STOCK PHOTOGRAPHY CHECKLIST: UNLOCKING THE POWER OF KEYWORDS

t’s one thing to create high-quality images that stock photography buyers want and need. It’s another thing entirely for consumers Ito find your images. All stock photography sites use some sort of keywording system to help photographers promote their work and connect consumers with the images they seek. But it isn’t simply a matter of putting a few choice words into your image’s description. In this checklist, we review five simple, yet effective strategies that will help more buyers find the images you offer for sale on stock photography websites.

 Describe the Content When describing the content of the image, stick to major themes: what it is, what it’s doing, and so forth. If keywording the image above, you might include the words “portrait,” “woman,” and “glasses.” It’s important to stick to the facts, and what can be confirmed visually. Perhaps this image was taken in Indianapolis and maybe the woman is an optometrist, but these are not things that can be confirmed simply by looking at the photo, and should not be included in the keywords.

 Describe the Context  Avoid Overused or Unnecessary Keywords

Images should also be keyworded for what is happening in the image. This goes beyond describing the actual content itself, and offering some insight into the state of mind associated with the image. Possible contextual keywords for the image above could be “worried” or “love,” based purely on the actions of the father and the daughter. “Stressed,” “distraught,” or “sadness” could also be used. But again, as when adding content-based keywords, If you upload an image of a mountain, adding keywords like “mountain” or “snow” would it’s important to stick to what is plainly be appropriate. But adding the keyword “outside” or “outdoors” isn’t needed because obvious. You might guess that the man is obviously a mountain is outside. Additionally, your mountain photograph doesn’t need worried because of financial reasons, but to be keyworded as “beautiful.” Every single photo on a stock photography website is “financial stress” isn’t something that is considered beautiful by someone. It’s not descriptive enough and is used far too often, so evident based on all the information in the avoid superlatives like that when keywording your images. image.  Don’t Spam  Avoid Keywording Brand Names

Most people searching for images on stock photography sites are conducting their search based on content or context, not on brand names. For example, if you were searching for an image of a camera, you would most likely use the word “camera” for your search, not Nikon, Canon, Sony, or another brand name. This goes for any type of product. Use keywords that have Adding absolutely every word you can think of to describe something in the image wider applicability and your images will is a keywording sin. The image above could be keyworded using “man,” “beard,” or reach a greater audience. “smiling,” but using words like “nose,” “eyes,” “hair” or other words that don’t convey the main content or context are not needed. But even worse than that is including words that aren’t even descriptive of the image in the first place. Using keywords like “model” or “sexy” to draw more attention to the image will only serve to make you look bad, taint your collection of images, and could result in the stock photography agency pulling the image from their collection, or even worse, removing your entire portfolio. Don’t do it! The key to keywording success is to play it straight. Describe what’s there and what’s going on. Avoid brand names and overused keywords. And at all costs, don’t include spam words. If you can adhere to these checklist items, you will find greater success in the stock photography business.