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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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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.

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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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The “Driving Plate”: Stumbling Upon a Niche Genre

Have you heard of driving plate footage? It’s a type of video taken from the perspective of a person sitting in a moving vehicle. Moreover, it’s a niche genre that might inspire you to freshen up your collection with a new perspective! Check out the host blog post from our Pond5 Artist Andrew Dutton of hh65flier and read on for tips and tricks to capture the best driving plate footage.

 

Want to be the next one?

We are still looking for industry experts to feature as guests on the Pond5 blog and YouTube channel. All topics relating to film production, stock media, video editing, production techniques, visual trends, and content creation are needed.

Send us your article between 1000 – 1500 words, and if you choose to accompany your article with a video, vlogs should be between 1-3 minutes. All content should focus on your area of expertise, be user-centred and benefit the audience by teaching them something, providing entertainment, or informing them about industry trends or topics. Link back to your Pond5 content as examples using your unique referral links to increase the exposure of your content.

Send your article to marketing@pond5.com, and if we use your submission on one of our channels, we’ll add $200 to your next payout! If you have any questions or want to run a topic idea by us before you begin creating, reach out! We’re happy to help you get started.

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Buyer Requests: US Politics, All Saints Day Around the World, Remembrance Day

Most Wanted in October

As we welcome cooler autumn days, crunch across the falling leaves, and choose our Halloween costumes, content creators worldwide plan their projects for the months ahead. Buyers are searching for footage of US Politics to support the Midterm elections, All Saints Day Around the World, and Remembrance Day.

US Politics

US Politics

USE THIS KEYWORD: USELECTIONS2022

LAST CALL! Midterm elections are November 8 and buyers wrapping up their political projects are increasing the overall demand for political content. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to submit content for the 2022 Elections. Check out our extensive Creative Brief for more information.

Shot List Thought Starters

  • Politicians delivering speeches and leading public demonstrations
  • Voters in front of polling stations
  • Politicians on the campaign trail
  • Supporters holding signs for political candidates and key issues
  • Protesters and demonstrations against key political issues
  • Influential personalities speaking out on political and social issues
  • Major political events in history, including speeches, the election process, parades, events, protests, etc.
  • Key politicians from your own country’s history
  • Various animations (national flags, lower thirds, intros, logo animations, transitions.)
  • Establishing shots (aerial views, skyline, cityscapes, etc.)
  • Depictions of the critical issues discussed in your local politics (healthcare, economy, immigration, climate, ecology, DEI, etc.)
  • All touchpoints of the Electoral and voting process: Close-ups of ballots, commercially cleared shots of protesting crowds, etc.
  • Proud supporters wearing merchandise for their favorite candidate (badges, hats, t-shirts, badges, etc.)

Suggested Keywords

Politic, democracy, citizen, speech, protest, vote, government, national, ballot, voting, patriotism, campaign, candidate, democrat, republican, civil, register, flag, national, collusion, elect, midterms, election

Target Group

All groups, but specifically ad agencies, corporate clients, non-profit organizations, TV production companies, etc.

PRO TIPS

Choosing proper metadata is crucial for our search algorithm. Don’t forget to add relevant keywords to your existing submission and never stuff your metadata with irrelevant keywords. Not sure how to do that? Check out our guide.

All Saints Day Around the World

All Saints Day Around the World

USE THIS KEYWORD: BRALLSAINTS2022

Around the turn of October and November, we witness various cultural traditions and holidays across the world that are celebrated to honor the memory of the dead, whether it is Dia de Muertos, traditional Samhain in Ireland and Scotland, Ognissanti in Italy, or Barriletes Gigantes in Guatemala.

Shot List Thought Starters

  • Shots of locals in different countries celebrating All Saints’ Day
  • Close-ups of delicious traditional food that is being served
  • Portraits of people in traditional costumes, wearing flower crowns, painted faces,…
  • Editorial footage from the parades, public events, etc.
  • Authentic family gatherings and private celebrations at home (altars, marigolds, etc)

Suggested Keywords

Halloween, Alll Saints’ Day, Dia de los Muertos, Samhain, Ognissanti, Barriletes Gigantes

Target Group

All groups, but specifically ad agencies, corporate clients, non-profit organizations, TV production companies, etc.

Remembrance Day / Veteran Day

Remembrance Day / Veteran Day

USE THIS KEYWORD: BRVETERANDAY2022

Remembrance Day, also as known as Poppy Day, is a military memorial day observed in Commonwealth member states to honour armed forces members who have died in the line of duty in WWI. During the Second World War, many countries changed the name of the holiday. Member states of the Commonwealth of Nations adopted Remembrance Day, while the US chose Veterans Day. Our buyers are looking for both editorial and commercial footage – from events associated with Remembrance Day / Veteran Day to lifestyle footage of people on duty.

Shot List Thought Starters

  • Editorial footage of people paying their respect to fallen soldiers at special events and memorials. (Remember to consider those who do not wish to be on camera.)
  • Portraits of soldiers wearing uniforms
  • Footage documenting the events, and gatherings during the Remembrance Day/Veterans Day
  • Conceptual shots of memorials, veteran cemeteries, etc.
  • People buying poppies or other signature items to support veteran communities
  • Commercially cleared footage and photos of people wearing poppies
  • Politicians and their public speeches
  • Crowds listening to a public speech

Suggested Keywords

Remembrance Day, Poppy Day, Veteran Day, Soldiers, Duty, War, WWI, WWII, World War, Army, Armed Forces, Military, etc.

Target Group

All groups, but specifically news, TV, etc.

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Creative Brief: World Cup Countdown!

Special Keyword Code: P5WorldCup2022

The World Cup is coming up. Just seconds before the whistle blows, it’s time for a soccer shoot-out! Buyers want footage, tracks, and SFX around the beautiful game—from fancy footwork and fan culture to distinctive match locations. Don’t miss your shot! Remember to keep in mind the local regulations of photography in Qatar during this time.

 

Visual Media Thought Starters

Footage, images, After Effects, and illustrations are all-star players in this stock squad. Remember that natural content with authentic models always wins. And avoid red cards—look out for 3rd party intellectual property if clearing for commercial use!

 

Football Lifestyle

  • Fans at the pub – drinking beer and watching a match that’s been cleared for commercial use.
  • Friends or family around the TV — either watching a game, celebrating victory, or mourning defeat.
  • Individuals watching matches on mobile screens – in public transport, at work, in bed, or in cars.
  • Kids playing soccer – with friends or family in Qatar.
  • Friends playing pickup soccer – on an urban street, alley, residential street, driveway, or in a public park or field in Qatar.
  • Commercial Footage of fans traveling to Qatar by trains, planes, buses, and local city transport.
  • Commercially cleared media of fans preparing food for match get-togethers.
  • Fans creating banners or signs to support their team. Fans wearing jerseys or having their face painted their country’s colors.

 

Man Embracing With Multiracial Fans During Soccer Game by verticalstock.

 

Professional Football

The goal is to mix up techniques—experiment with angles, frame sizes, and frame rates!

  • Close-ups of players preparing for the match. Slow-motion shots of putting on protectors, tying shoelaces, drinking water, etc.
  • The walkout to the pitch before a match.
  • Soccer players at practice playing a scrimmage or hitting goals, free kicks, etc.
  • POV from the player’s perspective as a goalkeeper, defense, offense, or other positions.
  • Typical football moves like a player heading the ball, goalkeeper blocking the shot, etc.
  • Shots of staff including referees, football officials, coaches, medics, etc. Reactions of coaches or other players when a goal occurs. Use special effects like slow-motion and POV.

 

Close Up Of A Male Soccer Player Running With A Soccer Ball On The Football by petrunine.

 

Archival Content

Do you have VHS tapes with soccer on them? Or old photographs? Connect your story to the past and enrich our collection with a touch of history. Archival footage and images are in high demand!

  • Historic moments in soccer such as game-changing goals, famous matches, extraordinary moves, etc.
  • Old tournaments — shots of the field, the match, fans cheering, flags waving, TV and newspaper advertising, fans dressed in national jerseys, etc.
  • Interviews and press conferences — Journalists interviewing staff, players, and fans.
  • Soccer legends — famous players or referees, footage and images of famous people playing the game.
  • Archival — fan zones from back in the day like stadiums, cities, and merchandise.
  • Digitalized VHS tapes of any kind – whether it’s you playing soccer in the yard as a kid, school teams, or professional players heading the ball, submit what you got!

File: Football/Soccer: Profile: Former Manchester United And England Star by Reuters.

Content on Location

  • Qatar World Cup Stadiums — aerials and establishing shots of these 8 venues, and their surrounding cities, taken during the day and at night. Tip: catch all the preparations, entrances, and corridors before and during the tournament.
    • Lusail – Lusail Stadium
    • Al Khor – Al Bayt Stadium
    • Al Wakrah – Al Janoub Stadium
    • Al Rayyan – Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium
    • Doha – Khalifa International Stadium, Education City Stadium, Stadium 974, Al Thumama Stadium
  • Qatar culture — timelapses, aerials and establishing shots of Qatar and its residents at different times of day.
  • Training grounds for football players—training, lighting, empty stadiums with players on the field, locker rooms, etc.
  • Fan zones in different cities and areas in Qatar
  • Local businesses getting ready for the World Cup—decorated shop interiors, branding and advertising on storefronts, bazaars, and souvenir shops selling themed goods.
  • Important tourist places such as hotels, airports, and train stations.

 

Doha, Qatar: Aerial View Of Lusail Football Stadium For Fifa World Cup 2022 by unicusx.

 

Also Consider

  • Change your graphics to 2022 — if you’ve previously uploaded anything that displays a year, make sure it’s updated for 2022.
  • Motion graphics — backgrounds and loops will be high in demand as well as transitions for editing software. Intros, openers, waving team flags, national flags, scoreboards, templates for the score tables.
  • Lower thirds — Get inspired by a match on TV and upload lower thirds with the Qatar World Cup color scheme.
  • Social media templates — create graphics for Social Media stories, profile picture frames, YouTube ending screens, Twitch overlays, etc. wallpaper backgrounds?
  • Isolated soccer themes — the ball, goals, whistles, red and yellow cards.
  • All-purpose marketing elements — soccer icons, email templates, signatures, flyers for local pubs etc.

 

Football Music and Sound Effects

Audio brings this theme to life! Complete the action with sound design, including thousands of cheering or booing fans, whistles, and ball kicks, or create a memorable atmosphere with festive anthemic music tracks.

PRO TIP:

If you intend to qualify your content for commercial use, these shots should never show logos or third-party intellectual property. Make sure you have a signed property release from the owner of a facility if it’s unique and distinctive enough and a signed model release (or a model release for a minor) from anyone who is recognizable in the shot or photo.

 

Keyword Ideas

World Cup, Soccer, Football, Championship, FIFA, UEFA, AFC, CAF, OFC, CONCACAF, CONMEBOL, Qatar, Player, National Team, Training, National Flags, Doha, International, Schedule, Banner, Champion, Trophy, Competition, Success, Determination, Power, Endurance, Focus, Preparation, Precision, Agility, Achievement, Teamwork, Skill, Audience, Fans

 

Target audience

All kinds of customers – especially ad agencies, corporate clients, digital artists, etc.

 

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: P5WorldCup2022
  • 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: Back to School, Harvest, Second Summer

Most Wanted in August

Summer is slowly ending, and our buyers are looking for new, fresh takes on second summer themes. Show them what summer looks like at your place and find inspiration in our posts centered around Back To School, Harvesting, and Second Summer.

Back To School

Back To School

USE THIS KEYWORD: BRSCHOOL2022
The time of the year for students to return to their desks is approaching again. Creating media around this theme will help fuel Ad agencies, marketers, and production companies looking for relevant content to feature in their projects.

Shot List Thought Starters

  • Alternative education – practical classes, workshops, schools in nature, Montessori model of education, Finnish school, etc.
  • Parents – all races, religions, age groups, and ethnicities shopping for school supplies
  • Students – hanging out in common rooms, cafeterias, courtyards, lockers and libraries
  • Kids – playing at the school playground, diverse shots of students sitting at school desks, kids wearing school backpacks and uniforms
  • Commuting to school – school buses, parents driving their kids to school every morning etc.
  • Establishing shots of school interiors – establishing shots of schools cleared for commercial use, empty and crowded rooms typical for every school – think of cafeteries, libraries, lockers, school gyms, halls and corridors, classrooms, sports fields, but also dorms, etc.
  • After school activities – activities and hobbies of students, such as sports practice , school clubs, after school programs,hanging out with friends, instrument or theatre class

Suggested Keywords

Back to School, School, Education, Pupils, Students, Montessori, Alternative Education, School corridor, School hall, Dormitory, Hall of residence, etc.

Target Group

All groups, but specifically ad agencies, corporate clients, non-profit organizations, TV production companies, etc.

PRO TIPS

  • Choosing proper metadata is crucial for our search algorithm. Don’t forget to add relevant conceptual keywords to your existing submission and never stuff your metadata with irrelevant keywords. Not sure how to do that? Check out our guide.
  • Buyers prefer clips cleared for commercial use. To qualify, these shots should never show logos or third party intellectual property. Make sure you have a signed property release from the owner of a facility if it’s unique and distinctive enough and a signed model release from anyone who is recognizable in the shot or photo.
Harvest

Harvest

USE THIS KEYWORD: BRHARVEST2022
Whether you are an agriculture guru, an individual sharing a community garden, or growing fruits and vegetables in your own back yard, there’s nothing more satisfying than harvesting what you have planted with your own hands. Buyers are looking for this content to portray industry and agriculture and demonstrate the ingenuity behind supply and demand. Capture your local agriculture as crops ripen, are cut, and gathered from the fields.

Shot List Thought Starters

  • Footage – aerial farm fields being harvested and diverse portraits of farmers
  • Crops being harvested and processed
  • Shots of fields – during different parts of the day – think of the golden hour, early morning, night, etc.
  • Close-up shots – fruit and vegtables, wheat rice etc. being harvested
  • The tech – the tools and technology being used for harvesting, whether it’s an expensive tractor or as simple tool as a spade or shovel
  • Family garden harvest – it’s not only about hundred-hectares large fields, think of a family harvesting in their gardens too!

Suggested Keywords

Harvesting, harvest, combine, fields, family garden, crops, farmer, etc.

Target Group

All groups, but specifically ad agencies and corporate clients.

Second Summer

Second Summer

USE THIS KEYWORD: BRSECONDSUMMER2022
The summer heat wave is ending, but the fun doesn’t have to end. Second Summer refers to the time in late summer when temperatures start to cool and the days are noticeably shorter, signaling the approach of autumn. Buyers are actively looking for sights and sounds reflecting this turn of the seasons.

Shot List Thought Starters

  • Second summer free time activities – content showing activities during the warm autumn days a backyard BBQ, a camping weekend in nature or smores and spooky stories by the campfire
  • Shots of fashion – Create content showing fall clothes such as boots and cardigans
  • Summer in the city vs. the countryside – different activities for various locations such as evening dinners/concerts
  • Local traditions – holidays and traditions during the end of summer or beginning of fall such as labor day or an end of summer party. Make sure to share them with our buyers!
  • Fall food – we no longer crave salads but enjoy hardy soups! Capture what’s cooking!

Suggested Keywords

fall, autumn, fall nature, fall countryside, second summer, leaves, pumpkins, apples, corn maze

Target Group

All groups, especially ad agencies and TV productions.

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Creative Brief: Mockups

Special Keyword Code: MOCKUPSP5BRIEF

Artists and creatives use Mockups whenever they want to show their work in a lifelike environment. A mockup is a realistic model that shows how the final piece will look and feel. It can be anything from a stack of business cards with a design applied on the top card or a blank t-shirt to showcase a custom design to a 3D model of a living room showing a digital painting as if it was printed and installed on the actual wall. In other words, when your content is used as a Mockup, it serves as a stage for another person’s work presentation. Creating Mockups will help you connect with artists worldwide and make their products stand out! Submit Mockups as footage, photos, after effects, and even 3D models.

 

Concepts

Think of different products that may use your content as a mockup, whether a physical product, such as clothing, a car, a scooter, or any other vehicle, packaging, or a specific device, such as a watch or the newest iPhone. Here are a few examples of mockups for inspiration:

 

Green Screen Mockups

A green screen mockup is a video or photo featuring bright green color on any part of the space used for chroma keying. Other artists use this media to embed their products in a natural environment.

Examples:

  • TV/computer screens
  • Specific devices, such as smartwatches, phones, etc.
  • Realistic models – of billboards, flyers, etc.
  • Stages – think of the backgrounds used for a newsroom, etc.

Product mockup

A product mockup is a visual representation of what a product will look like without actually manufacturing one. This artwork, mostly digital 3D models, is a foundation for graphic design.

Examples:

  • Branding & packaging – Create different sizes and types of boxes, bottles, jars, bags, sacks, cream packaging, and cans.
  • Apparel – T-shirts, vests, trousers, caps, jerseys, beanies, hoodies, tracksuits, shoes, and bags.
    such as smartwatches, phones, etc.
  • Vehicles and Transportation – Often portrayed as the base for car stickers, branding for trucks, electric scooters, Vans, buses, trains, airplanes, etc.
  • Electronic devices – Provide different types of smartphones, smart watches, laptops and desktops, any device that can represent an app, website, advertisement, etc.

Staging mockup

Attention 3D artists, animators, digital graphics artists, illustrators, and footage creators, this one is for you! Once an artist has the final design of their new product, they must present it in a real environment. So they look for staging environments and live backdrops to set the scene.

Examples:

  • Podiums – Podiums or any space that serves as a place to present a product.
  • Poster staging – Poster staging is a live environment featuring blank space for an artist’s work, such as a shot of a living room with an empty space above the sofa for inserting a wall picture design.
  • Backgrounds – This kind of media provides some context and depth to the visual representation of a product, whether it’s a workspace on a table or just a blurred background with a space for copy/paste.

 

Pro Tip

Don’t get stuck thinking about footage only. Photography is just a still frame – if you plan to shoot a specific set, such as a living room with an empty space for a wall painting, shoot different frame sizes, try various camera movements and also make a photo and upload it on Pond5 as well! Technically any concept can be used in every media type. You can create packaging for cream in your 3D software, create a background scene, make a photo of that, and animate a camera movement!

Keyword Ideas

Mockup, staging, poster staging, environment, realistic, podium, product background, product packaging, chroma key, green screen, etc.

Target audience

Digital artists, Corporate clients, ad agencies, non-profit organizations, 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: MOCKUPSP5BRIEF
  • Make sure your submission falls under commercial use.

Top Image: Stylish Room Interior With Empty Posters On Light Wall. Mockup For Design by liudmilachernetska744.

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Juneteenth Call Out For Artists

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.

Share your work with us