If you are not ready to submit video templates to places like Envato, you might want to start with submitting simple video clips to microstock websites such as iStock, Shutterstock and Pond5. If you would like to submit video or animations to these sites, you will need to adhere to some guidelines.

Most microstock sites have the same or similar requirements. But, iStock makes it very easy to find this information in the iStock online training manuals.

As you would expect, there shouldn't be any people or places in the clip, unless you submit a model or property release. It is best to omit logos, products and etc.. But if you want to include these, there is comprehensive documentation in the Stock Video Training Manual and iStock Technical Wiki. See the links below.

I won't cover the legal stuff in depth here. Let's take a look at the technical requirements.

Sample Video

QuickTime .mp4 format
H.264 Codec
Compression: Best
5 to 30 seconds duration
Size:
  320 x 240 minimum
  640 x 360 maximum
FPS:
  24 minimum
  30 maximum

HD Product Video:

QuickTime .mov format
PhotoJPEG Codec
Compression: 3:1, 95%, Best
5 to 30 seconds duration
Size:
  1280 x 720 minimum
  1920 x 1080 maximum
FPS:
  24 minimum
  30 maximum

As with still photos, vectors and illustrations, iStock requires that you supply metadata for your product with your submission. The title has a ten word maximum limit and you are allowed 50 keywords. In the description, you will want to include information about the camera that was used to create the video clip, such as the name of the camera, camera settings, tape speed, format, aperture and shutter speed. For your keywords, you might want to include the subject of the clip, what's happening (action) in the clip, scene composition, video style and a few synonyms. iStock gives you the following list to consider.

iStock List of Terms

WS (wide shot)
M.S. (medium shot)
CU (close up)
LR Pan (left to right pan)
RL Pan (you guessed it)
zoom (in or out)
dolly
locked down (no camera movement)
handheld
motion effect (slow or fast motion)
composite (more than one video source in the picture)

iStock Stock Video Training Manual
https://www.istockphoto.com/help/sell-stock/training-manuals/video

iStock Technical Wiki
https://wiki.gettyimages.com/