Shutterstock Photographer Forum :: View topic - Editorial Caption Requirements

moderator · Moderator Joined: 17 Jan 2008 Posts: 445

Hello:

We implemented a new caption requirement for editorial images recently and are now requiring it for all editorial footage clips. Our Submitter Guidelines is not yet updated with this information, but I wanted to let everyone know now via our Forum area first.

For a newsworthy editorial image/footage clip to have any value, long term, the image must have some basic identifiers such as: Who, What, Where & When - as a caption/description. Just explain what is going on in the image/footage clip. Simply write the facts (accuracy is very important). When writing, be concise. Please keep it under 200 characters (including spaces). While explaining what is going on in the image, it is important to keep the language in an active present tense. Do not use past tense language. (Please see the examples below.)

Here is an example of what kind of caption we are looking for:

JACKSON, NJ - JUNE 16: Singer Deborah Harry performs onstage at Six Flags Great Adventure June 16, 2008 in Jackson, NJ.

A 'dateline' style always comes before the caption: 'JACKSON, NJ - JUNE 16:'

For images taken in any 'major' city in the world such as Los Angeles, New York or London, you do not need the state identifier (or country) in the dateline, just in the caption. As examples:

LOS ANGELES - JUNE 16: Singer Deborah Harry performs onstage at Six Flags Great Adventure June 16, 2008 in Los Angeles, California.

LONDON - JUNE 16: Singer Deborah Harry attends a charity benefit June 16, 2008 in London, England.

==

Active/Present tense captions vs Past tense captions:

Please note that all of the examples presented here are in the active/present tense. This simply means that the action is happening now, not yesterday or today or last year. All captions that you submit with your content should be in the Active/present tense, never in the past tense.

Example of a Past Tense Caption (this is not what we want or need):

LONDON - JUNE 16: Singer Deborah Harry attended a charity benefit June 16, 2008 in London, England.

* Again, this is past tense and does not convey what is happening in the image.

Active/present Tense (what we need in a caption):

LONDON - JUNE 16: Singer Deborah Harry attends a charity benefit June 16, 2008 in London, England.

* Please keep all captions in the active/present tense.

==

If you are submitting from an event today in Sydney, Australia, the dateline would be: SYDNEY - JUNE 16:

For a motorcross event in Sydney, your caption may be: John Doe of Australia participates in the Extreme Motorcross Event June 16, 2008 in Sydney, Australia.

Put the dateline and caption together, this is what the complete caption would look like:

SYDNEY - JUNE 16: John Doe of Australia participates in the Extreme Motorcross Event June 16, 2008 in Sydney, Australia.

** (Please keep your title (caption) area description to under 200 characters (including spaces), for now.)

--

Editorial footage clips of children: Editorial clips of children, like all editorial images, need to be newsworthy (specifically of domestic or international importance). Please follow the caption examples above (one example follows as well). It is important to note: Please remember to include a name, the child's age and general area of residence - as these are now required for an editorial image of a child.

One caption/description example of an image of a child that may be newsworthy:

CHARLOTTE - JUNE 16: John Doe, 8, from Charlotte, N.C., cools off in a spray of mist at the Zoo June 16, 2008 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Temperatures went into the triple digits recently.

Without a proper caption/description, all newsworthy editorial images will not be approved.

** (Again, please keep your title (caption) area description to under 200 characters (including spaces), for now.)

--
Please note: Editorial content should never be digitally altered.

Please contact me with any questions directly at: anthony@shutterstock.com - I am here to assist everyone and I will do my best to reply in a timely manner.

Thanks for your patience.

Sincerely,

Anthony Correia
Manager, Content Acquisition
Shutterstock

varius · Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2008 11:07 am

One question, if I may: This is obviously required for new footage, but do we need to update descriptions of older editorial footage as well? Could take some time to go through a few thousand clips...

Also what happens when we upload a clip that we think doesn't need to be editorial, but the reviewer thinks differently. So far reviewers have simply set the clip to editorial only - if such a clip now got rejected for missing dateline that would mean having to re-upload. And re-uploading a footage clip can take a couple of hours online time. Which means, it usually simply won't happen.

moderator · Moderator Joined: 17 Jan 2008 Posts: 445

Hello Varius:

It is not a requirement to update older editorial footage clips at this time, but if you do so, captions will increase your editorial footage clips viability over time if you take the initiative now.

To avoid any issues in regards to submitting footage, it really is imperative to submit your editorial clips with proper captions. It is also very important for all submitters to submit their footage clips with the understanding of what a commercially viable footage clip is vs. an editorial clip that now needs a caption.

If one of my reviewers feels that a clip should be editorial and there is no caption, then the clip will be rejected for lack of caption. This is a decision made to protect you.

Until we have the interface in place to allow rejected editorial clips a 'second chance review,' please submit your footage clips correctly, the first time - right from the start.

Sincerely,

Anthony Correia
Manager, Content Acquisition
Shutterstock

Rekindle · Posted: Sun Sep 07, 2008 10:50 am

Is it easy for us to understand that every clip that needs a model or property release is therefore editorial and falls under this requirement? Or are there times when a clip can be editorial without being "news worthy" requiring the new captions? So I guess I'm asking if I may, is there a difference between editorial and news worthy editorial when submitting?
Thanks SS

moderator · Moderator Joined: 17 Jan 2008 Posts: 445

Hello rekindle:

All editorial content must be newsworthy to be accepted as editorial (clips and still imagery). How is this accomplished? With a simple concise caption that details why the clip or image is newsworthy (Remember the 200 character limit, including spaces).

Example: you create a clip showing people strolling along South Beach in Miami. You want to submit as editorial, but how to do so? Well, identify the beach, the date, who is strolling (tourists) and then say why this is newsworthy with a fact: the number of tourists to visit the area increased by 2% according to xyz rating company.

SOUTH BEACH - SEPTEMBER 7: Tourists walk along a beach September 7, 2008 in South Beach, Miami. The number of tourists to visit the area increased by 2% according to xyz rating company.

--
If you have a problem keeping the caption to under 200 characters, reword the caption until the meaning is clear & concise.
---

So, think of a news angle; why is this clip editorial, really? The challenge is to think like a journalist.

Doing this will exponentially improve and will also increase the viability of all editorial content, long term.

I hope this helps you.

Sincerely,

Anthony Correia
Manager, Content Acquisition
Shutterstock

stefgo · Posted: Sun Sep 07, 2008 1:35 pm

moderator · Moderator Joined: 17 Jan 2008 Posts: 445

Hello stefgo:

A good idea, but the format/style remains as it is now.

Sincerely,

Anthony Correia
Manager, Content Acquisition
Shutterstock

Rekindle · Posted: Wed Sep 10, 2008 2:34 pm

OK, over the last few weeks many clips were lost at SS processing by many people. I finally just deleted and resubmitted. So now several of my clips were rejected due to this editorial policy (I understand why you want it). So resubmitted and I'm sure at least one of them had the appropriate editorial requirement ( clip 238273). BUT the way SS processes clips the information is not available for me to double check.
.
Could SS check into this clip for me and tell me what was wrong? Maybe a lost clip was finally found without the editorial.
.
Is SS working on a way to save rejected clips for 48-72 hours to fix minor problems without making submitters spent a couple more hours ftp'ing and more time re-keywording. Many clips would only take a minute or two to fix the issues. SS and the submitters both win this way ... and buyers will have a better selection to buy from.

Please ;)

moderator · Moderator Joined: 17 Jan 2008 Posts: 445

Hello Rekindle:

The best way to proceed is to resubmit your clips to us. If there are any clips 'waiting' to be processed (perhaps one or two in your account?) for longer than a week or so, please delete those and resubmit as well.

In regards to enhancements, we are striving to enhance our submission process. Once new improvements are in place, everyone will be informed at the same time.

Thank you for your comments.

Sincerely,

Anthony Correia
Manager, Content Acquisition
Shutterstock

larshalbauer · Joined: 29 Oct 2006 Posts: 131

Ok, first this thumbnail issue, now it got fixed we have a new caption rule where my clips got rejected regarding the missing caption )-: Without a second chance.

Moderator, could you please tell us when the new interface with the second chance will be ready? So I will keep my editorial clips and upload them later...

Thanks

Lars

moderator · Moderator Joined: 17 Jan 2008 Posts: 445

Hello Lars:

Unfortunately, I do not have a time frame at this moment. I would recommend that you upload one clip and only one clip. If it would make you feel more secure, please send me an email after you have submitted your clip. If this is within regular business hours here in NYC (9-5PM EST, M-F), I will be able to track that clip myself personally through our system.

My email is: anthony@shutterstock.com

Sincerely,

Anthony Correia
Manager, Content Acquisition
Shutterstock

varius · Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 2:53 am

Apparently the spelling checker flags all numbers in the descripion field as possible typos. Could you ask the programmers to allow numbers in the description field unchecked? Thanks.

moderator · Moderator Joined: 17 Jan 2008 Posts: 445

Hello Varius:

I will look into the numbers in the descriptive field, as you suggested.

Sincerely,

Anthony Correia
Manager, Content Acquisition
Shutterstock

sav · Joined: 15 Mar 2005 Posts: 23

Hi!
Today I have status of your recently submitted video batches: "Rejected: Editorial clips require a caption".

How to resubmit caption?
When I open "Rejected Footage Clips" tab I can see delete-button only. Where is resubmit button?

moderator · Moderator Joined: 17 Jan 2008 Posts: 445

Hello sav:

At this time, there is no resubmit button. You must upload again.

Sincerely,

Anthony Correia
Manager, Content Acquisition
Shutterstock