Image & Video Keywording Tips

KeywordSmart is the easiest to use, and yet most powerful image keywording tool on the market.
Designed for serious photographers or anyone managing an image library.
Our intuitive checklist ensures you create a comprehensive set of keywords for every image.

Tip #150 Color Image

Keyword phrases such as COLOR IMAGE or BLACK AND WHITE IMAGE
should only be used for photographs (or the like), not illustrations.

Tip #149 Color Image

Image should not be used as an individual keyword, use it only in
keyword phrases such as COLOR IMAGE and BLACK AND WHITE IMAGE.

Tip #148 Image

The single keyword IMAGE refers to any 2D still picture (photographs, illustrations, x-rays, etc), as opposed to VIDEO which refers to any moving image.

Tip #147 Exterior vs Outdoor

EXTERIOR does not equal OUTDOORS.
EXTERIORS are shot of the outside of buildings and structures,
OUTDOORS is for any outdoor setting.
So, (virtually) all EXTERIOR SHOTS are OUTDOOR SHOTS,
but not all OUTDOOR SHOTS are EXTERIOR SHOTS.

Tip #146 Exterior Shot

EXTERIOR and EXTERIOR SHOT should only be keyworded
if the exterior of the a building is one of the subjects of the image,
or the main background of the image.

Tip #145 Interior

INTERIOR (& INSIDE) isn’t just for buildings and rooms, but also for vehicles,
and ever for things that people don’t normally fit in, such as
barrels, cubbyholes, cabinets or doghouses.

Tip #144 Why Searchers use Nobody?

Experienced buyers search for “lake and nobody”
instead of “lake minus people” or “lake not people” because
far too many images have keywords GIRL or MAN,
but they don’t have the keyword PEOPLE.

Tip #143 Why keyword Nobody?

NOBODY and NO PEOPLE are very important keywords.
If a buyer looking for an image such as a landscape or lake,
but know they don’t want any people in the shot,
they are likely to search for “Landscape and nobody” or “lake + no people.”

Tip #142 Angle of View of People

The angle of view of people is based upon their upper body, not their face.
In other words, even if they are LOOKING AT CAMERA,
if you primarily see the side of their body, it should be keyworded SIDE VIEW.

Tip #141 Illustrations

While you should always keyword
COLOR ILLUSTRATION or BLACK AND WHITE ILLUSTRATION,
you also need to be specific if about the type of illustration, such as
LINE ART, VECTOR, WATER COLOR, CARTOON, etc.