As a travel content creator, you know the power of compelling visuals. Whether you're documenting your latest adventure for YouTube, crafting Instagram reels, or producing content for TikTok, having access to high-quality B-roll footage can make the difference between good content and truly captivating storytelling.

This guide is specifically designed for travel bloggers, vloggers, YouTubers, Instagram creators, and TikTok content creators who want to elevate their travel content with professional stock footage. While nothing beats your own authentic travel footage, there are times when you need that perfect shot to complete your story, and that's where stock B-roll comes in.

B-roll footage is supplementary video content that supports your main narrative. Think of those beautiful aerial shots of a coastline, bustling street scenes, or time-lapse sunsets that help transport your audience to the destination you're showcasing. 

Why You Might Need B-Roll Travel Footage

Even the most prepared travel content creators encounter situations where stock B-roll footage becomes essential:

• Missing Key Shots: You didn't capture that perfect sunset shot, aerial view, or establishing shot of a landmark due to weather, equipment limitations, or restricted access. Stock footage can fill these gaps in your storytelling.
• Seasonal Content Creation: Stock footage allows you to showcase destinations year-round.
• Budget and Time Constraints: Travel content creation can be expensive and time-consuming. Sometimes you need footage of multiple destinations for a comparison video, travel guide, or montage without the cost of visiting each location.
• Technical Limitations: Certain shots require expensive equipment like drones, underwater cameras, or specialized gear. Stock footage provides access to professional-quality shots that would otherwise be impossible to capture.
• Content Consistency and Flow: Maintaining visual consistency across your content or creating smooth transitions between different segments of your travel story often requires additional footage that complements your primary content.

Best Places to Find Travel B-Roll Footage

1. Vecteezy

Vecteezy tops our list because of its exceptional combination of quality and affordability. Many videos are available for free (with attribution required), and their Pro subscription provides unlimited downloads starting at just $9 per month. No attribution is required for users with a Pro subscription.

With no download limits, a Vecteezy Pro subscription is one of the industry’s best values. They offer a big selection of HD and 4K videos, including many that work well for B-roll. Vecteezy also offers several search filters, making it easy to quickly find what you’re looking for. 

Aside from videos, Vecteezy also offers millions of stock photos and vector graphics, which are also available through the same Pro subscription.

Best for: Budget-conscious creators who need a lot of resources without breaking the bank.

2. Shutterstock

Shutterstock rolled out a new $25/month unlimited download plan, offering access to photos, illustrations, videos, and music. This plan gives you access millions of creative assets, although not everything at Shutterstock is included. 

It’s worth noting that there is a limit of 100 downloads per day, despite the “unlimited”name. Still, the plan provides more than enough for most content creators and makes Shutterstock significantly more affordable and accessible than their traditional per-download pricing model.

Best for: Creators who need high-volume downloads and access to the most comprehensive library of professional travel footage.

3. Adobe Stock

Adobe Stock is particularly convenient if you're already using Creative Cloud applications like Premiere Pro, After Effects, or Photoshop. The built-in Adobe Stock integration saves valuable time, allowing you to search, preview, and license assets without leaving your workspace. You can place watermarked previews of assets in your projects and only buy what you use in the final version.

Adobe Stock houses millions of video clips. For travel creators working within the Adobe ecosystem, this integration can significantly streamline the editing workflow.

Best for: Content creators who primarily use Adobe Creative Cloud applications and want seamless integration with their editing workflow.

4. Pond5

Pond5 offers high-quality video and film material with over 40 million readily available videos. Pond5 has far more advanced search filters compared to its competitors, allowing you to browse videos based on resolution, duration, frames per second (FPS), price, exclusivity, number and gender of people, aerial shots, greenscreen, and loopable content.

While Pond5 tends to be more expensive than other options, the quality and variety of their travel footage is exceptional. 

Best for: Professional content creators who prioritize quality over cost and need advanced search capabilities to find specific shots.

5. Storyblocks

Storyblocks offers unlimited video and audio downloads for $30 per month, with the Unlimited All Access plan providing unlimited downloads, including all 4K video files and editing templates. With over a million royalty-free stock videos in 4K or HD spanning multiple categories, Storyblocks is one of the best one-stop-shops for stock footage needs.

Best for: Content creators who need unlimited downloads and want strong legal protection for commercial use.

6. Pexels

All photos and videos on Pexels are free for commercial use and the platform offers a vast library of 4K and full HD videos, with no attribution requirements. There are some truly spectacular free stock videos available on Pexels.

However, it's important to note that Pexels does not collect model releases or property releases, so be careful when using footage featuring recognizable people or private property for commercial purposes.

Best for: Content creators on tight budgets who need high-quality footage without any cost, though with some legal considerations for commercial use.

7. Pixabay

Pixabay offers royalty-free HD and 4K video with no attribution required. Like Pexels, Pixabay provides free access to a substantial library of travel footage.

Similar to Pexels, the main caution with Pixabay is that they don't collect model releases or property releases, so exercise care when using footage commercially that features people or private property.

Best for: Content creators seeking completely free footage with no attribution requirements, while being mindful of commercial use limitations.

Final Thoughts

The world of stock B-roll footage has never been more accessible to travel content creators. Whether you're working with a zero budget or have funds allocated for premium content, there's a solution that fits your needs.

For creators just starting out or working with minimal budgets, Pexels and Pixabay offer excellent free options, though you'll need to be cautious about commercial use regarding people and property. If you can invest a small amount monthly, Vecteezy's $9/month plan provides incredible value with unlimited downloads.

Remember, stock footage should complement, not replace, your authentic travel content. Use it strategically to fill gaps, enhance transitions, and elevate the overall production value of your travel stories. The best travel content combines genuine personal experiences with professional presentation, and the right B-roll footage can help you achieve exactly that.