Stock footage can be used by any production company looking to lower costs and receive quality footage quickly. Using stock footage is often better than custom shooting, as the customer can view the footage before making a purchase and know exactly what they are getting. Custom shooting can present the risk of weather, location, technical and performance issues.

Footage clips are available in a variety of film and video formats, optimized for the production values and budget of the user. There are potentially millions of clips available from hundreds of stock footage libraries worldwide.

Stock footage, also termed Archive footage, Library Pictures and File Footage is film or video footage that is reused in a film. Stock footage is of great use to filmmakers as it is generally far cheaper than actually filming a needed scene. Definition from Wikipedia

Stock footage example 1: Shooting a flower growing and opening would be too time-consuming. The shot is needed by the next day. Licensing a stock footage clip would cost less than shooting custom and immediate purchase would be available.

Stock footage example 2: A shot showing winter, ice and snow is needed in the summer. Traveling to a colder climate would be expensive and would not show the correct scene. Stock footage of many popular locations can be licensed for summer, winter or any season.