A word or two on key wording from Alison.

Alison, one of our Socialstock photographers has kindly sent this great piece in about key wording images. I think anyone who has  to key word,  (you know who you are!) will learn something or at  least sympathise when trying to conquer the art of good keywords...

Thank you Alison

Nick Fallowfield-Cooper

Keywords...Yeah right!

Do you remember when you started taking photos and discovered how good it felt to be behind the camera?  Taking photos and every so often taking one really fantastic shot which made the hair on the back of your neck stand up!

Then suddenly someone says 'Can you keyword it?'.  'Sorry, I have just taken my best shot ever and you are asking me to what....?! '

Honestly, unless you have managed to change career and left the English department of a top university then it is difficult!! The rest of us poor souls have to struggle with the English language and guess what, it is not easy.

Or maybe not...!!

I have a confession and that is I actually enjoy keywording.

When I started submitting photos I hated that sinking feeling of knowing I would have to sit down and write!  Also, unlike most of my fellow contributors out there, I fall flat at the first hurdle by submitting single subject images, which means no 'cut and paste' for me, but long hard thinking needed on each and every image.

However I have come up with something that works for me... (Can't guarantee it will work for everyone but just thought this might help another lone fellow photographer out there!!)

Firstly I have to come up around 25 keywords for each image. It is kind of setting myself some sort of challenge!!

Then I look at the image several times from a different perspective. I have found that by doing that it helps refocus my mind and I actually get more words - honest!!


1. Look at the photo and list absolutely everything obvious. eg man, woman, child, car, road, wall, buildings, roof, pavement,

2. Look for any colours that appear in the image eg black, blue, grey,

3. Look to see what is happening eg talking, holding, hands, looking, thinking

          4. Look at the people and describe their emotions eg happy, sad, anxious, depressed

          5. Look at the people (ethnic background) eg White, Black, Muslim, Oriental

6. Look again at the surroundings eg inside, room,

7. Look again at what actually could be happening (making up a story) eg 2 girls  - friends, sisters, teenagers,

8. Remember each word is separate, eg traffic, lights, signal.

          Finally the description has to be spot on! Keep it simple and to the point, so the viewer knows
          exactly what is going on eg Two work colleagues outside their office. 

Now if at this stage you have got completely stuck and have still only got 6 words then I suggest the following...

a. Grab the dictionary or thesarus to get similar words for the same thing eg bright, shiny, glowing, sparkling,

b. Or alternatively, get "some smart alec 12 year old" (most households have one!!) who thinks they know it all and guess what, they do!!  Seriously though, another person can sometimes spot the obvious!!

Remember the better the keywords, the better chance you get of being selected

If all else fails ring Nick..... or give up photography and become an English teacher!!

Interested to hear what anyone else thinks!!

AH