There is provided technology which, when producing metadata for correlation with image data to which predetermined processing is to be administered and for characterizing that image data, can produce metadata that is more appropriate to the predetermined processing and can contribute to alleviating the work burden.A metadata producing apparatus produces metadata for correlation with image data to which predetermined processing is to be administered and for characterizing that image data, the metadata producing apparatus including: a type information acquiring unit that acquires information relating to the type of metadata necessary to conduct the predetermined processing; and a metadata producing unit that produces, on the basis of the information acquired by the type information acquiring unit, metadata to be correlated with the image data to which the predetermined processing is to be administered.