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Author Topic: Tiresome keyword system advice  (Read 13599 times)

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« on: September 19, 2009, 05:41 »
0
Hi guys,

I have a portfolio of about 1000 pictures and I would like to upload these to Bigstockphoto.com but honestly it is a pain in the ass. The keywording system etc. keeps ennoying me. Also can you only submit 15 a day?
Any advice on the tiresome process at BigStock?
Cheers!


« Reply #1 on: September 19, 2009, 09:01 »
0
I'm assuming that you have IPTC data embedded into all of your images. If so, the FTP process is fairly painless. If not, you should be doing so (a great piece of software for this is Photo Mechanic by Camera Bits for PC or Mac) since all of the sites automatically read that data and populate the title, description and keywords fields.

When I first started in micro, I didn't know about IPTC data and my post-production time was significantly increased as a result. Now, I keyword once for each photo, then upload. A huge time-saver!

Hope that helps.

« Reply #2 on: September 19, 2009, 09:06 »
0
Hi guys,

I have a portfolio of about 1000 pictures and I would like to upload these to Bigstockphoto.com but honestly it is a pain in the ass. The keywording system etc. keeps ennoying me. Also can you only submit 15 a day?
Any advice on the tiresome process at BigStock?
Cheers!

I've stopped uploading to BigStock. My beef is the 7 needed keywords to describe something. I find it too much extra work for the money.

« Reply #3 on: September 19, 2009, 12:38 »
0
gejam, you didn't explain to us why you think the keywording process on BigStock is tiresome? If you upload images using FTP and you have IPTC data on all your images, than I don't know why you find it tiresome to upload there? BigStock even chooses categories for you automatically, and you just have to check if they are OK.

nruboc

« Reply #4 on: September 19, 2009, 13:27 »
0
You will be thanking BigStockPhoto for their upload system after you try uploading to IStock

« Reply #5 on: September 19, 2009, 13:37 »
0
Hi guys,

I have a portfolio of about 1000 pictures and I would like to upload these to Bigstockphoto.com but honestly it is a pain in the ass. The keywording system etc. keeps ennoying me. Also can you only submit 15 a day?
Any advice on the tiresome process at BigStock?
Cheers!

I've stopped uploading to BigStock. My beef is the 7 needed keywords to describe something. I find it too much extra work for the money.

You mean seven WORDS to describe your image. I find that to be absolutely simple. A big round red apple sitting on the table. Whoops ..... I could have quit two words ago.
-Larry

« Reply #6 on: September 19, 2009, 13:41 »
0
We need Google to announce GoogleStock and take over the microstock business -  the one search engine to rule them all.  Or the International Standards Organization could appoint a committee to develop an ISO standard keywording system.

Just kidding - maybe.   But IStock's system is right at the limit of my patience even for the very small number of photos I do. If another new microstock wanted to get in the game today, their system would have to be drop-dead simple to get me interested.



 
« Last Edit: September 19, 2009, 16:24 by stockastic »

lisafx

« Reply #7 on: September 19, 2009, 14:58 »
0
If you upload images using FTP and you have IPTC data on all your images, than I don't know why you find it tiresome to upload there? BigStock even chooses categories for you automatically, and you just have to check if they are OK.

You will be thanking BigStockPhoto for their upload system after you try uploading to IStock


Ditto both of the above! 

Keyword your images in photoshop or some other program that allows you to add IPTC data.  Then just upload via FTP to all sites (except istock).  Your keywords will be there waiting for you.

Then you only have to add releases if necessary, and submit. 

« Reply #8 on: September 19, 2009, 20:02 »
0
I usually fill the IPTC fields on Lightroom in batches and then refine in CS3 or the same LR any more specific thing that needs to be done.  After that no more writing.  If you do things in advance you will not have to work on those issues later.

« Reply #9 on: September 20, 2009, 05:52 »
0
Sorry, yes I do use the IPTC.

The thing about the uploading is the category selection, the Model Release section etc. It is as if they have tried to make it user friendly with an epic fail. 123RF or StockXpert is much easier!

« Reply #10 on: September 20, 2009, 05:59 »
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Also, I am an experienced submitter, with portfolios on all the big 5

« Reply #11 on: September 20, 2009, 06:46 »
0
Also, I am an experienced submitter, with portfolios on all the big 5

Categories are automatic on BigStock, you only have to check is BigStock choose the right categories, and maybe you would have to correct them sometimes. About MR...I don't find it complicated on BigStock, in fact it's very simple. Now, if you are bored to do that stuff, I think the only solution for you is to pay someone to do it for you.

« Reply #12 on: September 20, 2009, 13:19 »
0
Categories are automatic on BigStock,
Really?  Is it a new feature?  I don't remember that... Or are you making a confusion with CanStockPhoto?

« Reply #13 on: September 20, 2009, 13:52 »
0
Categories are automatic on BigStock,
Really?  Is it a new feature?  I don't remember that... Or are you making a confusion with CanStockPhoto?

It's a new feature. It guesses categories based on, I believe, the title.

« Reply #14 on: September 20, 2009, 16:28 »
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It tried to put some computer images on the "Landscape" category, it is pretty dumb... That is a pain.

« Reply #15 on: September 20, 2009, 16:43 »
0
Categories are automatic on BigStock,
Really?  Is it a new feature?  I don't remember that... Or are you making a confusion with CanStockPhoto?

It's a new feature, yes. And it works pretty good. I don't say it doesn't make mistakes, but everything is better than assigning categories manually.

alias

« Reply #16 on: September 20, 2009, 17:17 »
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I find it strange that people are critical of the IS system given that IS and Getty use a controlled vocabulary hierarchy. The controlled vocabulary makes much more sense than the randomness and spam which is free text and synonyms. And it translates.

The reason why the IS Getty search results are so excellent has to be closely linked to the CV system.

« Reply #17 on: September 20, 2009, 18:20 »
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CV doesn't impede spam.  I have seen images of blue or yellow materials tagged "red" and of jeans tagged "silk".

« Reply #18 on: September 20, 2009, 19:52 »
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What it does impede are relevant keywords! There are plenty of holes in that system where the word that describes the subject of your photo is not available to use!  >:(

« Reply #19 on: September 20, 2009, 20:12 »
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A 'controlled vocabulary' that can't be expanded as needed is ridiculous and prevents perfectly good images from being submitted.   

« Reply #20 on: September 20, 2009, 20:17 »
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What it does impede are relevant keywords! There are plenty of holes in that system where the word that describes the subject of your photo is not available to use!  >:(

That's so true. The CV means there's lots of images that can't be accurately keyworded because the location or whatever doesn't exist in the CV.

Both IS and SS have made a major step forward in assigning sort-order position according to the keywords actually used by buyers __ which basically makes the CV itself irrelevant and obsolete. Once again SS has trumped IS with better technology implemented seamlessly and with no downtime, extra work or disruption to contributors.

« Reply #21 on: September 20, 2009, 21:34 »
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I feel that pain.  I have already sent them several emails with keywords and their dictionary definition, but they don't change the CV.

One classic example is "real", they don't include "Brazilian currency" as a meaning.  Ok, someone may type "brazilian currency", but it's more likely they will type "brazilian real" or "real banknotes" - many buyers found my images in DT using simply "real".  Yes, my images were of real (=not forged) banknotes or coins, but I am sure this was not the sense they used the word!

I do sell those images at IS too, but someone must search for "Brazilian money" or something like that.  I am sure people prefer to type "yen" than "Japanese money".

« Reply #22 on: September 20, 2009, 22:13 »
0
Hi guys,

I have a portfolio of about 1000 pictures and I would like to upload these to Bigstockphoto.com but honestly it is a pain in the ass. The keywording system etc. keeps ennoying me. Also can you only submit 15 a day?
Any advice on the tiresome process at BigStock?
Cheers!

I've stopped uploading to BigStock. My beef is the 7 needed keywords to describe something. I find it too much extra work for the money.

You mean seven WORDS to describe your image. I find that to be absolutely simple. A big round red apple sitting on the table. Whoops ..... I could have quit two words ago.
-Larry

Sure Larry, I guess we could write an entire novel based on the caption but it is just a Red Apple after all, the fact it is on a table should be infinitely obvious to the viewer who found it by searching on "red, apple, table" which were all keywords that were assigned to the image. Having to pad a caption to satisfy a 7 word rule, in my opinion, is a waste of time. Writing 7 works for 10,000 images is 70,000 words, a good size novel.

Peter

« Reply #23 on: September 21, 2009, 08:17 »
0
Hi guys,

I have a portfolio of about 1000 pictures and I would like to upload these to Bigstockphoto.com but honestly it is a pain in the ass. The keywording system etc. keeps ennoying me. Also can you only submit 15 a day?
Any advice on the tiresome process at BigStock?
Cheers!
I've stopped uploading to BigStock. My beef is the 7 needed keywords to describe something. I find it too much extra work for the money.

You mean seven WORDS to describe your image. I find that to be absolutely simple. A big round red apple sitting on the table. Whoops ..... I could have quit two words ago.
-Larry

Sure Larry, I guess we could write an entire novel based on the caption but it is just a Red Apple after all, the fact it is on a table should be infinitely obvious to the viewer who found it by searching on "red, apple, table" which were all keywords that were assigned to the image. Having to pad a caption to satisfy a 7 word rule, in my opinion, is a waste of time. Writing 7 works for 10,000 images is 70,000 words, a good size novel.

Peter


With BigStock when someone searches using a keyword and the word is in the title, description, and the keyword list, it will be the first found with the search. If used only once in the keyword list it will come up further back in the search.
So the description helps you sell your image.

-Larry
« Last Edit: September 21, 2009, 08:19 by Lcjtripod »

« Reply #24 on: September 21, 2009, 09:56 »
0
I think that in time, as other microstocks get smarter about keywording and searching, they'll evolve systems that will leave IS and their "controlled vocabulary" standing in the dust.  
« Last Edit: September 21, 2009, 10:00 by stockastic »


 

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