Reviewed quarterly · Adobe help checked Oct 2, 2026
Stock photo metadata: titles, keywords and what each site reads
Stock photo metadata is the title, description and keywords that tell a stock site, and its buyers, what your image shows. Adobe Stock asks for a title under 70 characters and 5 to 50 keywords, and the first 10 weigh the most (checked Oct 2, 2026).
Check what your files carry, then write title and keywords in one app
- 1Create the image
- 2Own upscaler, up to 4x
- 3Title + keywords
- 4Upload to Adobe
- Title, keywords and CSV are free
- Free viewer to check any file
- No card to start
Plans from €49 a month, excluding VAT. In Stock Creatives the title, up to 49 keywords and the Adobe Stock CSV don't use credits.
Last reviewed 2026-10-04
IMG_0421.jpg
Example- Camera
- Canon EOS R5
- Date taken
- 2026-09-18 10:42
- Location
- 40.4168, -3.7038
- Title
- Remote worker typing on a laptop at a bright kitchen table
- Keywords
- remote work, laptop, kitchen, home office, freelancer…
Runs in your browser. Nothing is uploaded.
- <70
- characters in an Adobe Stock title; 70 is also the CSV limit
- 5–50
- keywords per image in the Adobe portal (its tips page says “up to 49”), in one language
- 10
- first keywords weigh the most in Adobe Stock search
- 5–50
- keywords on Freepik / Magnific Contributor, in English
What is stock photo metadata?
Metadata is information about the image, separate from the pixels. For stock, three pieces matter: a title (a short sentence that describes the image), a description where the site has one, and keywords (single words or short phrases buyers might search). The site's search engine uses them to decide when your image appears.
There are two ways to deliver them. You can type them in the contributor portal or send a CSV file with one row per image. Or you can embed them in the file, in the IPTC or XMP fields, so they travel with the image. Our photo metadata viewer explains EXIF, IPTC and XMP in detail.
What metadata does each stock site ask for?
| Stock site | Title and keywords | What it reads from the file |
|---|---|---|
| Adobe Stock | Title under 70 characters; 5–50 keywords (the tips page says up to 49); the first 10 weigh the most; one language, the one of your account. If you add none, Adobe suggests up to 25 | Reads keywords embedded with Lightroom, Lightroom Classic or Bridge (not images imported from Photoshop). Which field it uses for the title is not documented. CSV columns: Filename, Title, Keywords |
| Freepik (Magnific Contributor) | 5–50 keywords, in English. AI files must carry the AI button or the “_ai_generated” tag in the CSV | Not verified in the sources we read |
| Shutterstock | Not covered here: it does not accept AI | Its help documents manual entry and CSV; reading of embedded IPTC is not verified |
| Alamy | Not covered here: it does not accept AI | Reads IPTC: description becomes caption and keywords become tags (documented for JPEGs that accompany vectors) |
| 123RF, Dreamstime | Not verified for this page | Not verified |
Checked on Oct 2, 2026 against official help pages (see sources). 123RF and Dreamstime metadata rules were outside what we verified, so check their help pages.
Embedded metadata or CSV: which one should you use?
| Embedded (IPTC / XMP) | CSV file | |
|---|---|---|
| Where it lives | Inside each image file | In a separate spreadsheet-style file, one row per image |
| Adobe Stock | Keywords can fill the keyword box on upload (Lightroom, Bridge). Title field not documented | Official route: Filename, Title and Keywords columns, uploaded in the portal |
| Freepik / Magnific | Not verified | Supports the “_ai_generated” tag |
| Strength | Travels with the file, useful for your own archive | Reliable for the title; edit many images at once |
| Weakness | Easy to lose when an app re-exports without it | You have to match every row to the right filename |
The safest approach: embed the metadata and also keep a CSV. In Stock Creatives you get both. See the Adobe Stock CSV guide.
How to write good stock photo metadata
- 1Write the title as a plain descriptionSay what is in the picture, in a natural sentence under 70 characters: “Young woman working on a laptop in a sunny café”.
- 2Put the most important keywords firstOn Adobe the first 10 weigh the most. Start with the main subject, then setting, mood and concept, then smaller details.
- 3Use 25 to 49 relevant keywordsAdobe takes 5 to 50. More is not better: every keyword must really match the image.
- 4Keep to one languageAdobe wants a single language, the one of your account. Freepik wants English keywords.
- 5Leave out protected namesFor AI images, Adobe forbids artists, real people, fictional characters, brands and other third-party IP in prompts, titles and keywords.
- 6Check the file and tick the AI labelOpen the final file in the viewer. The AI label is not metadata: tick “Created using generative AI tools” on Adobe, or use the AI button or tag on Freepik.
How do I check the metadata in my image file?
Drop the file into our free photo metadata viewer. It reads EXIF, IPTC and XMP in your browser, so the file is never uploaded, and it shows title, description, keywords and software.
Do it before you submit a batch: confirm the keywords are inside and in the order you want. If a tool stripped them on export, you will see it right away. AI-generated images often have no camera data at all, and that is normal.
How to generate title and keywords without typing them
Stock Creatives is our product. It writes a title of up to 70 characters and up to 49 keywords for each image, embeds them in the IPTC and XMP fields of the final file and gives you an Adobe Stock CSV for the whole batch. It works for images you generate in the app and for your own files, and none of it uses credits. You can edit everything before you export.
Want only the keywords? Try the stock keyword generator. Compare options in best stock keyword tools. Plans are on the pricing page.
- Embedded in the file and in the CSV
- Edit anything before exporting
- No protected names
Title58/70
Remote worker typing on a laptop at a bright kitchen table
Example
Keywords49/49
Metadata mistakes that cost you visibility or approvals
- Keywords that don't match the picture, just to catch searches.
- Titles stuffed with keywords instead of one clear sentence.
- Mixing languages in one image's keywords on Adobe.
- Artist, brand or character names in titles or keywords.
- Forgetting that exports can remove metadata, so you never see it again after editing.
- Leaving personal GPS coordinates in a file you share.
Frequently asked questions
What metadata do stock photo sites require?+
A title and keywords at minimum. Adobe Stock asks for a title under 70 characters and 5 to 50 keywords; Freepik asks for 5 to 50 keywords in English. Each site has its own extra fields and AI labels.
How many keywords should I use on Adobe Stock?+
Adobe accepts 5 to 50, and its tips page says up to 49. The first 10 weigh the most, so put the most relevant ones first. Quality matters more than reaching the maximum.
How long can an Adobe Stock title be?+
Under 70 characters, which is also the CSV limit. Write a plain description of the image, not a list of keywords.
Does Adobe Stock read keywords embedded in my file?+
Yes. Adobe's help says keywords added in Lightroom, Lightroom Classic or Bridge appear automatically in the keyword box (not for images imported from Photoshop). It doesn't document which embedded field it uses for the title, so a CSV is the reliable route.
What is the difference between IPTC, XMP and a CSV?+
IPTC and XMP are fields stored inside the image file; XMP is the newer, extensible one. A CSV is a separate file with one row per image that you upload to the portal.
How can I check the metadata of a photo?+
Use the free photo metadata viewer. It runs in your browser, so the image isn't uploaded.
Can I generate stock keywords automatically?+
Yes. The stock keyword generator and Stock Creatives write a title and up to 49 keywords per image. Review them before submitting: you are responsible for what you upload.
Is the AI label part of the metadata?+
No. On Adobe you tick “Created using generative AI tools” in the portal; on Freepik you use the AI button or the “_ai_generated” tag in the CSV.
Sources
- Adobe Stock: Tips for effective titles and keywords (last updated Aug 18, 2026) · 2026-10-02
- Adobe Stock: How to organize and add keywords · 2026-10-02
- Adobe Stock: CSV requirements · 2026-10-02
- Adobe Stock: Submit photos · 2026-10-02
- Adobe Stock: Generative AI content guidelines · 2026-10-02
- Freepik / Magnific Contributor: AI generated resources, general guidelines · 2026-10-02
- Alamy: Contributor uploading · 2026-10-02
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Stop typing metadata image by image
Stock Creatives writes a title and up to 49 keywords for every image and gives you the Adobe Stock CSV. Try it with 2 images and 2 upscales, no card needed.
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