The Shutterstock keyword generator
for whole shoots
Drop a folder of photos or videos. BatchMeta writes the description, up to 50 keywords and the categories for every file, then hands you the upload CSV.
No credit card required. Or use your own API key for free.
The file Shutterstock asks for
One batch produces shutterstock_metadata.csv — filled in, including the categories you would otherwise set by hand.
| Filename | Description | Keywords | Categories | Editorial |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DSC_4821.jpg | A lone hiker crosses a mountain ridge as the sun rises over the valley | hiking, mountain, sunrise, ridge, hiker, backpack, adventure, trail, outdoors, silhouette | Animals/Wildlife, Nature | Left empty |
- AFilename
- The exact file name you uploaded, extension included — Shutterstock matches the row by it.
- BDescription
- A full descriptive sentence. Shutterstock has no separate title field — this is the text search reads.
- CKeywords
- Up to 50 unique terms, ordered strongest first.
- DCategories
- Takes the names, not a code — one, or two when a second genuinely applies.
- EEditorial
- Left to you — only you know whether a file is editorial, and the flag changes how it may be licensed.
Shutterstock’s rules, applied before you upload
Every result is validated against these. A file that fails is regenerated, not shipped into your CSV.
A category is required to complete a Shutterstock submission, and the analysis picks from its 26 by name — one, or two when a second applies — so it arrives filled rather than waiting for you at upload.
Shutterstock marks 7 of its categories "not available for video". A clip is only ever given the 19 that are legal for it, so a video never carries a category its own submission form would refuse.
Shutterstock has no title field, so the description carries the whole descriptive weight. Every file gets a complete sentence rather than a keyword string dressed up as one.
Shutterstock asks for at least 7 and allows 50. A result that comes back thin is re-generated rather than padded, because relevance — not count — is what ranks.
Repeats are dropped case-insensitively, so a full list is 50 distinct search terms rather than 50 slots.
Shutterstock rejects commercial content carrying trademarks. Visible logos, brand names and readable signage are reported per file, before a reviewer finds them.
How it works
Drop the shoot
Drag in the whole folder — JPG, PNG, WebP, MP4 or MOV. Nothing uploads: the files are read in your browser.
Run the batch
Every file gets a description, up to 50 keywords and its categories, in English, unattended from start to finish.
Export the CSV
Download shutterstock_metadata.csv and add it on the Submit page with the CSV button.
Built for the way contributors actually work
Your originals never leave your device
Full-resolution photos and videos stay in the browser. Only small downscaled preview frames are sent for analysis — there is no upload step and nothing to delete afterwards.
Footage is described as one clip
Frames are sampled across the whole video, so a Shutterstock footage submission is described by what happens throughout it, not just the opening shot — and it only gets categories that accept video.
Location comes from your EXIF
GPS coordinates are read locally and passed to the AI as context, surfacing real place names in the description and keywords instead of generic scenery terms.
The other six exports come free
One analysis also produces upload-ready CSVs for Adobe Stock, Freepik, Dreamstime, Vecteezy, Pond5 and Getty/iStock — the same files, no re-processing per platform.
Frequently asked questions
Shutterstock specifics, before your first batch.
Does it fill in the Shutterstock category?
Yes. Shutterstock needs a category before a submission is complete, and its CSV takes the names rather than a code. The analysis picks from its 26 — one, or two when a second genuinely applies — so it is already set when you import. If the subject fits none of them the cell is left blank on purpose, which Shutterstock accepts, rather than filled with a wrong guess.
Why do my videos get fewer category options?
Because Shutterstock says so: 7 of its 26 categories are marked "not available for video". A clip is only ever offered the 19 that are legal for it, so you can't end up with a footage submission carrying a photo-only category.
Shutterstock has no title field — what fills its place?
The description. Shutterstock's CSV takes a description rather than a title, and it carries the full descriptive weight for search, so every file gets a complete sentence about what is actually in the frame. The same analysis also writes a separate comma-free title for the marketplaces that want one.
How many keywords does Shutterstock accept?
A minimum of 7 and a maximum of 50. BatchMeta returns as many genuinely relevant keywords as the subject supports, up to that 50, strongest first — padding a thin subject just to fill the list hurts relevance rather than helping it.
Which file does Shutterstock need for bulk metadata?
A CSV with the columns Filename,Description,Keywords,Categories,Editorial. BatchMeta exports exactly that as shutterstock_metadata.csv. You add it on the Submit page with the CSV button — not through FTP or the web upload page — and Shutterstock matches each row to a file by its filename.
Does it set the Editorial flag?
No, deliberately. Whether a file is editorial depends on releases and intent that only you know, and the flag changes how the content may be licensed. The column is exported empty for you to set.
Are my original photos and videos uploaded?
No. Everything is processed in your browser and only small, downscaled preview frames are sent for AI analysis. Your original files never leave your device.
What does it cost?
You start with 25 free credits and no card. After that, one-time packs start at $4.99 for 500 credits and never expire — or bring your own Gemini, OpenAI or Claude API key and pay nothing. A photo costs 1 credit, a video 2.
Keyword your next Shutterstock batch
25 free credits at signup — enough for a real batch, no card required. After that, 500 credits cost $4.99 and never expire.
- 1 credit per photo
- Up to 2 categories per file
- All 7 marketplace CSVs included
Selling on more than one marketplace? See every export BatchMeta generates.