Metadata 101: Wait… My Photos Have a Résumé?

Online Mentoring Session · Via Zoom

You took the photo. You edited the photo. You exported the photo.

But did you know your photo has been quietly carrying around a whole bunch of information about itself the entire time?

Welcome to Metadata 101!

In this beginner-friendly online mentoring session, we’ll take a look at the mysterious world of photo metadata and explain what all those fields, numbers and acronyms actually mean.

Ever wondered “What in the world is EXIF data?” Or why your camera seems to know exactly what lens you used, what shutter speed you chose and precisely when you pressed the button?

We’ll talk about EXIF data, IPTC metadata, copyright information, titles, captions, descriptions and keywords—including the eternal question:

“How many keywords is too many keywords?”

And just when you think you’ve got it figured out…

“Wait… how many fields are there?”

We’ll also look at why metadata matters, what information you should consider adding to your photographs, how metadata can help organize and find your images, and how it can be useful when sharing or publishing your work.

This session is designed for beginners, so don’t worry if you’ve never opened the metadata panel in Lightroom and thought, “I’m going to pretend I didn’t see that.” We’ll take it one piece at a time and make the whole thing a lot less intimidating.

There may even be a few moments where you discover your camera has been keeping better records than you have.

The goal is simple: understand what metadata is, know what information is useful, and learn how to use it without developing a sudden urge to throw your computer out the window.

The session will be held via Zoom and is open exclusively to current members of the Sackville Photography Club.

Bring your questions, bring your curiosity, and bring your photographs. Your photos already have a story. Metadata just helps them remember the details.