protection for yourself and your camera if the forecast looks uncertain.
  • Batteries/Battery Chargers – You don’t want your camera to die while taking your amazing shots!
  • Cleaning Supplies– Make sure to pack some wipes or a microfiber cloth for easy cleaning in case your lens or camera gets dirty!
  • Memory cards –
  • Camera Remote – If your camera has a remote, pack it to reduce shaky hands while taking photos or videos!

 

Step 4 – The Best Camera Settings For Shooting Fireworks

You need to set up your camera for low-light filming. Most of the general rules apply here as well. If you’re photographing, don’t forget to shoot in Raw so you can better play with the image in post-production software later.

Read advice from Olympus and Nikon on how to capture brilliant fireworks photos, or check out the tips in this 4-minute-long video from Jeven Dovey on setting the camera.

 

Step 5 – Shooting

Action! The big day is here. Since you have a limited time to capture your shots, we recommend using techniques you find comfortable. Try to find out the launch location of the fireworks.

  • Panning left and right – Check your surroundings and ensure you have enough space for setting up and shooting. Add in more elbow room if necessary!
  • Exposure experiments< – Remember, the longer your exposure, the longer the trails of lights that will be visible.
  • Composition – There’s nothing wrong with shooting fireworks against the clear sky. High-quality shots have their place in the overall demand among video editors but if you don’t intend to sell your footage as a source for other use in editing (such as layering the fireworks in additional footage), then consider the foreground objects.
  • Speed experimentation – Slow motion gives you beautiful moody shots, while real-time is more authentic. Play with the settings!
  • PRO TIP: Shoot the entire show on a separate camera – Bring another camera with a wide lens and shoot timelapse or real-time footage of the whole fireworks show. The backup allows you the freedom to constantly change settings with your primary camera.
  • Aerial footage – Drone footage is also an option. If the local laws allow, a drone gives another perspective of the show and a competitive advantage over other sellers.
  • 360/VR footage – Don’t forget 360 cameras! If you find the right spot and you’re able to secure a clear image, it’s another competitive advantage.

 

Aerial Colorful Fireworks In Night City Sky Bright Holiday Celebrations Party by TaigaShots.

 

Step 6 – Post-production

A lot of things can be enhanced or fixed in post-production. Here’s the list of elements you can play with:

  • White balance – Experiment with the temperature and tint sliders to find your favorite colors. Fireworks don’t have a usual “correct” color, so you can change the white balance to whatever you want. You could also utilize the foreground objects you provided as a guide to figure out what is realistic regarding color.
  • Basic controls – Exposure and contrast, luminance, saturation, darkening shadows, and blacks are all controls you can adjust. Keep in mind that the outcome should be natural and vivid, not overexposed or unnaturally saturated. Being gentle is key.
  • Clarity, sharpening, and texture – Use these gently. It may help to make the fireworks pop out even more!
  • Clipping – If you have continuous long footage, find the most exciting moments, clip them, and export and upload them separately.

 

Step 7 – The Metadata Work/Uploading to Pond5

Congratulations! You’ve just exported your stunning work! Now it’s time to sell it. To make sales, you have to think of the marketing part too!

  • Refer back to your research on Pond5 – See what keywords other artists use with similar photos and footage when sorting the results by popularity.
  • Concepts – Don’t forget to add keywords as we get closer to the other events, holidays, and anniversaries that typically feature fireworks displays, such as the 4th of July, etc. Please read our guide to keywords for more information.
  • Metadata – Choose the proper descriptive titles and descriptions to help our algorithm push your content to the top of the results.
  • Create a collection – Create a collection of your photos and footage and share the link to your social media networks. Here’s a guide on how to make a collection.
  • Earn referral income – Get even more revenue with our Referral Program. You’ll earn a commission on every new buyer you introduce to Pond5, no matter what they buy!
  • Maximize your earning potential – Join the  Pond5 Exclusive Video Artist Program for an industry-leading 60% royalty share. Not only will you maximize the value of your work, but you’ll also save time by uploading to just one platform. And if you combine it with the referral program, you can get up to 90% revenue share!

Top Image: Sparkling Celebration Fireworks New York City Manhattan Skyline With Skyscrap by photovs

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Shoot Brief: User Generated Content

Special Keyword Code: UGCPOND5BRIEF

The trend and demand for realistic videos are increasing month to month. In addition to professionally created staged content, authentic footage straight from the user, also known as User Generated Content (UGC), attracts many buyers. UGC is a raw format mainly shared on social media by large and small companies where nothing is simulated. From vertical videos suitable for Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, or Tik Tok to the next viral hit, it’s time to get real!

 

Shot List Thought Starters

 

Social Media Trends

  • TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube viral trends – People doing their makeup, dancing, eating, going out etc. – UGC shots tend to be more casual and focus on people enjoying themselves.
  • The selfie culture – Whether it’s tagged as #nofilter or not, show us some portraits of you and your friends, and don’t be afraid to record the seconds of you setting the pose before you hit the shutter.
  • AR Filter shots – AR filters on Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok rule the world! Have you tried them on your cat or dog?
  • The typical Youtuber— Submit a shot of people unboxing a product, PR packages, vlogging, pranks, makeup gurus, fitness instructors, reviews of products, etc.
  • Parody and memes – Make them laugh with parodies, internet memes, funny sketches, etc.

 

Happy Friends Dancing And Posing For Selfie At Party by AnnaStills.

 

Everyday Life

  • First-person perspective lifestyle shots – Imagine a vlogger capturing a trip from the first-person perspective or an influencer recording a cooking tutorial on TikTok. The goal is to get as authentic as possible. The visible selfie stick and ring light are definitely not a problem here!
  • Videos of your pets – Does your pet know a special trick? Has your pet done anything funny worth sharing? What does a stroll down the street look like? Show us!
  • Authentic home videos – Birthdays, holidays, vacations, sports games, school plays, gatherings, public events, etc.
  • Fails – Fail compilations tend to go viral on social media platforms. Upload anything that “went wrong”.
  • Vintage photos and videos – Bring out those old camcorders and show us your shaky digitalized VHS tapes!

 

VHS Shot Of Joyous Dad And Daughter Preparing For Halloween At Home by AnnaStills.

 

Breaking News

Newsworthy editorial content straight from the participants will always be in high demand!

Check the list of events below:

  • Protests – Have you witnessed any protests or community action? If you have shareable material that might be interesting for News organizations, submit your work with a proper editorial caption.
  • Natural disasters – From locals shooting an earthquake, tornados, and hurricanes to planned production of storm chasers, upload newsworthy weather packed videos.
  • Breaking events – Become a journalist and shoot anything extraordinary that happens near you.

 

Pov: Police Line Walks Next To Black Lives Matter Protesters In New York City by RawMediaNetwork.

 

Suggested Keywords

UGC, User Generated Content, Authentic, Selfie, Home video, Vine, TikTok, Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, protest, community action, breaking news, natural disaster, floods, tornado, hurricane, earthquake, fire, etc.

 

Target audience

All kinds of groups from corporate clients and ad companies to social media influencers.

 

Submission checklist

  • Check out our marketplace for visual reference and inspiration.
  • Aim to stand out and create something new among the other search results
  • USE THIS SPECIAL CODE IN YOUR KEYWORDS: UGCP5BRIEF
  • Make sure your submission falls under commercial use whenever it’s possible.

Top Image: Fans Celebrating At Football Match by ImageSource.

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Buyer Requests: Winter is Coming, New Year – New Me, Smart Health

Most Wanted in December

While looking forward to all the pleasures the holidays bring- from fantastic food to time spent with our loved ones, buyers are already planning campaigns for 2023. January marks a new beginning for business strategies and New Year’s resolutions. Take advantage of this opportunity to offer new and fresh content created around Winter Wonderland, New Year – New Me, and Smart Health. Don’t forget to attach the special keywords assigned to each theme so we can track and promote your work!

Winter Is Coming!

Winter Is Coming!

USE THIS KEYWORD: BRWINTER2022

Winter as a theme is quite generic. Therefore it gives you a lot of freedom to get creative!
Experiment with different camera approaches and post-production techniques. Here’s a list of ideas you can get inspiration from:

Submission Ideas

  • User-generated content – leave your professional gear at home and send us authentic POV footage, whether a snowball fight, sledding, or shoveling your walkway.
  • Breaking News – capture the climate crisis and weather behavior! If you’re witnessing unusual weather, such as storms, give it a shot, literally. Don’t forget to stay safe!
  • Vintage shots – if you have an old functional camera, try using it and give buyers content with a vintage feel. Alternatively, you can experiment with the post-production techniques. Send in those film shots!
  • Archival footage – have you found old VHS tapes? This kind of authentic footage is highly in demand as it’s irreplaceable because it’s evidence of the lifestyle at that time. Check our Pro Tip below to see the requirements for submitting archival footage.
  • Local shots – Wintertime is beautiful for its diversity! Show us what winter looks like in your local town, city, country, etc. Capture how businesses prepare for the holidays, winter sales, etc. What is typical for your country? What does this season look like in Germany, the US, Australia, and India? A range of options is best!
  • Winter sports – traditional winter sports we’ve been looking forward to, from skiing to snowboarding, figure skating on a frozen pond, ice hockey, sledding, and more.
  • Winter duties and responsibilities – Capture how lifestyle changes during winter – snow removal from the paths and sidewalks, ice removal from the roof, raking leaves, and winter cleanup of your home before decorating it for the holidays.
  • Winter in detail – macro shots of snowflakes, timelapse of melting ice, breath in the cold, rosy cheeks and noses, tree branches covered in snow, frozen lakes.

Suggested Keywords

Winter, holiday, Christmas, Winter sport, skiing, snowboarding, figure skating, ice hockey, sledging, archival, vintage, retro, climate change, etc.

Target Group

A wide variety of clients from ad agencies and news organizations to influencers and bloggers.

New Year - New Me

New Year - New Me

USE THIS KEYWORD: BRNEWYEAR2022

The topic of New Year’s resolutions is steadily rising to the top of winter season searches. Refreshing your Storefront with new graphics based on commitments and fresh starts is sure to attract interest from buyers.

Shot List Thought Starters

  • New Year transformation – people working out at home watching a virtual instructor, installing or building equipment for their home gyms, paying for a gym membership, buying vitamins, protein drinks, and other dietary supplements online. Capture multi-generational family members and friends exercising together, atypical fitness equipment, and inadequate/inappropriate exercise rooms.
  • Multitasking people – working out during online meetings, a floor treadmill under a working desk.
  • People giving up bad habits – such as drinking alcohol, smoking, overeating, etc.
  • Close-up shots – people writing down a list of New Year’s resolutions and creating a vision board.
  • Online learning – think of people attending an online course, learning a new language, etc.
  • Group shots – families discussing New Year’s resolutions plans, groups of friends supporting or motivating each other.
  • Body image – standing on a scale, looking at a fit or unfit body in the mirror.
  • Cooking and eating – healthy foods, shopping for organic food at a farmers market, cooking in the kitchen, etc.
  • Mindfulness – practicing yoga, meditating, etc.

Suggested Keywords

New Year, New Year’s resolutions, new beginnings, high expectations, workout, training, multi-generational family, smoking, overeating, bad habits, home gym, equipment, online course

Target Group

All groups, especially ad agencies and corporate clients.

Smart Health

Smart Health

USE THIS KEYWORD: BRSMARTHEALTH2022

In January, people are more determined to take care of themselves. The newest technologies, gadgets, and artificial intelligence make our lives much easier! Buyers are looking for the latest technologies and the future of smart health and living for all ages!

Shot List Thought Starters

  • Smart health devices – shots of people using common smart health such as toothbrushes, apps, bracelets, watches, etc. Include close-up shots of the devices in action.
  • Checking data – graphs, statistics, and results from the smart devices on their phones, tablets, or laptops.
  • Wellness devices – heart monitors, sauna blankets, facial massagers, facial steamer, etc.
  • Smart fitness – think of different types of connected treadmills, elliptical machines, scales, and smart workout machines.
  • Health in VR – working out with a VR headset/goggles on.
  • Smart software – upload content of people working out following instructions on their phone from the app or people tracking their progress in an app.

Suggested Keywords

Smart, smart health, futuristic, VR, gadgets, healthy lifestyle, sleep trackers, smart scale, massagers, smart app, etc.

Target Group

All groups, especially ad agencies and corporate clients.

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Music Briefs: Holiday Music & Sound Effects

USE THIS SPECIAL KEYWORD IN YOUR METADATA: HolidayAudio2022

The holiday season is approaching quickly, and buyers are looking for traditional and niche contemporary remixes that complement the holiday atmosphere. We’ve compiled a list of genres to focus on producing holiday music based on the requests from our buyer community.

Christmas and Holiday music isn’t only ‘Jingle Bells’ – think outside the box and get inspired by the following idea starters for your next music production. Don’t forget to use the special keyword HolidayAudio2022 so we can track down your submissions and promote your content!

 

Music Production Thought Starters

Christmas songs cover many styles, from choral and rock to country, pop, R&B, or jazz. Let the list below spark your imagination.

  • Christmas music in traditional genres – Children’s, Classical, Jazz, Modern, Religious, Rock, and Pop all fit this category. (Think of the vibe of ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’). Try including typical winter SFX in your music, and experiment with different instruments, such as organs, jingle bells, etc.
  • Non-traditional remixes of Christmas songs – We have already received requests for Christmas music remixed or revamped into Asian instruments, synthwave, R&B, EDM, Hip Hop, etc.
  • Lounge music – The jazzy relaxing vibe you have in a hotel lounge or elevator.
  • The rock genres – Create Christmas Rock, Christian rock, and even metal versions using Christmas elements, chords and SFX.
  • Lullabies – Soft bedtime music for children is also in high demand.
  • Vocal tracks – From duos to choirs. People singing religious songs or holiday hymns are popular among buyers during the holiday season.

 

Think of other holidays

Christmas is not the only holiday that occurs towards the end of the calendar year. Experiment with Kwanzaa or Hanukkah to widen your list of genres. Here are some examples:

  • Kwanzaa music is as vibrant as the traditional colors used to celebrate this seven-day holiday from December 26 to January 1. Create tracks using classical African beats, instruments, and joyful grooves.

 

  • Hanukkah music includes many traditional songs associated with the festival of Lights. Jewish music encompasses a wide range of genres and styles. These include Yiddish songs, klezmer music, and Israeli music, as well as contemporary genres mixed with traditional Jewish instruments, such as the kinnor (lyre), nevel (harp), tof (tambourine), shofar (ram’s horn), trumpets, flutes, chalil, alamoth and the uggav.

 

 

Holiday Sound Effects

Let’s focus on holiday sound effects here! Sound effects are essential for movies, podcasts, and social media platforms. Buyers often seek them out a few months before the holidays.

  • Winter sound effects – What reminds you of winter? Winter breeze, ice cracking, snow falling, rain, footsteps in the snow, snowball fights, etc.
  • Traditional Holiday sounds – Bells, chimes, and jingle bells, decorating the Christmas tree, gift wrapping, Holiday prayers, a music box, dreidels spinning, etc.
  • Holiday voices – Diverse voices, different accents, and languages saying “Merry Christmas,” “Happy Hanukkah,” “Happy Kwanzaa,” or cheerful voice lines of children happy about their gifts, dreidel games, Santa Claus saying ho ho ho, etc.
  • Atmosphere sounds – Fireplace, Clinking of glasses and toasts, laughter, lighting a candle or menorah, preparing, cooking, and serving food, etc.

 

Keyword Ideas

Happy, positive, Christmas, holiday, Christmas music, music, winter, holidays, seasonal, bells, happiness, snow, Xmas, Santa, magical, festive, Kwanzaa, African, groovy, joyful, uplifting, ambient, jazz, lounge, carols, acapella, jingle bells, choir, choral, vocal, Christian rock, lullaby, Hanukkah, Chanukkah, Jewish, Yiddish, klezmer, Israeli, Hebrew, kinnor, chalil, alamoth, uggav, etc.

 

Target Groups

Corporate clients, non-profit organizations, artists, news organizations, influencers, ad companies, social media agencies, etc.

 

Summary Tips

  • Take advantage of the 50-keyword limit and add both broad and specific keywords. On the other hand, do not use recognizable band or artist names, please!
  • We also encourage you to submit separate :15 and :30 versions of these tracks for social-media use.
  • Moreover, please note you can apply tags to existing tracks in your portfolio.

Top image: Man Playing Guitar In Christmas Eve by StudioMAK.