Metadata and Keywords That Get Found

Why It Matters

You can capture the most breathtaking aerial footage on the planet, but if your metadata is weak, that clip is invisible. Metadata is the single most important factor separating clips that sell from clips that collect dust. The algorithm does not watch your video. It reads your words. Get this right, and you are ahead of 90% of contributors who just type “drone” and call it done.

Every major stock platform gives you up to 50 keyword slots. Use all of them, every single time. Partial metadata means partial visibility. Leaving slots empty is literally leaving money on the table.

The 7-Category Keyword Framework

Stop guessing keywords. Use this framework to systematically cover every searchable angle:

1. What: The subject (highway, skyscraper, coastline)
2. When: Time of day or season (sunset, winter, golden hour)
3. Where: Location specifics (Miami, rural, urban downtown)
4. Conceptual: Abstract ideas buyers search for (progress, freedom, isolation)
5. Technical: Shot specifics (4K, aerial view, top-down, smooth)
6. Speed: Movement description (slow motion, timelapse, real-time)
7. Colors: Dominant tones (blue, orange, monochrome, vibrant)

Start typing a keyword in Shutterstock’s search bar and see what populates. Those suggestions represent actual buyer search behavior, not what you think they search for. Use the platform’s own data to guide your keywording.

Template Keywords vs Per-Clip Keywords

Some keywords apply to almost everything you upload: 4K, aerial, drone footage, aerial view, UAV, bird’s eye view. Keep a running template of 10-15 universal keywords, then fill the remaining 35+ slots with clip-specific terms. Never copy-paste your entire keyword list across clips. That is keyword spam, and platforms will penalize you.

Specific Aerial Keyword Examples

For a sunset shot of a coastal highway: coastline, highway, sunset, golden hour, ocean, waves, traffic, cars, driving, Pacific Coast Highway, California, cliff, aerial view, bird’s eye view, top-down, 4K, smooth, cinematic, travel, vacation, summer, warm colors, orange, pink, progress, journey, freedom, transportation, infrastructure, scenic, landscape, horizon, clouds, sky, drone footage, UAV, real-time, aerial photography

Description Best Practice

Copy your title directly into the description field, then add 2-3 sentences of context. Example: “Aerial view of coastal highway at sunset. Golden hour light illuminates traffic along Pacific coastline with ocean waves below. Smooth cinematic drone footage ideal for travel and lifestyle content.”

Your description should read naturally. Algorithms can detect unnatural keyword stuffing, and buyers skip garbled text. Write for humans, optimize for machines.

Quick Check

Q: How many keywords should you use on every clip? A: All 50. Every single slot should be filled with relevant terms.

Q: What is the difference between template and per-clip keywords? A: Template keywords (like “4K” or “aerial view”) apply to most of your footage. Per-clip keywords are specific to that individual shot’s subject, location, and mood.

Q: How do you find the best keywords for your footage? A: Use Shutterstock’s search bar autocomplete to see what buyers actually type, then map those terms into the 7-category framework.

What’s Next?

Now that your clips are keyworded for maximum visibility, it is time to get them uploaded and through the review process.

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