Keywords and titles for Adobe Stock and Shutterstock: what's different
- 1puffin
- 2Atlantic puffin
- 3seabird
- 4wildlife
- 5fish
- 6cliff
- +43
If you upload the same photo to several agencies with the same title and keywords, you're leaving sales on the table. Adobe Stock and Shutterstock search differently and have different rules: what works on one can get you rejected on the other. Here's what's worth adapting.
The differences at a glance
| Adobe Stock | Shutterstock | |
|---|---|---|
| Title | Short and descriptive: ideally under 70 characters | The description is what matters: a full sentence saying what's in the image |
| Keywords | Up to 49. Order matters: the first 10 carry the most weight in search | Up to 50, as single words, no repeats. Order matters less |
| Categories | One category from its list | Up to two categories from its list, not read from the file: set them with its CSV or by hand |
| AI images | Yes, labeled as “created using generative AI tools” | Not accepted from contributors |
| Editorial | No editorial photos (illustrative editorial only) | Yes, with a "City, Country - Date: description" caption |
1. Adobe Stock: order your keywords
On Adobe, the first 10 keywords count the most. Put first what a buyer would type to find exactly that photo: the main subject, the action and the place. Leave broad concepts ("travel", "summer", "happiness") for the end.
The title helps search too, but keep it specific: "Fishermen mending nets in Cadaqués harbour at sunrise" beats "Beautiful harbour photo".
2. Shutterstock: one sentence, no repeats
Shutterstock uses the description as the title. Write it as a full, natural sentence. For keywords, use single words and don't repeat the same word in singular and plural: it adds noise and can count against you in review.
If you upload via FTP, Shutterstock reads the description and keywords from the file, but not the categories: you'll need to upload its CSV or pick them by hand before submitting for review.
3. AI images and editorial photos
If an image is AI-generated, don't send it to Shutterstock (or iStock / Getty Images). Adobe and Magnific (Freepik) accept it, always labeled as AI. Editorial images (events, visible brands, people without a release) go to Shutterstock and iStock / Getty Images with an editorial caption, but not to Adobe.
4. People: model releases
If a recognisable person appears, every agency asks for a signed model release (unless the photo is editorial). Upload it on each agency's website: none of them accepts releases via FTP.
How to do it without writing everything twice
You can keep a spreadsheet with both versions, or use a tool that adapts it for you. Tagvora looks at each photo, writes the title, description and keywords, adapts them to each agency's rules (Adobe's order, Shutterstock's sentence, no repeats), warns you about brands and artists, and uploads to Adobe Stock, Shutterstock and Magnific (Freepik) once you approve.
More guides
- How to upload to iStock / Getty Images with ESP without losing keywords
- Shutterstock: why your photos show “Needs attention”
- What each stock agency requires in 2026: the table
- How to upload photos to several stock agencies at once
- Alamy: captions, tags and supertags, step by step
- Dreamstime by FTP: how to set categories with its CSV
- 123RF by FTP: no title and the “Upload Via FTP” step
- AI keywording tools for stock photographers (2026)
Try Tagvora in the beta
Free 3-week beta on the Pro plan, no card, and a founding price afterwards.
Ask for a beta spot