If you are a photographer and you are working with digital images you need to know about metadata. Below I list a few software applications and resources for adding and working with metadata. First however I’ll speak a bit about the what metadata is and its importance.

Most digital image metadata is textual information embedded in an image file. The use of metadata is becoming more and more important. As your library of images grows keeping track of what you have becomes harder. Metadata is one way to help you manage your image library providing you a way to track detailed information about each of your images in a search able manner. It offers a tool that can describe an image’s technical characteristics, color profile, content, context, licensing terms, and perhaps most importantly, the identity and contact information for the rights holder (this is increasingly important with the current proposed Orphan Works legislation).

Metadata is also important if you want other people to find your images. Without metadata the whole stock photography industry would not exist today. For a more complete discussion of metadata and an excellent set of guidelines for photographers visit the metadata page on the UPDIG web site.

There are many programs available for adding metadata to your digital images. Below is a list of software I have had experience with.

Adobe Bridge
Adobe Lightroom
Extensis Portfolio
Microsoft Expression Media
iTag is one free program I have tried

About Keywording

Keywording is one aspect of metadata. Keywording is the practice of selecting the most appropriate words to describe an object, image, or work. If you are only keywording for your self it can be as simple as adding a few words to help you categorize and find your images. But if you are trying to sell your images your keywording needs to be much more thorough. Learning effective keywording is like learning a new language. You have to have an understanding of how photo researchers are thinking and how your images can be interpreted. I recommend reading the excellent guide to keywording on the Controlled Vocabulary web site.

There are also tools available to help photographers specifically with keywording. Here are two that I use:

photoKeword Harvester
Cradoc Photo Software, the maker of fotoQuote the great Stock photo pricing software I talk about in my Stock Photography Pricing Resources post has a program called photoKeyword Harvester

Yuri Arcurs Keywording Tool
I recently came across the blog of photographer Yuri Arcurs. He is a micro stock photographer and has developed his own Keywording Tool that he offers for free through his site. I am very excited about this tool as it works well and Yuri has made it available to us for free.

Adding metadata is time consuming. As your library of images grows however you will see how important it is. I recommend incorporating the step of adding metadata to you digital work flow right now if you are not already doing so. Its easy to let it slip and say some day I’ll get around to doing it. trust me however, it’s much easier to do it right away.