Title and Keywords for Editorial Photos

Continuing our exploration of the correct choice of keywords. Previously, in the first part titled “Keywords and Sales: The Importance of Making the Right Choice” and the second part “Right choice of keywords for images. Part 2“, we discussed various methods for selecting the right keywords to increase the demand for your images and boost their sales on stock photo sites. In today’s article, you will learn how to properly title editorial images and assign appropriate keywords to them.

First, let’s review what editorial images are. Editorial images are photos that are not intended for commercial use.

Typically, such images are used in newspapers, magazines, informational periodicals, electronic media, educational materials, etc. Editorial images on stock sites often feature people captured as they are in real life (unlike staged commercial stock photos).

These editorial photos are more unique and specific than commercial stock images. Buyers of editorial images need “authentic” photos rather than standard photoshoots with models or simple backgrounds.

Model releases are not required for editorial photos as long as these images are used only for educational or informational purposes.

How to Properly Title Editorial Photos?

(Note: for this article, the terms “title” and “description” are used interchangeably)
Generally, photographers have more creative freedom when coming up with titles for their photos compared to keyword selection. But editorial images are an exception.

As more and more news agencies turn to microstocks to find visuals for their stories, accurate titling of editorial images is crucial.

Thus, there is a required format for editorial image titles. For informational editorial photos with lasting value and demand, the title should include key identifiers such as: Who, What, Where, and When.

In other words, the title should clearly and concisely explain the events captured in the image. Only include factual details — accuracy is vital. Aim to be brief and concise. Use no more than 200 characters, including spaces.

Here’s an example of an editorial image with such a title:

Note that the date always goes at the beginning of the title, along with the location. In the example photo, it starts with “JACKSON, NJ – JUNE 8”. While it might seem redundant, always list the location and date first.

For photos taken in major cities around the world, like Los Angeles, New York, or London, you do not need to specify the country or state in the title, just in the description.

Examples:

• LOS ANGELES – JUNE 8: Singer Deborah Harry performs onstage at Six Flags Great Adventure June 8, 2008, in Los Angeles, California.
• LONDON – JUNE 8: Singer Deborah Harry attends a charity benefit on June 8, 2008, in London, England.

If you’re uploading an editorial image taken on June 8 in Sydney, Australia, the title would look like this: SYDNEY – JUNE 8.

For a photo of a motocross event held on June 8 in Sydney, Australia, the description could be: John Doe of Australia participates in the Extreme Motocross Event on June 8, 2008, in Sydney, Australia.

Now, combine the date and description, and you’ll have the perfect title for an editorial photo:

SYDNEY – JUNE 8: John Doe of Australia participates in the Extreme Motocross Event on June 8, 2008, in Sydney, Australia.

Once again, please ensure that the title is no more than 200 characters (including spaces). For more detailed information on editorial image requirements, please visit the stock agency support forum.

Editorial Images of Children

Editorial images of children, like all editorial images, must have newsworthy value (domestic or international). Please refer to the examples above when creating titles for such images.

Attention: Don’t forget to include the child’s name, age, and place of residence, as these are necessary for editorial images of children.

An example of a title for a newsworthy editorial image of a child:

CHARLOTTE – JUNE 8: John Doe, 8, from Charlotte, N.C., cools off in a spray of mist at the Zoo on June 8, 2008, in Charlotte, North Carolina. Temperatures were at record highs.

Remember, without a proper title, all editorial stock images will simply be rejected.

And one last tip: think like a photojournalist when creating titles. Pay attention to details and keep it concise.

Keywording for Editorial Images

Most tips and advice from Shutterstock about selecting appropriate keywords for commercial images can also be applied to editorial images.

You can review the previous two articles on keyword selection and use these tips for choosing keywords for editorial photos (Editorial images).

However, here are a few additional tips to keep in mind when keywording editorial images.

Despite the strict structure for editorial photo titles, they generally do not participate in search results. Therefore, it’s essential to carefully choose the most relevant keywords.

For example, say you have a photo of Barack Obama against a blue sky. Who might need this image? Probably someone looking for a photo of Barack Obama, not someone searching for a blue sky. Here’s a tip: keywords like Barack, Obama, and “Barack Obama” are relevant. But blue and sky? Not so much!

When adding proper names as keywords, include them with and without quotation marks. Going back to Barack Obama, you should use keywords like “Barack Obama” as well as Barack Obama without quotation marks.

The same goes for locations. If you have taken an editorial photo in a location worth mentioning in the news, the name of that place is an ideal keyword, both with and without quotation marks (e.g., “Radio City Music Hall” and Radio City Music Hall).

Final tip: you can always review and change your keywords at any time. Just log into the stock agency, find the image by its ID, and click on the pencil icon. This allows you not only to edit the keywords and title but also to adjust the watermark placement on the image.

Author: Shutterbuzz
Original link: buzz.shutterstock.com/keywording/good-keywords-sell-part-3