10 Best Practices for Stock Photo Metadata

Why Metadata Matters for Stock Photos

Metadata is the invisible backbone of stock photography. It's how potential buyers find your images among millions of others. Without proper metadata, even the most stunning photograph will remain undiscovered.

1. Write Descriptive, Specific Titles

Your title should clearly describe what's in the image. Instead of "Woman in Office," try "Professional Businesswoman Analyzing Financial Reports on Laptop in Modern Office."

Good title example: "Senior Asian Chef Preparing Fresh Sushi in Traditional Japanese Restaurant Kitchen"

Bad title example: "Chef cooking food"

2. Use All 50 Keywords (But Make Them Relevant)

Most stock platforms allow 50 keywords. Use them all, but ensure each keyword is directly relevant to your image. Irrelevant keywords can hurt your ranking and may result in content rejection.

3. Start with the Most Important Keywords

Search algorithms often give more weight to the first keywords in your list. Put your most important, highest-traffic keywords at the beginning.

4. Include Both Specific and Broad Terms

Mix specific terms ("golden retriever puppy") with broader ones ("dog," "pet," "animal") to capture different search intents.

5. Think Like a Buyer

Ask yourself: "What would someone type to find this image?" Consider the buyer's industry, purpose, and perspective.

6. Include Conceptual Keywords

Beyond physical descriptions, add conceptual keywords like emotions, concepts, and themes:

• Physical: woman, laptop, desk, office
• Conceptual: success, productivity, career, achievement

7. Avoid Keyword Stuffing

Don't repeat the same keyword in different forms (work, working, worker, works). Most platforms filter duplicates anyway.

8. Use Singular and Plural Forms Strategically

Some platforms treat singular and plural as different keywords. Research your target platform's behavior.

9. Write Compelling Descriptions

Your description should expand on the title, providing context and potential use cases. Include relevant keywords naturally.

10. Keep Metadata Consistent Across Platforms

While each platform has different requirements, maintain a consistent core message. Use tools like CSVGen to manage metadata across multiple platforms efficiently.

Conclusion

Great metadata is an investment that pays dividends. Spend time crafting quality titles, keywords, and descriptions, and you'll see improved visibility and sales for your stock photos.

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