Visual Content 2.0: Why Found Content Wins

In modern marketing, visuals aren’t optional they’re foundational. But in 2025, not all visual content is created equal.

Polished stock. Branded shoots. Trendy graphics. They’ve had their moment.

But today, brands are shifting to something more real, more human, and more resonant: Found Content.

It’s not a buzzword. It’s a better way to create.

What Is Found Content?

Found Content is visual media—photos, videos, clips—that already exist online and can be licensed for brand use. It’s created by real people living real lives. Not actors on set. Not studio simulations.

Think:

• A dad filming his kid dancing on graduation day
• A creator posting their favorite hiking moment
• A tourist capturing the perfect sunset in Santorini

These are real moments, already captured. Already viral. Already loved.

And with platforms like Catch+Release, they’re already licensable.

Why Found Content Wins

Authenticity You Can’t Script

Stock often feels staged: perfect lighting, perfect smiles, generic locations. Found Content hits different. It’s messy, relatable, emotional. It doesn’t need to try so hard.

Audiences can spot the difference and they trust what’s real.

Speed to Market

Found Content is already out there. No shoots. No delays. No reschedules. With tools like our Real-Time Estimator, you can know the estimated licensing cost and clearance time in seconds.

That means you can pitch, cut, and ship faster without guessing.

Scalable, Not Disposable

One great piece of content isn’t enough anymore. You need dozens, sometimes hundreds for multichannel campaigns. Found Content is flexible and scalable. You can license it, remix it, reuse it, and expand your library over time.

All without rebuilding from scratch.

How Top Brands Are Using Found Content

Leading marketers, editors, and producers are using Found Content to power:

• National TV campaigns (Ally Bank)
• Social-first activations (Aflac, Carnival Cruise)
• Award winning ads (Jeep)

Some even build entire campaigns around one creator’s video, no shoots required.

Make the Shift from Stock to Story

You don’t have to ditch stock entirely but relying on it alone is a creative risk.

With Found Content, you tell richer stories, move faster, and stay plugged into what your audience actually cares about.

Want to see what’s possible? Start searching the Creator Marketplace or upload a link to a piece of content you love. We’ll help you license it—ethically, quickly, and at scale.

Found Content isn’t a trend. It’s the new creative standard.
Your next great campaign might already exist.

Now, you just need the license.