Frequently asked questions

Anyone can apply to become a videographer on iStockphoto. Contributors must begin by reading a brief online tutorial by clicking on the “Upload Files” link, and then pass a short test based on this tutorial. After you have successfully completed the test, you are asked to submit 3 sample video clips, which are inspected by our inspection team. Once the application is approved, you will be able to submit video clips to our inspectors for approval. The 3 sample clips are not automatically accepted, so you will need to resubmit those clips to our inspectors for approval.

• You must own the full copyright to any clip you upload. This means you must be the videographer that created the image.
• All trademarks must be removed. This includes logos, brands and entities with copyright or trademarked elements. This may also extend to trademarked products such as cast sculptures, toys, architecture and other elements of design. Copyright is checked with each file.
• Animation generated by software: backgrounds generated by software are acceptable, but not if they appear to be generated by a recognizable particle generator or effects generator.
• Entering keywords and descriptions: be descriptive. Include at least 10 keywords and use a title other than ‘dog’ or ‘man’. Supplying more keywords means your image will match more searches. Images with more keywords get downloaded more often.
• Model releases: images with clearly visible people require a model release (iStockphoto Model Release) form for legal reasons. Children in images can’t sign a model release. A legal guardian or parent must sign for all children under the age of 18 years. You will be notified if you need a model release and it can be uploaded later if you’re not sure.
• Legal notice: uploading clips that belongs to somebody else (copyright or otherwise) will result in a suspended membership and in some cases may have legal ramifications.
• Your account profile must have your full, real first and last names, and mailing address entered before completing an application. Anyone uploading with a fake name will be banned immediately.
• More detailed information is available in the iStockphoto Videographer Training Manual (http://www.istockphoto.com/videographer_1.0_introduction.php).

No, the iStockvideo server will automatically take the file you upload, and generate smaller files from it, using the same frame rate. The server will not generate larger files, nor will it convert 16:9 HD into 4:3 Standard Definition.

A proxy video is a compressed version of your full-res video. It should be full frame size for standard definition, and half frame size for HD, and full frame rate compressed with MPEG-4 in a QuickTime file. The purpose of the proxy is so that inspectors can give you a better idea if the clip will be accepted or not before you go through the trouble of mailing or uploading large files. You are not required to upload a proxy, but you may find it especially useful if you are a new contributor and are unsure of the clips.

Yes you can, but you need to upload a proxy video to our inspectors for approval. Once approved, you will receive a file number for the approved clip. You will need to rename each file with the corresponding file number and burn the accepted files to DVD or CD at full resolution. You can put as many clips as will fit on the disc, but each must be named with the approved number. Make sure you write your member name on the disc.

• Clips must be encoded with MJPG-A/B, PhotoJPEG, DV, or HDV, at BEST setting.
• Clips must be full frame with no black bars on any of the edges.
• Widescreen is the domain of HD, standard definition video must be 4:3.
• Clips must be within the parameters of the chart at http://www.istockphoto.com/videographer_6.0_requirements.php to be considered.
• You may submit the same clip in both PAL and NTSC.

If the clips that you are submitting have an identifiable human face, then you will need a model release. You can get a sample model release form in PDF format at http://www.istockphoto.com/docs/modelrelease.pdf.

Each clip is checked individually by one of our Inspectors for various requirements, such as size, file type, frame rate, quality, and copyright or trademark issues. This means that every video in the library has been downloaded, viewed at full size, checked exhaustively and qualitatively evaluated by at least one, but sometimes two or more Inspectors.

If you are a new videographer and you have recently uploaded files, please be patient. Your clip is in the queue, and will be processed in turn. There’s no need to upload again, or send us an email.

1. Photo Identification. In order to confirm your identity, iStock requires one piece of government issued ID with your picture and Date of Birth. If you have already been approved as a contributing photographer, you will still need to submit photo ID in your video application.
2. Three video clips of your own making. Select a variety of clips to demonstrate a range of your skills. These clips must be:
• half the frame size as the original.
• the same frame rate as the original.
• between 10 and 30 seconds long.
• compressed into a MP4 file using MPEG-4 compression.
3. Short descriptions of the files.
You can find more information at http://www.istockphoto.com/videographer_3.0_application.php.

• Your royalty increases with your canister level, up to 40% for diamonds.
• Your photographs and illustrations sell at a higher price point as part of the Exclusive collection.