Why Using Stock Videos Is PAIN for Video Editors | Video Editor Confessions

Yousef Abdul-Husain

Yousef Abdul-Husain

— 2 min read
Why Using Stock Videos Is PAIN for Video Editors | Video Editor Confessions
Me when I have to use stock video.

We've all seen it happen. You're enjoying a YouTube video, the creator is engaging you, then boom – a jarring cut to some stock footage with completely different lighting, styling and people. It can completely yank you out of the moment.

As a video editor, I know the struggle. Finding the right stock media to match a creator's style and message can be super frustrating.

Here's a deeper look at the pain points of using stock videos:

  • Jarring Visuals: Stock footage often clashes with the creator's established look, disrupting the audience's experience.
  • Poor Search Engines: Stock website search engines aren't nearly as intuitive as Google, making it tough to find a clip that works.
  • Limited Specifics: Since stock sites need to be general, it's hard to find clips that truly illustrate the unique topics and stories many creators discuss.
  • Slow Workflow: The whole process of finding, downloading, organizing and editing stock clips significantly adds to the video editing time.
  • Client Disagreements: Clients might focus on personal aesthetic preferences rather than whether the clip strengthens the message for the target audience. This can cause a lot of back-and-forth.
  • High Cost, Questionable Quality: Quality stock media subscriptions are pricey, yet you often find many clips to be low-quality or overly cheesy.
  • Philosophical Clash: The whole concept of stock footage goes against the spirit of YouTube. It's about authenticity and sharing yourself, but stock media introduces an impersonal, generic element.

My Confession: I cringe a bit every time I have to use stock media.

Your Turn

What are your thoughts on stock media? Here are some questions to get the conversation started:

  • Do you use any particular stock media sites?
  • How do you find the experience?
  • Do your clients generally appreciate your stock media choices?

Personally, I steer clear of stock media subscriptions whenever possible, encouraging clients to use their own footage for a more authentic experience.

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