AI Metadata Generator for Shutterstock
Stop hand-typing descriptions and keywords for every file. Point Lemika at a folder, and it writes a clear, factual description for each one and adds 7–50 ranked keywords – all written straight into the file’s metadata. Shutterstock reads it from your photos automatically; for videos, Lemika exports the CSV Shutterstock needs. Shaped around Shutterstock’s published contributor standards.
How Shutterstock metadata actually works
- Description – one main field, up to 2,048 characters. Shutterstock treats it as the title and ranks search on it. The style is a factual description of the scene (who, what, when, where), not a keyword pile. Lemika writes one focused, factual sentence per file – well within the field.
- Keywords – between 7 and 50, ordered by relevance. English only, with exceptions for scientific Latin names, place names, and common foreign terms. Every keyword has to be distinct.
- Categories – 1 required, 1 optional. Picked from Shutterstock’s category list when you upload.
- Photos: metadata in file. Videos: CSV. Shutterstock reads IPTC/XMP fields embedded in your photos, so titles and keywords come through on upload. For video it doesn’t read embedded metadata – Shutterstock asks for a CSV instead, and Lemika exports one in a click.
- No AI-generated content from contributors. Shutterstock accepts only photos, videos, and illustrations you created yourself. Their own AI image generator on the platform is a separate buyer-side feature – it doesn’t mean contributor uploads can be AI.
- Editorial has its own rules. Editorial submissions need the exact date and location (city, country, date) inside the description, and the wording has to stay factual. Lemika has an Editorial mode that captures the date, city, and country for you.
Researched against Shutterstock’s public contributor help (mid-2026). Shutterstock updates these from time to time – confirm the current limits in your contributor dashboard.
How Lemika generates Shutterstock-ready metadata
- Add a folder. Point Lemika at a folder of photos, illustrations, or video.
- It describes each file. The AI reads the actual scene and writes a clear, factual English description – not a keyword list. No “image of”, no filler.
- It builds ranked keywords. 7–50 single, relevant terms, distinct and ordered by relevance.
- It respects your settings. Set your target description length and keyword count once, and Lemika applies them to every file.
- Ready to upload. For photos, the metadata is already inside each file (IPTC/XMP) – Shutterstock reads it on upload. For videos, Lemika exports the Shutterstock CSV in one click.
What you get
Description (152 chars · well within Shutterstock’s 2,048-char field)
Focused person working on a laptop in a sunlit home office, where a calm and tidy setup inspires concentration and a balanced modern remote work routine
Keywords (relevant, distinct, ordered)
laptop, freelancer, home, office, productivity, focus, remote, work, computer, workspace, business, lifestyle, modern, professional, concentration
Frequently asked questions
Up to 2,048 characters – Shutterstock recently raised it from the old shorter limit. A clear, focused factual sentence does the job, and that’s what Lemika writes within the length you set.
Between 7 and 50. Lemika generates a relevant, distinct set ordered by relevance, with the strongest first.
Only for video. Shutterstock reads IPTC/XMP metadata embedded in your photos automatically – Lemika writes everything in, and you just upload the files. For video, Shutterstock doesn’t read embedded metadata, so it asks for a CSV; Lemika exports one in a click.
No. Shutterstock’s contributor policy excludes AI-generated content – only photos, videos, and illustrations you created yourself. (Their AI image generator on the platform is a separate buyer-side feature.)
Yes. Editorial mode captures the date, city, and country Shutterstock requires in the description, and keeps the wording factual.
Yes – Lemika gives you 20 free generations once you confirm your email, no card required. And the manual EXIF editor stays free forever, with no account at all.