Still and Motion Imagery Metadata Guidelines

Checklist 2 min
Download 
Use this checklist to ensure all the mandatory metadata is included when submitting any of your VI products, including a photo, video or graphic to DVIDS.

Per DoD Instruction 5040.02, all imagery, with associated captions and metadata, must be submitted to Defense Media Activity (DMA). DVIDS is one of the approved submission methods. To learn more refer to How to Submit Imagery to DMA via DVIDS.

  • VIRIN: Photographers Visual Information Record Identification Number
  • Date Shot: Date the image was captured
  • Operation/Exercise: Name of only the formal operation or exercise (if applicable)
  • Headline (optional): Brief description of specific events associated with a larger news story or series of images
  • Caption: Complete with the date in the caption that matches the Date Shot and VIRIN fields
  • Keywords: Words or phrases that signify the meaning or main idea of the imagery; should improve the accessibility of the imagery
    • Limit to six
    • Only include words relevant to what is in the image
    • Exclude the photographer's name and location

  • Command Shown: Geographical combatant command where the photo was taken (USINDOPACOM, USNORTHCOM, USEUCOM, USCENTCOM, USAFRICOM, USSOUTHCOM)

  • Base/Location: City, base, ship, installation or other specific location the image was captured

  • State/Province: U.S. state or foreign province (or other subdivision) the image was captured (if applicable)

  • Country/Area: Country, area or major body of water where the image was captured

  • Release Instructions/Information: "Released" or "For Official Use Only (FOUO)"

  • Photographer (VI Professional) Information:

    • Rank/Name: Rank/rate and name of the photographer
    • Home Unit: Home unit of the photographer
    • Contact Information: Photographer’s email (preferably an official .mil or .gov account) and phone number

  • Caption Editor: Rank and name of the caption writer

Discover More You May Like

View All Checklists
Adobe After Effects interface showing video footage enhanced with motion and graphics effects.

Amplify Your Videos with Adobe After Effects

Collection
5 items
Review this collection of tutorials and enhance videos with motion and graphic effects.
Lt. Cmdr. Beatriz Talerico, assigned to Naval Surface Group Middle Pacific discuss daily tasks with a fellow Sailor. The Department of the Navy (DON) celebrates Women's History Month to commemorate the contributions of military and civilian women to the DON. (U.S. Navy photo by Anna Marie G. Gonzales)

Annex F Development

Template
1 min
Use this template to develop an Annex F to provide additional details and guidance for an OPLAN.
Crossing guard with face blurred (masked)

How to Mask a Video in Adobe Premiere Pro

How To
6 min
Watch how to isolate and edit video elements through masking techniques.
Isreali Defense Forces (IDF), Sgt. Yuval Italiano, left, and Sgt. Ofir Holzman, assigned to IDF Combat Camera Company, listen to instructions from Spc. Samantha Schaffling, assigned to 55th Signal Company (Combat Camera), in “Technical Lanes” event, during the 2023 Spc. Hilda I. Clayton Best Combat Camera Competition at Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia, May 24, 2023. The annual multi-day competition tests the physical, tactical, and technical proficiency of visual information and public affairs specialists across the DOD and participating international competitors. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Noah Martin)

Mission Strategy Worksheet

Template
2 min
Fill out this worksheet with the strategy and assets needed to ensure visual imagery is successfully captured.
A volleyball player spikes a volleyball, and an overlay of yellow boxes, arrows, crosshairs and dotted lines trace the path of movement of the player and ball.

How to Use Motion Tracking in Adobe After Effects

How To
14 min
Watch how to use three motion-tracking techniques in After Effects for text, callouts and screen replacement.
A gridded three-dimensional space with text "3D" that looks three dimensional.

How to Create 3D Text with Adobe After Effects

How To
15 min
Watch this School of Motion video to see three simple ways to add 3D text using Adobe After Effects tools.

View More