Now that summer is in full swing, it’s time to get out your turkeys, footballs, and jack-o-lanterns! Think we have our seasons mixed up? Not so — we’re just thinking like a stock-footage buyer. Our customers tend to buy seasonal images and clips weeks before the actual season begins, so if you’re waiting until October 20 to submit your Halloween content, you’re probably missing out on a lot of potential sales. A general rule of thumb is to start shooting seasonal themes about two months in advance. With that in mind, now’s the perfect time to start thinking about Autumn content. Here are a few suggestions:
Back to School
Schoolchildren footage ©luminaimages
For all the kids enjoying their summer vacations, “back to school” season is probably the last thing they want to think about. But it should be high on your list as you brainstorm content to shoot now. American grade schools and colleges begin classes at the start of September (as do many school systems worldwide), with back-to-school shopping kicking into high gear around mid-August. Kids in classrooms, shopping for school supplies, university libraries, and school buses are all good subject matter at the moment.
American Football
Football Player footage ©Burlingham
Even if you’re not a US contributor, you might want to consider American football. The sport is the most popular one in the States, and the Super Bowl is one of the most watched sporting events in the world. Football season runs from the start of September until the end of December, so anytime during the next two months is a good time for shooting related content. Athletes, equipment, and stadiums are all good choices for subject matter, but you can also try depicting the spectator side of things, like people watching from bleachers or gathered around the TV.
Fall Fashion
Tailor/Dressmaker footage ©Dualstock
Fashion is notoriously seasonal, and fall is one of the two times in the year when its popularity peaks. The world’s major fashion shows all occur between September and October, making this a great time to shoot fashion-centric content. This theme can be approached from multiple angles, from designers and tailors, to the catwalk, to the store. If you can get together several models, you can even stage your very own model-released runway walk. Just remember to keep the clothing seasonally appropriate.
Fall Foods
Ladling Soup footage ©SavoryStock
Put down that lemonade and watermelon and pick up some apple cider and pumpkin pie! While certain fall foods may be difficult to find out of season, others, like apples, are available to buy year round. And those that aren’t (like pumpkin) can usually be found in canned form. Some other suggestions for popular autumn dishes: sweet potatoes, turkey, hearty soups, chili, pot pies, cranberries, Brussels sprouts, and mushrooms.
Halloween
Halloween footage ©R-Stock
It may still be a bit early for this, but as the end of August and start of September roll around, candy, jack-o-lanterns, costumes, and general spookiness are all good themes to have on your mind. Remember to keep any costumes generic, though — this won’t only help you avoid rejections for trademarks, but will also help keep your content relevant for years to come.
For more examples of great fall footage, check out our ‘When to Shoot What’ clipbox »
By Tim Nicholas, Footage Reviewer