Meta data is crucial for stock photographers to get their images seen by potential buyers. Here’s a breakdown of the key metadata elements for a stock photo course:
1. Types of Meta Data:
There are three main types of metadata relevant to stock photos:
- Technical Metadata: This information is automatically generated by your camera and includes details like:
- Camera model
- Lens used
- Aperture settings
- Shutter speed
- ISO
- Descriptive Metadata: This is where you manually add keywords that describe the content of your photo. Examples include:
- Objects in the photo (e.g., “laptop”, “cityscape”, “flower”)
- Actions or concepts (e.g., “business meeting”, “relaxation”, “growth”)
- Emotions or moods (e.g., “joyful”, “peaceful”, “energetic”)
- Administrative Metadata: This includes details like:
- Title of the photo
- Your name or copyright information
- Release information (if there are people in the photo)
2. Importance of Meta Data in a Stock Photos Course:
A well-designed stock photo course should emphasize the importance of metadata and provide guidance on:
- Keyword Research: Understanding what keywords potential buyers are searching for to optimize your photo descriptions.
- Keywording Strategies: Techniques for using a variety of relevant keywords, including long-tail keywords (more specific phrases).
- Consistency: Maintaining consistent use of keywords across your entire photo library.
- Using Standardized Vocabularies: Following industry standards for keywords to ensure searchability.
3. Additional Considerations:
- Meta Data Tools: Many photo editing and stock photo submission platforms offer built-in metadata tools.
- Staying Up-to-Date: Keyword trends and buyer behavior can evolve, so it’s important to stay updated on best practices for stock photo metadata.
By incorporating in-depth metadata training, a stock photo course can equip you with the skills to get your photos discovered and earn revenue from your stock photography.