On June 19th this year, Pond5 will be celebrating our third-annual Juneteenth fundraiser. To honor the anniversary of the final announcement of the end of slavery, each year we raise funds for two organizations whose mission matches our own; to support the marginalized and empower the underrepresented through creative expression. Over the past few years we’ve supported organizations like National Black Arts Festival, Second Chance Studios, and Queer|Art. We’re excited to announce our partner organizations in June.
In addition to cultivating relationships outside of Pond5, support of our own creative community is paramount to our mission. We partner with a diverse range of artists to give opportunities for exposure within the marketplace, and surface inclusive content that creators need to tell their stories.
As we celebrate Juneteenth, we’re excited to put together a collection of clips and tracks by diverse artists in our community. We’d love to hear from you if you’d like to be featured in this collection! Please share your storefront with us and a collection of content that is most representative of your background and culture, and we’ll do our best to include them in this celebratory collection.
Political leaders, activists, and companies emphasize climate change and conservation. As a result, nature content is one of our Top Categories. Contribute to a shared vision of a green, healthy planet or illustrate the dire need for change. Use this unique keyword so we can identify your content: EVERGREENNATURE
Popular Nature Themes
Forests and Rainforests—Think emerald green foliage, exotic plants, and critters from among the treetops and under rocks. Alternatively, show the destruction of biodiversity by monoculture, extraction, etc.
Underwater World—Show colorful reefs, feasting fish, and minuscule sand life. Or focus on polluted beaches, floating plastic, dying corals, etc.
Indigenous Animals–Show us your local animal life, such as the pandas of China, orangutans of Borneo and Sumatra, toucans in South America, or even the North American cougar.
Extreme Weather–Capture unusual, dramatic, or out-of-season weather, such as dust storms, tornados, hurricanes, etc.
Endangered Species–Feature polar bears, koalas, Adélie penguins, etc.
Global Warming causes and consequences–Shoot melting ice caps, greenhouse gasses, dry soil, deforestation, wildfires, etc.
Buyers need a diverse portfolio so start experimenting! For example, when using a drone, play with the dynamics of the movement and shoot a slow-motion top view or a fast POV flight through a valley.
Get up close for macro shots of exotic flowers, trees, and small animals.
Timelapse / hyperlapse shots are popular–capture a flower growing from the soil, etc.
Follow news bulletins–buyer requests are sure to follow!
Prioritize your safety and environmental preservation. Follow local rules Covid regulations, and only enter areas when permitted.
Conceptual Keywords
Include relevant conceptual keywords to ensure buyers find your content in broader searches. Need inspiration? You can search for similar content on Pond5, sort the results by “Popular,” and see what other artists do!
Summary:
Don’t forget to use the special keyword from this article, EVERGREENNATURE
Planning to shoot editorial footage of events? Please don’t forget to properly format metadata
Here’s looking at you, wherever you are! Content from diverse locations across all continents is in high demand, with customers from many industries looking for fresh takes on local areas, whether commercial or editorial. Show off where you live, and contribute to our global but local collection!
Local Upcoming Events – Heading to an e-sport, traditional sport, or political event? Shoot everything from conferences to political conventions to local festivals – think National Cherry Blossom Festival, Ramadan, Chinese New Year, Kwanzaa, etc.
Remember, the preferred format for a newsworthy editorial description is: PLACE, CITY, COUNTRY, (MONTH, DAY, YEAR)
Local buildings, city parks, streets, and landmarks. Buyers love aerials and locked-off images taken from the same angle day and night.
Buyers value images and footage of local nature—think of national parks, forests, animals, flora, etc.
There’s a strong desire for Lifestyle shots as well! Show us your local food and drinks, fashions, traditions, and typical gatherings–Easy to capture when out at a house party, garden BBQ, or enjoying the night in a pub.
Who are the people in your neighborhood? Whether a tech company CEO or a local farmer running a small business, show us the people representing your location!
Focus on diversity. Choose models that truly represent the communities, whether LGBTQ+, Indigenous people, etc.
Think of keywords that truly describe what is happening in the shot. Be precise with locations, names of the landmarks, parks, etc. – use the advantage of having a unique shot from a unique location.
Trending Hashtags
Get inspired by social media’s most popular hashtags. If you’re planning to shoot an event, use the trending hashtags you find on Twitter, Instagram, and other social platforms.
Submission Checklist
Please remember to tag your clips with the keyword code: LOCALIZEDCONTENT2022
Include relevant keywords.
It’s important to attach property release and model release forms to all videos you intend to list as suitable for commercial use on the Marketplace. Remember to check that there is no 3rd party IP, such as distinctive logos, designs, etc.
Creative Brief – Special Keyword Code: USElections2022
Various countries are preparing to hold elections this year, from South Korea to France, Australia to the U.S. midterms, and more. In the face of change, we can be confident of three things: shifts in the global political landscape, political campaigners looking for media, and news organizations seeking editorial footage.
PRO TIP: Update Your Existing After Effects and Graphics
Have you uploaded election-related special effects before, such as lower thirds After Effects, national flag animations, intros, etc.? If so, just re-export and re-upload your work with the current year, updating the description and keywords!
Top-quality metadata helps buyers find your work, so copy some keywords from this handy list when uploading your new content or updating existing items. Less is more, so use only the most relevant words or phrases!
Keep an eye out for any local keywords associated with your shoot locations. For example, if you’re about to upload a shot of people registering to vote in Arizona, look at the hashtags used by politicians in Arizona and add them to the keywords. Don’t forget to add USElections2022!
However, this process works for every country so if you plan to shoot a set depicting the presidential election in France, get inspired by the Twitter and Instagram trending hashtags.
Production Checklist
Safety is extremely important when capturing footage in crowded, chaotic, and sometimes violent circumstances.
Make sure to assess the situation, ensuring that you can film safely as events unfold.
If using your mobile phone, position it horizontally so that customers have maximum flexibility when using the image or footage.
Submission Checklist:
Please remember to tag your clips with the keyword code: USElections2022
Relevant keywords are extremely important to include as well.
Make sure you have your property release and model release forms attached to videos you intend to list as suitable for commercial use on the Marketplace. Also check that commercially cleared images and footage don’t contain any 3rd party IP, such as distinctive logos, designs, etc.
New month, new music briefs. 2022 is a year of elections, and many buyers will look for background music for their campaigns. This month we’re looking for Patriotic Themes, Positive Political Ads, and Public Domain Classical.
Find the unique code provided in each genre brief, and simply add it to keyword tags when uploading your new project. That way, we’ll know which genre you’ve been focusing on.
American Patriotic Themes
We’re looking for stirring odes utilizing strings and brass to evoke a feeling of national unity.
We’d love to hear your take on pre-19th century classical pieces where the compositions are firmly in the Public Domain. Feel free to stay truthful to the source material or get experimental!
KEYWORD CODE: PDCLASSICALFEB22
SUGGESTED KEYWORDS: Public Domain, Classical, strings, orchestral, 1700s, 1800s
Don’t Forget:
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.
Kickstart 2022 with inspiration from our latest Buyer Requests! Read on to learn what’s in high demand: content around Valentine’s Day, Chinese New Year, and Commercially-Cleared Architecture. Don’t forget to add the relevant special keywords while uploading — these let us track and promote your content!
Valentine’s Day
USE THIS KEYWORD: BRVALENTINE2022 Love it or hate it, Valentine’s Day is here to stay — and our buyers are looking for scenes showing how people will spend it. Think loving couples, friend nights, blind dates, family gatherings, DIY cards, or even grumpy cynics. Go on and shoot your shot!
Shot List Thought Starters
DIY Valentine cards from different angles
Gift shopping
People of all ages on blind dates
Seniors and elderly couples enjoying dinner or dancing in the living room
Same-sex couples enjoying a romantic date
Authentic and diverse couples
Happy singles
Grumpy people who hate Valentine’s Day
Shops and households decorated for Valentine’s Day
Suggested Keywords
Valentine, Valentine’s Day, Authentic couple, Diverse couple, LGBT+, Valentine Decor,…
Target Group
All groups, but specifically ad agencies, corporate clients, non-profit organizations, TV production companies, etc.
Chinese New Year
USE THIS KEYWORD: BRCHINEWYEAR2022 Chinese New Year, also referred to as the Spring Festival or Lunar Year, celebrates the beginning of a new year on the traditional Chinese calendar. This year, February 1st marks the start of the Year of the Tiger, prompting celebrations worldwide.
Shot List Thought Starters
Celebrations among Chinese communities based in the US and Europe
Families gathering for the annual reunion dinner
People participating in the traditional cleaning of their houses to sweep away bad fortune and make way for good luck
Windows and doors decorated with traditional red paper-cuts and couplets
Close-ups of gourmet dishes, such as Buddha’s delight, jau gok, nian gao, etc.
Married couples giving traditional red envelopes to young, unmarried children in the family
Markets and village fairs decorated with traditional lanterns, etc.
Typical Chinese New Year fashion
Tiger symbolism in fashion, decorations, etc.
Fireworks
The day after Chinese New Year
Suggested Keywords
Chinese New Year, Spring Festival, Lunar Year, Year of the Tiger, Chinese traditions, jau gok, nian gao, paper-cuts, etc.
Target Group
All groups, but specifically ad agencies, corporate clients, and non-profit organizations
Commercially-Cleared Architecture
USE THIS KEYWORD: BRARCHITECTURE2022 Useful as establishing shots, video clips featuring commercially-cleared architecture are often used in surprising ways across a wide variety of projects. Many buyers recolor buildings for vintage projects, representing eras as far back as medieval times!
Shot List Thought Starters
Shots of buildings taken from the same angle at day and night
Static shots of weathered buildings
Historical buildings in different architectural styles from cities like Rome or Prague
Close-ups of columns, arches, graffiti, ceilings, doors, windows, etc.
Empty street shots without people, cars, or modern signage
Buildings characteristic of the 1980s and 1990s
Aerial shots of buildings, squares, parks, bridges, etc.
Suggested Keywords
Vintage, old building, historical, establishing shot, same angle, day and night shot, empty street, retro, aerial shot
Target Group
All groups, especially ad agencies and TV productions.
PRO TIP
All building scenes must be cleared for commercial use. This means we cannot accept footage featuring logos or 3rd party intellectual property, recognizable people, cars, street signs, etc. Additionally, we will require a signed property release from the building owner if it is uniquely designed or is recognizable by the door number. Lastly, please stay safe and do NOT enter the owner’s land or property without permission.
Be the first one who gets tons of inspiration and guidance from us! Subscribe to our Artist Insights e-mail.
Creative Brief – Special Keyword Code: WINSPORP5BRIEF
Did you know that Beijing is the world’s first city to host both the summer and winter Olympic Games? As the 2022 Winter Olympics draws closer, we’re looking for commercial and editorial footage of all winter sports at amateur and professional levels. Read on for some epic thought starters and key licensing info.
What’s the difference between commercial and editorial licenses?
When our curators review your footage, they’ll decide if the video can be distributed with a commercial license or an editorial license.
Commercial licenses allow companies, like advertising agencies, to use footage (or other media) for selling a product or service.
Editorial licenses can be used only for communications that do not sell for profit. These are typically news agencies, documentaries, etc.
When is footage marked commercial?
Footage is marked for commercial use when:
Model Release forms are included for all recognizable faces
Property Release forms are included for discernable buildings or logos.
Without these forms, the following is acceptable for commercial use:
There is no visible team name, therefore a property release for logos is not required. The artist has provided a completed model release on behalf of the recognizable player.
When is footage marked editorial?
Footage that is marked for editorial use features:
Recognizable sports jerseys with visible team names, player names, etc.
Identifiable buildings, such as a stadium, without a signed property release.
Recognizable faces of people without signed model releases.
3rd party intellectual property such as sponsor logos in the stadium, on shoes, shirts, etc.
Here you can see the numbers and names on jerseys, as well as recognizable faces.
When is footage not suitable for licensing at all?
Clips that violate copyright laws or other rights are not suitable for licensing and will be rejected by our curation team.
Examples not suitable for licensing:
Live shots from ticketed events of large games like the NHL and Olympic Games.
Footage of television sets broadcasting the above games
Creative Brief – Thought Starters:
Fan Culture — Think national flags painted on cheeks, crazy costumes and wigs, sunglasses, watching TV games, fan zones at stadiums or indoors, spectators doing the wave, wearing sports jerseys (editorial), culturally diverse fans across the globe, etc.
Equipment shots — Hockey sticks, skis, ice skates, goals, pucks, etc.
Outside sports — Ice hockey on frozen ponds, skating on outdoor rinks, mountain sports.
Parents teaching their kids — How to ski, sled, skate, etc.
Training schedule — Parents waking their kids up in the early morning hours to get to practice.
Traveling to stadiums — Public transport overcrowded with fans in masks and jerseys, etc.
COVID-19 measures at sporting events — Fans having their temperature taken, wearing masks, etc.
Pro-Tip:
Stay safe, warm, and healthy, especially when shooting outdoors—keeping up to date with government or public health agency recommendations.
Cast talent with real sport skills for believable content.
Plan your shoot with licensing in mind, as this will affect your choice of wardrobe, location, and shot list. Check out the guide below for more.
Suggested Keywords: winter sports, winter olympics 2022, skiing, figure skating, ice hockey, snowboarding, extreme sports, adrenaline sports, other sports names if applicable, etc.
Typical Users: News & Media Organizations, Ad Agencies, Lifestyle Brands, Television Studios
Casting Considerations: Race, age, and gender diversity, authenticity with talent and imagery. Accept the challenge to remove artificiality from your setup. In other words, keep it REAL. These considerations will play an important role in the success of your shoot.
Location Diversity: Snowparks, hills, stadium and arenas, frozen ponds, etc.
Before You Shoot:
Firstly, please check existing content in the Pond5 marketplace
Secondly, think about a visual approach that will result in new and fresh footage
Lastly, remember that each shot must communicate a clear message
Submission Checklist:
Remember to tag your clips with the keyword code: WINSPORP5BRIEF
Also, don‘t forget to submit all completed property and model releases
No logos or brands may be visible in any of the clips
Don’t forget to add any applicable conceptual keywords to the clips
New month, new music briefs. This month we’re looking for Gamelan, Hi-NRG, and Skiffle tracks.
Find the unique code provided in each genre brief, and simply add it to keyword tags when uploading your new project. That way, we’ll know which genre you’ve been focusing on.
Moreover, you have any questions or comments about any of these music briefs, please email Pond5’s Director of Audio Collections, Mike Pace, at mike@pond5.com.
Gamelan
Percussive Indonesian ensemble music utilizing instruments like gongs, the metallophone and the kendhang. Gamelan is heard in traditional ceremonies and performances.
KEYWORD CODE: GAMELANJAN22
SUGGESTED KEYWORDS: Gamelan, Indonesia, gong, metallophone, kendhang
Hi-NRG
Popular in the U.S in the late 70s and early 80s, Hi-NRG is upbeat electronic dance music that, unlike disco, emphasizes rigid synthesized rhythms over funkiness.
KEYWORD CODE: HINRGJAN22
SUGGESTED KEYWORDS: Hi-NRG, 1970s, 1980s, electronic, dance, club
Skiffle
Sort of a predecessor to rock and roll, skiffle has its origins in folk and blues music in the southern United States in the early 20th century, but became very popular in the United Kingdom in the 1950s.
KEYWORD CODE: SKIFFLEJAN22
SUGGESTED KEYWORDS: Skiffle, 1950s, United Kingdom, folk, blues, early rock and roll
Don’t Forget:
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.
New month, new music briefs. This month we’re looking for Cloud Rap, New Jack Swing, and Paisley Underground.
Find the unique code provided in each genre brief, and simply add it to keyword tags when uploading your new project. That way, we’ll know which genre you’ve been focusing on.
Moreover, you have any questions or comments about any of these music briefs, please email Pond5’s Director of Audio Collections, Mike Pace, at mike@pond5.com.
Cloud Rap
Originating from southern hip-hop and trap and composed of chill, hazy, and relaxed beats, Cloud Rap is typically lo-fi and ethereal sounding. Bonus points for including vocal versions!
Popular in the mid ‘80s through the early ‘90s, New Jack Swing incorporated elements of hip-hop and R&B to create a fresh, funky and sexy urban sound.
KEYWORD CODE: NEWJACKSWINGDEC21
SUGGESTED KEYWORDS: New Jack Swing, R&B, hip-hop, 1980s, 1990s, funky, sexy, urban
Paisley Underground
The Paisley Underground was the name of an alternative rock scene happening in Los Angeles in the mid 1980s. It centered on a love of upbeat, jangly, catchy 12-string guitar pop and emulated many of the folk-rock bands of the 1960s.
KEYWORD CODE: PAISLEYDEC21
SUGGESTED KEYWORDS: Paisley Underground, jangle pop, 12-string guitar, folk rock, 1980s, 1960s
Don’t Forget:
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.
In the Northern Hemisphere, sunny spots give way to the frosty grip of winter. At the same time, the south wakes up to bikini weather. Whether people are clinking mugs of hot chocolate or ice-cold soda cups, our Buyer’s requests show we all want a holiday. This month’s Buyer Requests ask for fresh takes on Traveling, Middle East Content, and Holiday Sound Effects reign supreme.
Traveling
USE THIS KEYWORD: BRTRAVELING2021 As more people get their final jabs, increasing numbers are seeking to travel safely. The U.S. records a peak in traffic the day before Thanksgiving! Our buyers want shots of people waiting at train stations, buying transport tickets or waiting for their flight. Remember, footage that’s licenced for commercial use is ideal.
Shot List Thought Starters
Family or friends stuck in a traffic jam, playing car games, etc.
Close-ups and time-lapse shots of people packing bags
People waiting at airports, bus stops, train station platforms, etc.
Travelers buying tickets – bus, train, etc.
Travel technology – using Uber, booking on Airbnb or Couchsurfing, etc.
Work related travel – think business trips, remote work, volunteering, etc.
Shots of people going through turnstiles, going up subway steps, etc.
Individuals being checked at the airport
Men and women having their temperature checked and other COVID-19 related measures
Suggested Keywords
Traveling, Traffic Jams, Roadtrip, subway, metro, airport, bus stops, train station, tickets, etc.
Target Group
All groups, but specifically ad agencies, corporate clients, non-profit organizations, TV production companies, etc.
PRO TIPS
Always keep in mind that authentic-looking content which has been cleared for commercial use is much more popular than overtly “stocky” clips—especially for filmmakers, who often want to mix their own footage with our media.
Clips that are cleared for commercial use should never show any logos or 3rd party intellectual property unless the owner signs a property release. Any recognizable person in the clip should sign a model release.
We highly recommend considering diverse actors or models of all ages, ethnicities, races, religions, genders, or sexual orientations.
Choosing the right metadata is crucial for the search algorithm. Never stuff your metadata with irrelevant keywords.
Middle East Content
USE THIS KEYWORD: BRMIDDLEEAST2021 With Qatar set to host World Cup 2022, many eyes are on the Middle East. And, since the MENA region is rich in culture, people are not only looking at soccer. Ad agencies and corporate clients want various shots of people from the Middle East and North Africa — think lifestyle, cities, architecture and habits. Remember to apply the DIVERSITYP5BRIEF keyword as well.
Shot List Thought Starters
Lifestyle shots of everyday Middle Eastern life- shopping, leisure, time with friends and family, etc.
Islam in everyday life – think habits, rituals, everyday schedules, customs and holidays
Aerials of Middle Eastern cities and towns
Closeups of Middle Eastern architecture, food, fashion, etc.
Lifestyle shots of Middle Eastern communities in the US, Europe, etc.
Establishing shots of Qatar – towns, stadiums and World Cup preparation
Kids playing in different environments- football in the streets, hanging out in public spaces
Shots of families watching sporting events, in front of the TV or at large public screenings. Must be cleared for commercial use.
Suggested Keywords
Middle East, World Cup (if applicable), Qatar, Islam, Muslims, Football, Soccer, Middle Eastern, Middle Eastern families, North African families, Doha
Target Group
All groups, but specifically ad agencies, corporate clients and non-profit organizations
Holiday SFX
USE THIS KEYWORD: BRHOLIDAYSFX2021 Pond5 has tons of great sleigh bells, ho-ho-hos, carolling and other Christmas-centric SFX. Our buyers would love to hear more from the other year-end celebrations, such as Thanksgiving, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa. Think carving the turkey, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa candle lighting ceremonies, prayers and toasts.
Shot List Thought Starters
Electric knife carving the turkey
Candle lighting and Hebrew prayers
Clinking of glasses and toasts
Food being served
Voices saying “Happy Hanukkah” and “Happy Kwanzaa”
