Pond5 is one of the most interesting marketplaces for microstock contributors, especially if you work with video. It is best known for footage, but it also accepts photos, illustrations, vectors, PSD templates, music, sound effects, and other creative assets.

For contributors, the tricky part is not just uploading the file. Pond5 has its own workflow, file requirements, metadata rules, pricing options, legal checks, and CSV tools. If you prepare everything properly before uploading, you save a lot of time and avoid returned or rejected files.

This guide focuses mainly on three things:

Accepted file formats and technical requirements
Titles, descriptions, and keywords
The CSV metadata workflow

We will also cover releases, commercial vs editorial content, common rejection reasons, and a practical upload workflow.

1. The Pond5 upload workflow in short

Uploading to Pond5 is not just upload and wait.

The usual workflow looks like this:

Prepare your files according to Pond5 requirements
Upload files through the dashboard or FTP
Wait for processing
Go to My Uploads
Complete titles, descriptions, keywords, pricing, usage type, and releases
Submit files for review
Wait for curation
Approved files go online, while rejected or returned files need attention

After upload, many files appear as Needs Edits. That means they are uploaded and processed, but not yet submitted for review. You still need to complete the required metadata and submit them manually.

To submit a batch:

Go to My Uploads
Select the files
Scroll to Actions
Choose Submit
Click Execute

Once submitted, the files move to Pending Review.

2. Accepted file formats on Pond5

Pond5 accepts several asset types, and each category has its own technical requirements. Let’s go through the main ones.

Footage and video requirements

Pond5 is especially strong in video, so footage requirements matter a lot.

Accepted video containers

Pond5 accepts video files in:

Format	Accepted
MOV	Yes
MP4	Yes
AVI	No
Other formats	Convert before upload

If your footage is in AVI or another unsupported format, convert it before uploading.

Accepted video sources

Pond5 accepts footage from:

Professional cameras
Prosumer cameras
Consumer 3CCD cameras
Smartphones, minimum 1080p
Action cameras like GoPro
Drones, minimum 1080p

The file still needs to meet quality standards. Good focus, exposure, camera settings, stability, and clean motion all matter.

Pond5 also prefers individual, usable clips rather than several shots edited into one file. If you have multiple shots, export them as separate clips.

Footage type	Recommended duration
Standard footage	5 to 60 seconds
360 VR footage	45 to 119 seconds

Video file size limits

Video type	Maximum file size
HD or lower	3 GB
4K, 5K, 6K	5 GB
8K	6 GB
R3D ZIP with MOV	6 GB
Vertical footage	3 GB

Accepted video resolutions

Pond5 prefers HD and 4K, but accepts a wide range:

Type	Example resolutions
8K	8192×4320, 7680×4320
6K	6144×3160, 6144×3072
5K	5120×2880, 5120×2700, 4800×2700
4K	4096×2160, 4096×2304, 3840×2160
2K	2048×1080, 2048×1152
HD	1920×1080, 1280×720, 1440×1080
SD	640×480, 720×480, 720×486, 720×576

For new contributors, 4K is usually the safest standard if your camera supports it.

Accepted video frame rates

23.98, 24, 25, 29.97, 30, 47.95, 47.96, 48, 50, 59.94, 60.

Accepted video codecs

Pond5 prefers camera native, high quality files. Accepted codecs include:

Camera native codecs, including R3D, AVCHD, ProRes, DNxHD, DNxHR, M2TS, XDCam, MXF, HDV, DV, DVCProHD
ProRes RAW
ProRes 422, 422 LT, 422 HQ, 4444
Avid DNxHD and DNxHR
H.264
H.265 HEVC
Photo JPEG
Animation or PNG, mainly for clips with an alpha channel

Not accepted:

Motion JPEG
AVI
Non native MP4 files

Audio in footage

Pond5 generally prefers footage with the audio removed.

There are exceptions, such as:

Editorial footage
Historical speeches
Wildlife footage with important natural sound
Clips where the audio is essential

The audio must be high quality. Camera microphone audio is often not good enough. Footage should not contain copyrighted music or recognizable voices without the proper release.

Alpha channel footage

For videos with transparency, Pond5 accepts an alpha channel embedded in:

Animation
PNG
ProRes 4444

R3D and RED camera native files

For R3D files, Pond5 requires a ZIP containing:

The .r3d file, required
A matching .mov file, required
The .rmd file, optional

The ZIP should contain only one clip and must not exceed 6 GB.

360 VR footage

For 360 VR footage, Pond5 requires or recommends:

2:1 aspect ratio
4K preferred over 1080p
No audio
360 metadata applied before upload
Keywords such as VR360, VR, and 360VR
360VR included in the title and description
A curator note saying 360VR Footage

Photo requirements

Pond5 accepts photos in digital format. If you shoot film, negatives or slides need to be scanned first.

Accepted photo formats

Format	Accepted	Notes
JPG	Yes	Best choice for most photos
TIFF	Yes	Good for high quality images
PNG	Yes	Recommended mainly when transparency is present

Use PNG only when it makes sense, especially for transparent backgrounds. If the image has no transparency, JPG is usually the better choice.

Photo size and resolution

Requirement	Value
Minimum size	2 megapixels
Maximum size	170 megapixels
Minimum dimensions	At least 1200×1200 px

A 1700×1300 px image, for example, is about 2.21 megapixels.

Color profile

Digital images should include one of these embedded profiles:

sRGB
Adobe RGB 1998

Pond5 does not accept CMYK files or grayscale mode files. A black and white image should be an RGB file that has been desaturated, not a grayscale file.

Photo quality checklist

Before uploading photos, check:

Focus
Sharpness
Noise
Exposure
Color profile
Dust spots
Lens dirt
Compression artifacts
Over editing
Too many near identical files

If an image has slight sharpness or noise issues, downsizing it may help.

Illustration, vector, and PSD requirements

Pond5 accepts several types of graphics.

Accepted graphic formats

Asset type	Accepted format
Vector illustration	EPS
Bitmap illustration	JPG, PNG
Photoshop template	PSD inside ZIP
Preview files	JPG

Bitmap illustrations

Bitmap illustrations should be:

300 dpi
At least 2000×2000 px

For non standard shapes like banners or wide panels, Pond5 may take the shape into account and not require the shorter side to be exactly 2000 px.

PNG files should generally have a transparent background. If a PNG has no transparency, Pond5 may prefer JPG.

Vector illustrations

For vector files, Pond5 requires a specific structure. You need:

An EPS file compatible with Adobe Illustrator 10
A JPEG thumbnail, minimum 2000×2000 px
Both files with the same base name
Both files compressed together in one ZIP

Example:

abstract_geometric_background_001.eps
abstract_geometric_background_001.jpg
abstract_geometric_background_001.zip

EPS is the required vector format. AI files are not accepted as the primary file, although you can optionally include an AI file inside the ZIP.

EPS files should be fully editable, properly organized, free of bitmap elements, cleanly layered, and clearly described. Text should usually be converted to outlines. If you do not convert text to outlines, include the font name and a download link in the description, and the font must be free for commercial use or properly licensed.

PSD templates

PSD templates should be uploaded as ZIP files containing the original PSD and one or more JPG previews.

Preview images should show what the template can do, include a view of the opened file, be high resolution, and be at least 1600×1200 px.

The PSD itself should be at least 300 dpi, at least 2 megapixels, and at least 1600×1200 px. Keep layers clear and easy to understand, with practical layer names like insert your artwork here.

If you use stock photos or third party graphics as placeholders, they should only appear in the preview and should be removed from the final PSD.

3. Pond5 filename rules

Pond5 is strict about filenames. Avoid:

Spaces
Dashes
Accents
Special characters
Commas
Quotes
Apostrophes
Trademark and copyright symbols

Characters to avoid include:

& å ñ é ß ® © § ç ä ø ü " ' ,

A safe filename style is:

business_team_meeting_office_001.mov

Use lowercase letters, numbers, and underscores.

Avoid something like:

Business Team - Meeting, Office.mov

This matters even more when you work with CSV metadata, because the file names in the CSV need to match the uploaded files exactly.

4. Pond5 metadata: title, description, and keywords

Metadata is one of the most important parts of the submission process. Pond5 uses metadata to understand and rank your content, and buyers use it to find your files.

The three core fields are title, description, and keywords. For footage, title and keywords are required, while description is optional. Even when it is optional, a good description is usually worth it.

Title format

Pond5 recommends titles that are:

Written in English
Clear
Accurate
Descriptive
Ideally 40 to 80 characters
Maximum 80 characters

A good title usually includes:

Main subject
Action
Environment
Shot type or visual detail

Example:

A Flamingo Bird Turning Its Head, Blurred Background, Close-Up Shot

Another example:

African Oystercatcher Bird Feeding in Estuary, Eats Worm, 4K

Bad title examples

Bird in the Water

Too generic.

Pink Flamingo 001

Too close to a filename.

beautiful amazing stunning sunset sunset sunset

Spammy and repetitive.

city_clip_034.mov

Never include the file extension in the title.

Good title examples

For footage:

Business Team Discussing Project in Modern Office, Slow Motion

For photos:

Senior Woman Drinking Coffee by Window at Home

For editorial content:

Rome, Italy 2026/06/18: Morning Traffic on City Street

For vectors:

Abstract Blue Geometric Background with Modern Gradient Shapes

Description format

The description should expand on the title. Use it to add details such as:

What is happening
Who or what is in the scene
Location
Mood
Season
Weather
Time of day
Number of people
Scientific names for animals or plants
Useful technical details
Editorial context when needed

A good commercial description:

A close-up shot of a Pink Chilean Flamingo bird, Phoenicopterus chilensis, with fluffy pink feathers looking around in a green zoo environment.

A good editorial description:

New York, USA, 2024/11/05: People holding ballots during the presidential election, filmed outside a polling location in Manhattan.

Keep descriptions factual. Do not stuff them with keywords.

Keyword rules

Pond5 requires keywords.

Rule	Value
Minimum keywords	5
Maximum keywords	50
Recommended amount	10 to 20 strong keywords

You do not need to fill all 50 slots. Pond5 specifically recommends accurate, relevant keywords over a long list of weak ones.

Start with the most important words:

business, meeting, office, team, coworkers, discussion, project, collaboration, corporate, workplace

Then add useful secondary details:

professional, communication, planning, startup, strategy, modern office, teamwork

For wildlife:

flamingo, bird, animal, wildlife, feathers, pink, zoo, close up, nature, Phoenicopterus chilensis

What to avoid in keywords

Irrelevant popular keywords
Keyword spam
Repeated words
Misleading terms
Generic filler words
Offensive language
Trademarked terms for commercial use content
Guessing identity traits when describing people
Terms that are not visible or clearly connected to the content

Bad keyword example:

success, beautiful, amazing, viral

If the clip just shows two coworkers talking in an office, most of those words are useless.

Inclusive and respectful metadata

Pond5 asks contributors to be careful when describing people, especially around race, ethnicity, disability, age, religion, gender, and sexual orientation. Do not guess sensitive attributes if you do not know them, and use neutral language.

Pond5 considers this inappropriate:

A handicapped man talking on the phone

A better version is:

A man with a disability talking on the phone

Editorial metadata format

For newsworthy or public interest editorial content, Pond5 wants a factual caption in this format:

CITY, COUNTRY (STATE) - YEAR/MONTH/DAY: Factual description of the content

Written cleanly, it looks like this:

New York, USA 2024/11/05: Presidential election voters holding ballots outside a polling station.

Another example:

Rome, Italy 2026/06/18: Morning commuters walking near a metro station during rush hour.

Editorial captions should be factual, not promotional and not opinionated.

Avoid:

Angry citizens protest against the terrible government decision.

Better:

Rome, Italy 2026/06/18: People holding signs during a public protest in the city center.

When you submit editorial footage, Pond5 also asks you to indicate that the clip should be marked as Editorial Use Only. You do this through the editorial usage setting and, when needed, with a curator note.

5. CSV metadata workflow on Pond5

If you upload a lot of files, the CSV workflow is the fastest way to add metadata in bulk. Pond5 provides a CSV template, and the safest approach is to use that template exactly as it is.

The general process is:

Log into your Pond5 account
Go to Uploads
Open Apply CSV
Choose the media type
Download the CSV template
Fill in your metadata following the template structure
Save it as .csv
Apply the CSV back to your uploaded files

The CSV is matched to files already uploaded to your account, so upload first, then fill in the CSV.

Pond5 CSV columns explained

The Pond5 footage CSV template uses these columns, in this order:

Column	Required	What goes in it
originalfilename	Yes	Original clip file name with the correct extension
title	Yes	Clip title, max 80 characters
description	Optional	Clip description, max 2000 characters
keywords	Yes	Up to 50 keywords, separated by commas
city	Optional but recommended	City where it was shot
region	Optional but recommended	Region or state
country	Optional but recommended	Country
specifysource	Optional	Camera model or software used
modelreleased	Optional	yes or no
propertyreleased	Optional	yes or no
release	Optional	Exact release file names with extensions, separated by commas
copyright	Optional	Photographer credit, company name, etc.
price	Yes	Price of your clip
pricelarge	Optional	Downconverted HD price when the original is 4K
editorial	Optional	yes or no

Let’s go through the important ones.

originalfilename

This must match the original file name you uploaded, including the extension.

clip123.mov

If the name in the CSV does not match the uploaded file exactly, the metadata will not attach. These are all different and will not match each other:

business_team_001.mov
Business_Team_001.mov
business team 001.mov

title

Maximum 80 characters. Keep it in English, descriptive, and structured around subject, action, environment, and shot type.

Business Team Discussing Project in Modern Office, Slow Motion

description

Up to 2000 characters. That is a lot of room, but you do not need to fill it all. Use it to expand on the title with useful, factual detail.

Two business coworkers discussing a project at a desk in a modern office workplace, natural daylight, slow motion.

keywords

Keywords go in a single cell, separated by commas, up to 50. Pond5 recommends quality over quantity, so 10 to 20 strong keywords usually work better than filling all 50.

business, team, meeting, office, coworkers, discussion, project, collaboration, corporate, workplace

city, region, country

Optional but highly recommended, especially for editorial or location based content.

city: Rome
region: Lazio
country: Italy

specifysource

Free text field for the camera model or software used.

Canon EOS R5

modelreleased and propertyreleased

Simple yes or no fields.

modelreleased: yes
propertyreleased: no

Use yes only if you actually have the release and will attach it.

release

If you have a release, enter the exact release file names, with their extensions, separated by commas.

johndoe.jpg, janedoe.jpg, location.pdf

This is one of the most common places where contributors make mistakes. If the extension is wrong or the name does not match the uploaded release file exactly, the release will not attach. Always check that the name is identical, the extension is correct, and multiple releases are separated by commas.

copyright

Optional field for your photographer credit, company name, or artist name.

John Doe Productions

price and pricelarge

price is the price of your clip. pricelarge is the downconverted HD price used when the original file is 4K. Fill this in if you are uploading 4K footage and want to set the price for the automatically generated HD version.

editorial

A simple yes or no field. Set it to yes for editorial content, and make sure your title and description match the editorial caption format.

editorial: yes

Pond5 CSV rules you must follow

The Pond5 template includes specific instructions. These are not optional.

Delete the example rows. The template comes with example boxes describing each category. Delete those before adding your own data.
Fill out all mandatory fields. At minimum you need originalfilename, title, keywords, and price.
Do not use special characters. Pond5 explicitly says not to use special characters or quote marks anywhere in the CSV. Characters to avoid include:

å ä ñ é ß ® © § ç ø ü " ' ( ) & \ / ? @ %

From our tests the apostrophe ‘, like in woman’s, seems to be accepted without issues in titles, descriptions and keywords.

This applies to titles, descriptions, keywords, and file names. Stick to plain English letters, numbers, commas as separators, and normal spaces inside titles and descriptions.

Make sure release extensions are correct. If a release file name or extension is wrong, the release will not attach. Confirm that the release names in the CSV match the uploaded release files exactly.
Save the file as .csv. Do not save it as .xlsx or another spreadsheet format.

Example Pond5 CSV row

Here is a clean example that follows the template, written without special characters.

Column	Value
originalfilename	business_team_office_001.mov
title	Business Team Discussing Project in Modern Office
description	Two coworkers discussing a project at a desk in a modern office workplace, natural daylight.
keywords	business, team, meeting, office, coworkers, discussion, project, collaboration, corporate, workplace
city	Rome
region	Lazio
country	Italy
specifysource	Canon EOS R5
modelreleased	yes
propertyreleased	no
release	johndoe.jpg, janedoe.jpg
copyright	John Doe Productions
price	79
pricelarge	49
editorial	no

In raw CSV form, the header and one row look like this:

originalfilename,title,description,keywords,city,region,country,specifysource,modelreleased,propertyreleased,release,copyright,price,pricelarge,editorial
business_team_office_001.mov,Business Team Discussing Project in Modern Office,Two coworkers discussing a project at a desk in a modern office workplace natural daylight,"business, team, meeting, office, coworkers, discussion, project, collaboration, corporate, workplace",Rome,Lazio,Italy,Canon EOS R5,yes,no,"johndoe.jpg, janedoe.jpg",John Doe Productions,79,49,no

Notice that the keyword list and the release list use commas inside one cell. In a real spreadsheet you do not need to add the quotes manually, the program handles it. The key point is to keep the comma separated structure that Pond5 expects, and to avoid the special characters and quote marks the template warns against.

CSV checklist before applying

Example rows deleted
All file names match the uploaded files exactly, with correct extensions
Titles under 80 characters
Descriptions under 2000 characters
5 to 50 keywords, comma separated
No special characters or quote marks anywhere
Release file names and extensions correct
modelreleased and propertyreleased set correctly
price filled in
pricelarge filled in for 4K files
editorial set correctly
File saved as .csv

6. Commercial vs editorial content

Pond5 separates content into commercial and editorial use.

Commercial content

Commercial content can be used to advertise, promote, sell, monetize, and market a product, service, company, or brand. Because of that, it has stricter rules.

For commercial use, your content must not contain:

Recognizable people without model releases
Recognizable private property without property releases
Logos
Trademarks
Brand names
Product names
Copyrighted artwork
Graffiti
Tattoos without proper releases
Restricted locations
Ticketed events without permission

Editorial content

Editorial content can illustrate news, current events, public interest topics, culture, business, travel, lifestyle, technology, social issues, and documentary subjects. It cannot be used to advertise or promote products or services.

Editorial content may contain unreleased people, logos, company names, or recognizable property, but it still needs to be factual, legal, and properly captioned. Editorial does not mean anything is allowed. Some locations, events, and venues still have restrictions. Paid admission venues, for example, usually require permission or a property release.

7. Model and property releases

Pond5 requires releases for commercial use content when people or property are recognizable.

Model release

Required for commercial content showing identifiable people.

For adults, the release should include:

Contributor or artist name
Shoot date
Model full name
Model address or email
Model date of birth
Model signature

For minors, the release should include:

Contributor or artist name
Shoot date
Minor’s full name
Parent or legal guardian full name
Parent or guardian address or email
Minor’s date of birth
Parent or guardian signature

For minors, it is safer to provide a release even when recognizability is limited.

Property release

May be required for commercial content showing private property, recognizable interiors, unique buildings, artwork, graffiti, tattoos, sculptures, museums, ticketed events, paid venues, and branded objects. Pond5 states that ticketed events require a release or permission confirming that filming was allowed.

Accepted release file formats

Format	Accepted
JPG	Yes
PDF	Yes
DOC	Yes
TIF	Yes

Release files must be at least 5 KB. Pond5 strongly recommends completing releases in English.

Best release workflow

Upload your releases before tagging your files
Wait until the releases are approved
Go to Uploads
Select the relevant media
Choose Actions
Select Attach Release
Pick the correct release
Click Execute

You can also upload releases by FTP by creating a folder called releases in the FTP root and uploading the release files there.

8. AI-generated content

Pond5 states that AI-generated content is not accepted, and repeated submissions of AI-generated content may lead to account suspension or termination.

This matters because the rules are not the same across all microstock platforms. Do not assume that because AI content is accepted somewhere else, it is also fine on Pond5.

9. Pricing on Pond5

Pond5 gives contributors pricing options.

For footage, Pond5 uses a tiered pricing structure. The price you enter is one of the factors Pond5 uses to determine the listing price. For other media types, such as images, music, sound effects, and After Effects, you can set your own prices more directly.

If you do not want to manage prices manually, Pond5 offers a LET POND5 SET MY PRICE option. Pond5 also suggests checking Data and Trends to understand median sold prices and pricing recommendations.

Payments are processed when your balance reaches the payout threshold, with payouts processed on the 15th of each month.

10. Common reasons files are returned or rejected

Pond5 may return or reject files for different reasons. Common issues include:

Wrong file format
Unsupported codec
Low technical quality
Poor focus
Bad exposure
Too much noise
Missing title
Missing keywords
Metadata not in English
Keyword spam
Misleading keywords
Missing model release
Missing property release
Visible logos in commercial content
Trademarks or brand names
Restricted architecture
Ticketed venues without permission
AI-generated content
Offensive or inappropriate metadata
Too many similar files
Audio added in post production
Copyrighted music or recognizable speech

If Pond5 returns a file, read the curator note carefully. Returned files can often be fixed. Rejected files may need a stronger correction or may simply not be suitable for Pond5.

11. Practical Pond5 preparation checklist

Files

Accepted format
Correct resolution
Correct codec
File size within limits
No unsupported audio
No unnecessary edited compilations
No duplicate or near identical files
Clean filename with underscores only

Metadata

English title
Title under 80 characters
Clear description
5 to 50 keywords
Ideally 10 to 20 strong keywords
No spam
No trademarked terms for commercial content
Editorial captions formatted correctly

Legal

Model releases attached where needed
Property releases attached where needed
No logos in commercial content
No restricted locations
No ticketed events without permission
No AI-generated content
Mature content has proper release and ID documentation

CSV

Download the Pond5 template
Delete the example rows
Keep filenames and extensions matching the uploaded files
One row per asset
Comma separated keywords
No special characters or quote marks
Correct release file names
Saved as .csv

Final thoughts

Pond5 can be a very good platform for contributors, especially if you produce strong footage, clean commercial content, editorial clips, or high quality creative assets.

The main thing is preparation. Use the right formats, keep filenames clean, write metadata in English, avoid keyword spam, and handle releases before submission. For larger batches, the CSV workflow saves a lot of time, but only if your filenames, titles, descriptions, and keywords are already organized properly and follow the Pond5 template.

A clean Pond5 workflow looks like this:

Prepare files
Clean filenames
Upload
Download CSV template
Add English metadata
Apply CSV
Attach releases
Set pricing
Submit for review

If you work with large batches, a tool like Photokeyworder.ai can help you create consistent titles, descriptions, and keywords in English before you fill in the Pond5 CSV. The important part is always the same: accurate metadata beats more metadata.