footage.cool: 4K Drone & Aerial Stock Footage

Search footage.cool's library of 54,000+ drone, aerial, ocean, underwater, wildlife, and travel clips (4K UHD masters on nearly all), filmed by Phil Maher mostly in Baja California Sur (Los Cabos, Cabo Pulmo, East Cape, La Paz, Todos Santos), plus the Colorado Rockies and the California coast, 2014 to 2024. Understands place names, years, synonyms (drone = aerial), and typos. Returns clips with metadata, verified master resolution when known, thumbnail and watermarked preview URLs, clip page links, and prices. Real camera and drone footage, not AI-generated.

{
  "type": "object",
  "properties": {
    "query": {
      "type": "string",
      "minLength": 1,
      "maxLength": 320,
      "description": "What to find, in plain words. Descriptive works best: 'humpback whale breaching aerial', 'turquoise bay with boats cabo pulmo', 'desert highway at sunset'. Places and years in the query become filters."
    },
    "limit": {
      "anyOf": [
        {
          "type": "integer",
          "minimum": 1,
          "maximum": 50
        },
        {
          "type": "null"
        }
      ],
      "description": "Results per page, 1 to 50 (default 10)."
    },
    "page": {
      "anyOf": [
        {
          "type": "integer",
          "minimum": 1,
          "maximum": 10000
        },
        {
          "type": "null"
        }
      ],
      "description": "Page number for more results (default 1)."
    },
    "category": {
      "anyOf": [
        {
          "type": "string",
          "maxLength": 80
        },
        {
          "type": "null"
        }
      ],
      "description": "Optional scene category (Aerial, Beach, Ocean, Wildlife, People, Road, Landscape, Desert, Urban, Sunset, Architecture, Nature, Mountain, Forest, Agriculture, Other) or a curated slug such as drone, underwater, whales, surfing, cabo-pulmo, los-cabos, colorado. get_catalog_overview lists all of them."
    },
    "location": {
      "anyOf": [
        {
          "type": "string",
          "maxLength": 120
        },
        {
          "type": "null"
        }
      ],
      "description": "Optional place filter matched against city, region, and country (for example \"Cabo Pulmo\", \"Colorado\", \"Mexico\")."
    },
    "year_from": {
      "anyOf": [
        {
          "type": "integer",
          "minimum": 1900,
          "maximum": 2100
        },
        {
          "type": "null"
        }
      ],
      "description": "Earliest shot year (for example 2019)."
    },
    "year_to": {
      "anyOf": [
        {
          "type": "integer",
          "minimum": 1900,
          "maximum": 2100
        },
        {
          "type": "null"
        }
      ],
      "description": "Latest shot year (for example 2023)."
    },
    "people": {
      "anyOf": [
        {
          "type": "string",
          "enum": [
            "any",
            "with",
            "none"
          ]
        },
        {
          "type": "null"
        }
      ],
      "description": "'none' returns clips with no people flagged (easier commercial clearance), 'with' only clips with people. Default any."
    },
    "min_duration_seconds": {
      "anyOf": [
        {
          "type": "integer",
          "minimum": 0,
          "maximum": 3600
        },
        {
          "type": "null"
        }
      ],
      "description": "Shortest clip length to include, in seconds."
    },
    "max_duration_seconds": {
      "anyOf": [
        {
          "type": "integer",
          "minimum": 0,
          "maximum": 3600
        },
        {
          "type": "null"
        }
      ],
      "description": "Longest clip length to include, in seconds."
    },
    "sort": {
      "anyOf": [
        {
          "type": "string",
          "enum": [
            "relevance",
            "newest",
            "best",
            "shortest",
            "longest"
          ]
        },
        {
          "type": "null"
        }
      ],
      "description": "Default 'relevance'. 'best' sorts by visual quality score."
    }
  },
  "required": [
    "query"
  ],
  "additionalProperties": false,
  "$schema": "http://json-schema.org/draft-07/schema#"
}

Get full details for one footage.cool clip: description, tags, location, shot year, duration, people and release notice, collection, thumbnail, watermarked preview, clip page, the master's verified resolution and codec when known, and licensing options with prices.

{
  "type": "object",
  "properties": {
    "clip_id": {
      "type": "string",
      "minLength": 1,
      "maxLength": 300,
      "description": "The clip_id returned by search_footage (numeric, or a filename-style id). A footage.cool clip URL also works."
    }
  },
  "required": [
    "clip_id"
  ],
  "additionalProperties": false,
  "$schema": "http://json-schema.org/draft-07/schema#"
}

Find clips similar to a given clip: shared subjects, scene, location, and shot year, spread across different shoots so the results are not near-duplicates. Use it to offer alternatives or to keep a sequence consistent.

{
  "type": "object",
  "properties": {
    "clip_id": {
      "type": "string",
      "minLength": 1,
      "maxLength": 300,
      "description": "Clip to find similar footage for (clip_id from search_footage)."
    },
    "limit": {
      "anyOf": [
        {
          "type": "integer",
          "minimum": 1,
          "maximum": 24
        },
        {
          "type": "null"
        }
      ],
      "description": "Number of results, 1 to 24 (default 8)."
    }
  },
  "required": [
    "clip_id"
  ],
  "additionalProperties": false,
  "$schema": "http://json-schema.org/draft-07/schema#"
}

Plan a timed edit from a description: picks and orders clips across different shoots and locations, sets a cut length for each at the chosen pace, and totals the license cost. Returns an edit decision list with preview URLs for a storyboard or rough cut. It does not render video or license anything.

{
  "type": "object",
  "properties": {
    "query": {
      "type": "string",
      "minLength": 1,
      "maxLength": 320,
      "description": "Description of the sequence, for example 'baja road trip along the coast' or 'whales and dolphins in the Sea of Cortez'."
    },
    "target_seconds": {
      "anyOf": [
        {
          "type": "integer",
          "minimum": 20,
          "maximum": 600
        },
        {
          "type": "null"
        }
      ],
      "description": "Target timeline length in seconds, 20 to 600 (default 60)."
    },
    "pace": {
      "anyOf": [
        {
          "type": "string",
          "enum": [
            "slow",
            "balanced",
            "fast"
          ]
        },
        {
          "type": "null"
        }
      ],
      "description": "Editing pace: slow (4 to 8s per clip), balanced (3 to 6s), fast (2 to 4s). Default balanced."
    },
    "category": {
      "anyOf": [
        {
          "type": "string",
          "maxLength": 80
        },
        {
          "type": "null"
        }
      ],
      "description": "Optional scene category or curated slug, as in search_footage."
    },
    "location": {
      "anyOf": [
        {
          "type": "string",
          "maxLength": 120
        },
        {
          "type": "null"
        }
      ],
      "description": "Optional place filter."
    },
    "year_from": {
      "anyOf": [
        {
          "type": "integer",
          "minimum": 1900,
          "maximum": 2100
        },
        {
          "type": "null"
        }
      ],
      "description": "Earliest shot year."
    },
    "year_to": {
      "anyOf": [
        {
          "type": "integer",
          "minimum": 1900,
          "maximum": 2100
        },
        {
          "type": "null"
        }
      ],
      "description": "Latest shot year."
    },
    "people": {
      "anyOf": [
        {
          "type": "string",
          "enum": [
            "any",
            "with",
            "none"
          ]
        },
        {
          "type": "null"
        }
      ],
      "description": "Use 'none' for a people-free cut. Default any."
    }
  },
  "required": [
    "query"
  ],
  "additionalProperties": false,
  "$schema": "http://json-schema.org/draft-07/schema#"
}

Screen whether a license covers an intended use for a clip and which tier fits: commercial, editorial, documentary, internal_corporate, digital (web and social), broadcast, theatrical, or ai_training. Reports chain of title, people and property flags, and the release policy. Catalog screening, not legal advice.

{
  "type": "object",
  "properties": {
    "clip_id": {
      "type": "string",
      "minLength": 1,
      "maxLength": 300,
      "description": "The clip to check."
    },
    "intended_use": {
      "anyOf": [
        {
          "type": "string",
          "maxLength": 40
        },
        {
          "type": "null"
        }
      ],
      "description": "Intended use: commercial, editorial, documentary, internal_corporate, digital, broadcast, theatrical, or ai_training. Default commercial. AI training needs a separate data license."
    },
    "expected_distribution": {
      "anyOf": [
        {
          "type": "integer",
          "minimum": 0,
          "maximum": 1000000000000
        },
        {
          "type": "null"
        }
      ],
      "description": "Optional expected views or copies. Above 1,000,000 needs the Extended license."
    }
  },
  "required": [
    "clip_id"
  ],
  "additionalProperties": false,
  "$schema": "http://json-schema.org/draft-07/schema#"
}

Get licensing options and prices for a clip without charging anything: Royalty-Free Standard (from $79), Extended for broadcast (from $199), and Exclusive Buyout (quoted by email). This tool never issues a license or takes payment; quote_4k_license starts a purchase.

{
  "type": "object",
  "properties": {
    "clip_id": {
      "type": "string",
      "minLength": 1,
      "maxLength": 300,
      "description": "The clip_id returned by search_footage (numeric, or a filename-style id). A footage.cool clip URL also works."
    }
  },
  "required": [
    "clip_id"
  ],
  "additionalProperties": false,
  "$schema": "http://json-schema.org/draft-07/schema#"
}

Quote a license for a clip's clean, unwatermarked master. Verifies the master file in storage and reports its exact resolution and codec: nearly every master is 4K UHD, and when one is lower (HD 1080p or 2.7K) the quote includes a resolution_notice that you must pass on to the user. Prices the chosen license from the site's direct pricing and returns a private quote token valid for 30 minutes. Ask the user for the buyer email and the license type first; never invent an email. Does not charge anything. Show the full quote, including the resolution, and the terms link to the user before asking to check out. AI training is excluded.

{
  "type": "object",
  "properties": {
    "clip_id": {
      "type": "string",
      "minLength": 1,
      "maxLength": 300,
      "description": "The clip to license."
    },
    "customer_email": {
      "type": "string",
      "minLength": 3,
      "maxLength": 254,
      "description": "Buyer email for the license certificate and receipt. Ask the user; never invent one."
    },
    "license_type": {
      "type": "string",
      "enum": [
        "rf_standard",
        "rf_extended"
      ],
      "description": "rf_standard: all media, worldwide, perpetual, up to 1,000,000 views or copies. rf_extended: adds unlimited distribution, broadcast TV, theatrical, and streaming originals. Let the user choose."
    },
    "usage_scope": {
      "anyOf": [
        {
          "type": "string",
          "maxLength": 40
        },
        {
          "type": "null"
        }
      ],
      "description": "Optional intended use (commercial, editorial, documentary, internal_corporate, digital, broadcast, theatrical). Broadcast and theatrical require rf_extended."
    },
    "expected_distribution": {
      "anyOf": [
        {
          "type": "integer",
          "minimum": 0,
          "maximum": 1000000000000
        },
        {
          "type": "null"
        }
      ],
      "description": "Optional expected views or copies. Above 1,000,000 requires rf_extended."
    }
  },
  "required": [
    "clip_id",
    "customer_email",
    "license_type"
  ],
  "additionalProperties": false,
  "$schema": "http://json-schema.org/draft-07/schema#"
}

Create or resume Stripe hosted checkout for a quote. Call ONLY after the user explicitly approves the quoted clip, the master resolution, license type, total price, and terms. Returns a checkout URL for the user and a private order token. The user pays securely on Stripe; never collect card details in chat. Calling again with the same quote returns the same checkout. Creating checkout is not proof of purchase.

{
  "type": "object",
  "properties": {
    "quote_token": {
      "type": "string",
      "minLength": 20,
      "maxLength": 2048,
      "description": "Private quote_token returned by quote_4k_license. Never put it in public links or logs."
    },
    "confirmed": {
      "type": "boolean",
      "description": "Set true only after the user explicitly approves the quoted clip, master resolution, license, price, and terms."
    }
  },
  "required": [
    "quote_token",
    "confirmed"
  ],
  "additionalProperties": false,
  "$schema": "http://json-schema.org/draft-07/schema#"
}

Check an order after checkout. Verifies the payment directly with Stripe, then returns the active license, receipt, license certificate link, and a private download link for the clean master. Requires the private order token from create_4k_checkout. Never report the purchase as complete unless purchase_completed is true. Poll no faster than once every 10 seconds. Keep the token and links private.

{
  "type": "object",
  "properties": {
    "order_token": {
      "type": "string",
      "minLength": 20,
      "maxLength": 2048,
      "description": "Private order_token returned by create_4k_checkout. Keep it and the returned links private."
    }
  },
  "required": [
    "order_token"
  ],
  "additionalProperties": false,
  "$schema": "http://json-schema.org/draft-07/schema#"
}

Overview of what footage.cool's library covers: clip counts by shot year, scene category, subject, and location (grouped by region), people versus no-people counts, and pricing. Use it to see what exists and to find valid category values for search_footage and build_rough_cut.

{
  "type": "object",
  "properties": {},
  "$schema": "http://json-schema.org/draft-07/schema#"
}