It takes a lot of time and effort to turn video production into a real, visually compelling story for viewers. In the scale of larger production pieces, video editors often need quality visual transitions that navigate the larger stories being told.
Many of us also seem to spend unbelievable amounts of time searching through stock photo sites to find the content we are seeking.
Photo by Terje Sollie from Pexels
Stock photos and video serve as the visual transition solutions to our production and editing needs, saving countless hours of shooting, resources, and expenses.
Where can a video or content producer find great visual material, and more importantly for free? Check out the suggestions we have compiled below, to browse and download great-quality stock photos and video for your next production!
1. Pexels 🔗
With a wide variety of searchable content, downloadable as both photos and videos, Pexels is a go-to resource for finding the content you need for seamless video transitions and stunning visuals. From panorama landscapes to instrumental videos, it’s quite easy to get lost searching in the high-quality content you need for your next production. As content that is both free to use and edit, and doesn’t require attribution, this is a popular source for many in the industry.
2. Pixabay 🔗
Similar to Pexels, Pixabay is another great resource for stock photos and footage, with a wide variety of content to choose from. Like Pexels, content from Pixabay is also free to use and edit, and doesn’t require any additional attribution. Here you can search for specific content you are seeking, or view different content broken down by category such as fashion, science & technology, and architecture. Worth checking out for your next production!
3. Splitshire 🔗
Created by Daniel Nanescu, a web designer and photographer from Torino, Italy, Splitshire is his personal collection of photos and videos available for free download for personal and commercial use. With a variety of categories ranging from weddings and culinary to landscape ocean views, you can find exactly what you’re looking for in any project. Pretty incredible for a single person’s collection of media!
4. Videvo 🔗
Videvo is a space dedicated to free stock video, with thousands of downloadable footage, sound effects, motion graphics, and music. Depending on which of these four mediums you are looking for, you can browse by category in each. We personally love this as a source for dedicated video editors because you never have to waste time browsing through stock photos in search of footage. Worth checking out for those in the video production field!
5. Unsplash 🔗
Unsplash is a great tool for those looking for high quality stock photo, searchable by common terms or category. From interiors to current events, the content here remains relevant. With a license that allows you to download for free for both commercial and personal use, with zero attribution, easy and beautiful stock images have never been easier to find.
6. Videezy 🔗
Videezy is another great resource dedicated to those in video editing and production. With thousands of free stock videos to choose from in a wide variety of categories or searchable terms, you can always count on videezy to provide basic stock footage for simple visual productions. Unlike the other resources described previously, this site is recommended for those looking for more basic “stock-like” visuals, as compared to high-quality content.
7. Dareful 🔗
Similar to Splitshire, Dareful is a place to obtain high-quality stock footage from the founder of VideoBlocks, Joel Holland’s personal video portfolio. The platform is dedicated to video production, with content that is completely free to download, and can be used for both commercial and personal use. Although it is a bit smaller of a collection as compared to other sites out there, the content is fantastic and more niche than other stock footage.
8. Motion Places 🔗
Another great resource for those in video production, Motion Places provides free stock footage which is searchable by location, theme, and color. Search through the stunning visuals of cities throughout North America and Europe, or find color specific visuals to fit a theme. The content is free to use in commercial and personal projects, with the simple ask of attribution and a link to the site.
