Feature · iStock & Getty Images
iStock & Getty Images controlled vocabulary: how PhotoTager matches your keywords
iStock and Getty Images only accept keywords from their own list of terms. PhotoTager matches what it writes to that list for you, so your CSV is ready for ESP, Getty Images’ upload portal.
What the vocabulary is
01
A fixed list of 20,632 terms
iStock and Getty Images describe photos with a controlled vocabulary. A keyword only counts if it matches a term on the list.
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Why it matters when you upload
ESP is Getty Images’ upload portal, used for both iStock and Getty Images. Keywords that already match a term need less fixing there, and fewer need a meaning picked.
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Why chatbots miss it
General AI tools write natural phrases, not vocabulary terms, so many of their keywords match nothing on the list.
How PhotoTager uses it
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1
Free match after every title runWhen your titles and keywords are written, PhotoTager checks the keywords against the 20,632 iStock terms and builds an iStock list at no extra cost.
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2
iStock keyword stepRuns automatically as step 2 of full metadata, or on its own for a project. A model fine-tuned for the iStock vocabulary is given the 20 nearest terms for each keyword and picks the best fits for the photo.
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Export the CSV for your upload toolDownload a CSV for ESP, qHero or DeepMeta. Each file holds up to 50 iStock keywords.
Free match or iStock keyword step
| What | Free match | iStock keyword step |
|---|---|---|
| When it runs | Automatically after every title run | Automatically as step 2 of full metadata, or when you start it for a project |
| How it works | Matches your keywords to the 20,632 terms | A fine-tuned model reads the photo and the 20 nearest terms for each keyword |
| Cost | Included in the title step | $0.02 per image, $0.06 per video; included in the $0.04 / $0.12 full-metadata price |
| Keywords per file | Up to 50 | Up to 50 |
Questions
How many terms are in the iStock & Getty Images vocabulary?
PhotoTager’s list has 20,632 terms, so about 20,600.
Do I have to pay for the vocabulary match?
No. The match runs after every title run as part of that step. The iStock keyword step is priced separately: $0.02 per image and $0.06 per video, which full metadata ($0.04 / $0.12) already includes.
How many iStock keywords can I export?
Up to 50 per file. Adobe Stock keywords stop at 49, so the iStock list is a separate list.
Can I check keywords I wrote myself?
Yes. The free ESP checker shows which keywords are in the vocabulary and suggests similar terms. No signup.
Will ESP still ask me to pick meanings?
Sometimes. Matching gives fewer prompts but not none, so check anything ESP asks about before you submit.