Use PhotoShelter's outgoing FTP feature to send content directly to Getty Images from your library. Before you begin, make sure every file meets Getty Images' metadata requirements.
Step 1: Verify your metadata before sending
⚠️ This step is mandatory. Getty Images requires the following IPTC metadata fields on every submitted file. Several fields are case-sensitive — an incorrect entry can prevent an image from posting to gettyimages.com.
| Field | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Credit | Getty Images (⚠️ this field is defined by the Getty Images metadata template.) |
| Source | Getty Images North America (⚠️ this field is defined by the Getty Images metadata template) |
| Byline | Photographer's name (⚠️ this field is defined by the Getty Images metadata template.) |
| Byline Title | Staff |
| Create Date | YYYYMMDD or MM/DD/YYYY |
| Headline | Title Case — appears below the thumbnail on gettyimages.com |
| Category | A (Domestic U.S. News), I (International News), E (Entertainment), or S (Sports) |
| Supplemental Categories | Three-letter codes (e.g. POL, SPO, FIN) (⚠️ this field is defined by the Getty Images metadata template.) |
| Caption | Full description using the formula: DATELINE - MONTH (D): Who does What, When, Where. (Photo by Photographer Name/Getty Images) |
| Copyright | Copyright – [YEAR] Getty Images — do not use the © symbol |
| City | Full name, no abbreviations (e.g. Los Angeles, not LA) |
| State | 2-letter postal code (e.g. CA, NY) |
| Country / Country Code | Country name + 3-letter code (e.g. United States / USA) |
| Composition (optional) | Describe the composition of an image showing people (e.g. Posed, Headshot, Full Length, Eye Contact) |
| Personality (optional) | Semi-colon delimited list of the names of individuals seen in the image; no titles, ranks or job descriptions |
Caption example:
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 26: Connor McDavid #97 of the Edmonton Oilers looks on during the third period of game four of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final against the Anaheim Ducks at Honda Center on April 26, 2026 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by James Smith/Getty Images)
Tip: Use Metadata Templates and Getty Images Custom Metadata Fields to fill out required fields consistently across large batches of images.
Step 2: Set up Getty Images as an FTP destination
If you've already added Getty Images as a destination, skip to Step 3.
- Click Settings
- Click Media
- Under Outgoing FTP, click Destinations
- Click Add destination
- Enter the server address, username, and password provided by Getty Images
- Click Save
Note: Don't have your Getty Images FTP credentials? Contact your Getty Images account representative.
Step 3: Submit your content
- Browse to the gallery containing the images you want to submit
- Select the images
- ⚠️ Images must be JPGs and at least 3,000 pixels on the long side, no RAW files.
- Click Export via FTP
- Check the box next to your Getty Images FTP destination
- Click Next
- Select the desired file size
- Confirm that Embed metadata is enabled
- Click Begin FTP transfer