Commecial Use Questions

Hello All!
Serious newbie here.
My behind still stings from the Doc's slap.

I have a very vague understanding of Commercial Use Footage.

1- Is it possible to upgrade, your uploaded footage, from Editorial to Commercial?
2-Does anyone have any tips to share regarding the acquisition of Commercial Use Footage?
3-Does Pond5 determine, through the Review Process, which footage is or is not Commercial footage?
4-How much control do I have regarding the decision to go online as Editorial or Commercial?
5-What steps can I take to assure that the footage will be Reviewed and deemed as Commercial?
6-Can you forgive me for asking what must seem to be a stream of idiotic questions?

I have researched some of the available info provided by Pond5.
I am just hoping to gain some real user insights and hopefully some tips.
Not looking to own the world, just need to bolster the income.

Thank You !!

Hi,
editorial vs. commercial is pretty simple except over the past few years it has a broader definition.
Originally, it was videos that were news worthy. Now it seems to be anything that you don't have a release for is "editorial".

If you have shots of people without a model release it's editorial.
If you have shots of buildings with names or logos and don't have a property release its editorial.
if the buildings are in the distance they should be commercial, but if there is a prominent logo it will be editorial.
Anything with logos except logos that the manufacturer doesn't want as stock is editorial.

1: no, if its editorial that's it.
2: shoot only things that doesn't require a model or property release. Or shoot actors and get one signed from them.
3: Yes, pond5 in the review process says if it's editorial or not.
4: You have no control on that. If you think your video is commercial, you'll have to produce a model or property release or both.
Or as some do, blur or edit the part out that shows the part that makes it editorial.
5: see above.
6: yes, we all ask the same questions in the beginning.

Welcome to the world of stock where you have to look at everything differently to sell it.
When I first started shooting actors it was pretty mind bending that everything people wear has logos or a copywrited design.
And how to work around that.

good luck,
Jake

Thank you does not convey !! :) :)

So basically is it legal to shoot buildings (and people) and upload as editorial? I always wondered about this, since I figured you need peoples' authorization to show/use their faces when selling clips of them online..? Doesn't seem legitimate to me, am I wrong?

Oh about shooting people without a model release.
Personally, I stay away from any of that. I don't want to shoot someone in a crowd and get sued if they see themselves in a condom commercial.
Just because it says editorial doesn't mean the end user won't do what they want with it.

stay away from kids and not have a model release. It's creepy to begin with and you could get your camera pushed up your butt by an angry dad.

"stay away from kids and not have a model release. It's creepy to begin with and you could get your camera pushed up your butt by an angry dad".

Well said Sir!!

Advice taken to heart ! :)

This is a nice thread, pretty much all I film is editorial. It is not a problem at all here but other agencies will waste a LOT of your time with "Editorial Designation" rejections because either your categories are wrong or you forgot to click the "Editorial" button or check box, to them it is wrong, could be human could be AI, who knows, but you are most likely correct to begin with. It is one of the things I love about this platform, Pond 5 does it for me and reads the video metadata which also saves me a lot of time. In regards to editorial, check your state laws before you jump in to this, I have had the police called on me many times, I am in the clear every time as in my state I can film you as long as I, again ME, is filming from a public space. The retailers will try to say it is private property, in some cases that is true, but it is open to the public, public space! It can also be dangerous, so finding stealth ways to film is paramount because I have had issues with bystanders not even being filmed. I have had these things happen filming store fronts, people, traffic and property.
The kids comment is a good one, I have 4 of them lol however there are rare events where they end up in the footage anyways but when that happens I try to use the footage where they are not facing the camera or can be identified or I just delete and move on, it is not illegal it's just weird and it is extremely unlikely it will even sell

GLWS
Billy