A creative guide to using nature stock footage in video editing

Picture this: Your film cuts from a tense, emotional scene to rolling waves crashing against rocks. Suddenly, your audience exhales. 

That’s the power of nature footage. Experienced editors understand this and skillfully use natural elements to shape how viewers feel, like signalling hope with a sunrise or building tension with stormy skies.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to wield nature footage like a pro. We’ve also assembled a collection of stunning nature stock videos from the Storyblocks library to help you put these techniques into action right away.

What are nature videos?

Nature stock videos are pre-shot clips of the natural world. Think landscapes, wildlife, weather patterns, and natural phenomena captured in authentic natural settings. These clips are professionally produced by our global network of filmmakers, ready for you to license and use in your projects.

Stock nature footage is cinematic and immersive. Filmmakers use techniques like:

• Long lens shots to compress distant landscapes for dramatic effect
• Aerial footage to give sweeping overviews that are impossible from ground level
• Macro shots to focus on intricate details like water droplets or natural textures
• Time-lapse sequences to accelerate slow natural processes into compelling scenes

The best nature stock libraries have tons of variety. You’ll find clips captured in a range of ways, from drone footage to sliders for smooth motion, and even handheld “nature walk” style clips for a more personal feel. 

And the variety extends to the content, too. You’ll get different lighting, like the soft glow of sunrise or dramatic sunsets, diverse terrains from deserts and beaches, and subjects from majestic wildlife to stunning landscapes. This wide selection helps you find the best clip for any project.

Nature stock footage every editor should have

We’ve handpicked some of the best nature clips from our library to help you find exactly what your project needs. We’ve also included notes on where each category shines and how to use them for different editorial purposes and emotional goals.

Ocean stock footage

There’s something hypnotic about ocean stock footage that makes it invaluable for editors. The natural rhythm of waves creates the pacing for meditative content, while the vastness of the ocean can suggest a long journey.

For example, Open Seas Ocean Waves During Golden Hour delivers classic sunset warmth that works for emotional transitions in short films or as calming interludes in YouTube content.

For more dramatic establishing shots, 4K Aerial Rocky Ocean Shoreline provides the rugged coastline perspective that sets an adventurous or contemplative mood. 

When you need pure spectacle, Humpback Whale Breach delivers that jaw-dropping moment for nature documentaries or commercial projects needing a wow factor.

Desert landscapes

Desert stock footage really speaks to something primal about survival and solitude. These environments convey themes of resilience, introspection, and time passing.

Red Sand Desert Dunes at Sunset bathes viewers in warm tones that work for philosophical documentaries or moments of personal reflection.

The sweeping Drone Over American Sandstone Desert captures that iconic Monument Valley grandeur, ideal for an establishing shot or when you need to communicate vast scale and beauty.

Golden hour footage

Sunset and sunrise stock videos carry heavy emotional weight. These clips help establish the time of day, but they also suggest beginnings, endings, hope, and transformation. 

Waves at Sea with Seagulls at Sunset shows flocks of seagulls flying over sunlight-reflecting water. It’s perfect for inspirational content.

The even gentler Beautiful Sunrise Over Forest provides peaceful forest dawn energy for hopeful moments or chapter transitions in longer narratives.

Beach vibes

Beach stock footage instantly communicates relaxation and escape, making it a go-to choice for lifestyle brands and travel content.

For instance, Paradise Beach Sunset in Slow Motion delivers that quintessential tropical paradise feeling that works for vacation promotions or wellness content. 

For a more abstract approach, Aerial View of Foam Waves on Sand gives an artistic view of aerial patterns that can serve as a compelling title background or transitions in vlogs and commercial work.

Wildlife in action

Animal footage brings your project to life, whether you’re creating educational content or just want a spark of natural behavior to give context to your film. 

Titmouse Feeding Chicks captures intimate family moments with themes of care and nurturing for environmental campaigns or family-focused content. 

At the other end of the spectrum, Brown Bear Walking in Forest provides raw wilderness power for nature documentaries.

For marine life drama, Predatory Shark Underwater delivers the kind of action that keeps viewers engaged in ocean-themed content.

Versatile nature background videos

Nature backgrounds solve a common editing challenge: How do you create visual interest without competing with your main subject? These clips provide a solution for editors who need natural beauty that supports their project, rather than distracting the audience. 

Alpine Lake with Wildflowers is a postcard-perfect example. It provides subtle motion and shows off the serene mountain beauty for corporate presentations or title screens. 

Mountain Waterfall on Mossy Stones offers gentle water movement for calming meditation videos, background loops, or a serene establishing shot.

For projects needing dynamic energy, Time-lapse in Arches National Park works well for green screen compositing, giving presentations or explainer videos a premium, high-production feel without overwhelming the foreground content.

How to use nature stock videos in your edits

Nature footage is most powerful when you understand exactly where and how to deploy it. Here are the main places where stock nature footage really shines:

• Set the scene with establishing shots. Just like in a movie, a nature establishing shot tells your viewers where they are. Dropping in a wide shot of a serene forest or ocean sets the geographical context of your story. This helps ground your audience, giving them a clear sense of place before diving into closer details or character interactions.
  
  
• Build mood and atmosphere organically. Nature excels at evoking emotion. Need to convey tranquility? A slow-motion shot of gentle waves or a misty mountain range will work wonders. Building suspense? A stormy sky or dark forest will shift the mood. Carefully selecting clips that align with your video’s tone deepens the audience’s experience.
  
  
• Transition between shots and create metaphorical visuals. Using nature footage creatively can bridge parts of your video and add a layer of thematic depth and sophistication. For example, a time-lapse of a sunrise signals the passage of time while a close-up of a blooming flower can represent growth.
  
  
• Create background overlays for titles or b-roll. Layer nature footage behind titles, lower thirds, or interview segments to add depth without distraction. Imagine your product details appearing over a subtly moving river, or an interview subject talking with a soft, out-of-focus forest behind them.
  
  
• Pair with music and sound design. Don’t underestimate the power of complementary audio. Ocean footage with actual wave sounds is much more immersive. Forest scenes are magical when combined with bird songs or rustling leaves, or a song that conveys the wonder and magic of getting lost outdoors. Even when your nature footage is for quiet b-roll, subtle nature sounds will enhance it. 

The most important thing is to let nature footage serve your story, not dominate it. These clips work best when they feel natural (no pun intended), rather than being obvious stock footage insertions.

5 places where nature footage shines

Nature stock footage fits specific types of projects more than others. Here’s where you’ll get the most value from these clips and why they matter for each use case.

1. Creative edits (montages, short films, trailers)

Independent filmmakers and content creators use nature footage to punch above their weight class. A well-shot mountain vista or forest scene can make any low-budget project look professionally produced.

Nitin Das’s nature montage combines philosophical narration about personal growth with dense forest imagery. The beautiful shots reinforce the message about finding healing in nature. Rather than just being filler, they actively support the story he’s telling about transformation and self-discovery.

2. Social media content (calming loops, Instagram reels)

Short-form platforms are all about stopping the scroll, and nature footage does just that. People are often craving those little moments of peace in their feeds.

@asyavlade

sounds of nature, rain #nature #aesthetic #fypシ #calm

♬ Solas x Interstellar – Gabriel Albuquerqüe

Asya Vlade’s TikTok video features relaxing classical music over a rainy day on a forested lake. It’s the kind of thing people will watch on repeat because it feels good.

3. Commercial and branded content

Corporate videos can feel cold and clinical, but drop in some nature footage and suddenly your brand looks more human. Companies use nature when they want to show that they’re trustworthy and care about the environment without actually saying it. 

UNQ Stone Brazil’s commercial shows how this works in practice:

They cut between shots of workers shaping natural stone and sweeping views of the Brazilian landscape around them. The natural scenery makes their industrial process feel connected to something bigger and more meaningful than just another manufacturing video.

4. Meditation and wellness videos

This whole category basically runs on nature footage. You need something that actually helps people relax, and gentle streams or forest scenes do that work for you. Here’s an example from the Soothing Relaxation channel on YouTube.

The natural scenes help to put viewers in the right mindset before your guided meditation or breathing exercise even starts. Many people also use videos like these as white noise for falling asleep at night.

5. Educational and documentary projects

Nobody wants to watch talking heads explain a topic for 30 minutes. Nature b-roll makes complex topics way more engaging. You can show the actual animals or ecosystems you’re talking about.

National Geographic’s Rainforests 101 compilation demonstrates how nature footage carries educational content. Instead of just explaining rainforest biodiversity, you see the layers of the forest, the wildlife, and the intricate habitats in action.

Tips for editing with nature stock videos

When you’re working with nature footage, there are a few special considerations to get the best results. Here are some editing tricks that’ll help you avoid common mistakes and get professional-looking results:

• Match your footage tone to the project mood. This sounds obvious, but it’s easy to get distracted by pretty shots that don’t really fit your story. A stormy ocean looks dramatic, but it’ll feel weird in a meditation video. Think about the emotion you want to build before you browse clips.
  
  
• Use color grading to create cohesion. Your nature clips probably come from different cameras and lighting conditions, so they won’t match right out of the box. A quick color grade can tie everything together. Warm up those sunset shots for romantic scenes, or cool down forest footage for more serious content. 
  
  
• Pay attention to pace (slower cuts often work better). Nature footage needs time to breathe. Those quick MTV-style cuts that work for action scenes will just stress people out when they’re looking at a peaceful lake. Let viewers enjoy the scenery for 4-6 seconds instead of flashing through shots.
  
  
• Consider aspect ratios for different platforms. Don’t just crop your nature shots for Instagram Stories and hope for the best. Download vertical versions when you can, or choose clips that’ll still look good when cropped. A wide mountain vista loses its impact when you chop off the peaks to fit a phone screen.
  
  
• Use depth of field strategically. Mix sharp, detailed shots with softer, blurry ones to create variety. Sharp footage works when nature is your main focus, but soft, out-of-focus clips make great backgrounds for titles or interview segments. The blurred version won’t compete with your text or subject.
  
  
• Think about the season. Don’t jump from snowy mountains to blooming flowers unless you’re showing the passage of time. Viewers notice when your backgrounds randomly switch from winter to summer. Pick one seasonal look and stick with it throughout your project to keep things believable.

Get unlimited nature stock assets

Nature stock footage is probably the easiest way to make your videos look more professional without spending extra money on locations and equipment. Whether you’re cutting together your first short film or making Instagram content, these clips just work.

Don’t overthink it when you’re getting started. Pick a few clips that feel right for your project and drop them in. Nature footage is pretty forgiving. It’s hard to make a mountain sunset look bad. You’ll figure out what works for your style as you experiment.

The cool thing about nature clips is how much mileage you get from them. It all depends on how you cut it and what you pair it with.

A Storyblocks subscription gives you unlimited access to thousands of nature clips, plus all the other video assets you’ll ever need for your projects. Just download what you need and start creating. The footage is already beautifully shot, you just need to find the right moments for your story!