Good metadata helps buyers understand what your image contains. Shutterstock asks for a factual description and between 7 and 50 relevant keywords. Its published guidance emphasizes accuracy, specificity and relevance; it does not establish a top-ten keyword weighting rule.
Write a useful description
Describe the main subject and what it is doing in a natural sentence or phrase. Include a location or other identifying detail only when you can verify it. A title should describe this particular photo, rather than repeat a generic list of keywords.
Choose relevant keywords
Start with the subject, then add meaningful details about the setting, action and visual concept. Broader concepts can help when the image supports them. Avoid unrelated trends, repeated variants and unverifiable identities. You do not need to fill all fifty slots if fewer relevant terms describe the image well.
Use English except where Shutterstock permits specific names or established terms. Editorial images have additional requirements, so check the appropriate submission guidance before sending them for review.
Check the current requirements
Review the metadata after uploading and make sure the image has the required categories and releases. Metadata preparation helps organize your submission; it does not guarantee acceptance, search placement or sales.
Sources: Shutterstock description and keyword guidance and contextual metadata requirements.
Automating the Keywording Process
If you have lots of images this keywording process can take up quite a lot of time from your creative process. Luckily you can automate the keywording by using the FrameTag analysis tool. Prepare a batch of titles and keywords, refine the wording and order, and download your original files with the metadata included. Review your results against the platform’s submission requirements before uploading.