4 Ways to Cite a Photograph

Table of contents:

4 Ways to Cite a Photograph
4 Ways to Cite a Photograph
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The use of a photograph in a publication, on a website or in any other work, should always include the source, in order to protect the property of the image and to allow the reader to access it for further information. Chances are you will need to use one of the three main citation styles, depending on the type of work you are creating. The APA, or American Psychological Association style is appropriate for works involving the social sciences; the MLA, or Modern Language Association, style is more common in the liberal arts and humanities; the CMS style, or Chicago Manual Style, is instead used to quote photographs in published books.

Steps

Method 1 of 4: Part 1: Apply for Permission to Use a Photograph

Cite a Photograph Step 1
Cite a Photograph Step 1

Step 1. Determine if you need permission to publish the photograph

Often you will need to get permission from the photographer or publisher before you can post a photo in a magazine, book, or website.

  • If you are using the photo in an artwork that is not intended for sale or wide distribution, chances are you don't need permission.
  • Most photographs taken before 1922 can be used without asking for permission, regardless of how they are used.
Cite a Photograph Step 2
Cite a Photograph Step 2

Step 2. Determine the characteristics of the publishing rights you will need

The type of rights you will need are determined by the intended breadth of distribution for your work. This will also determine the amount you will have to pay.

  • In most cases, the wider the publication and the more prominent the photo is, the more expensive the rights will be to obtain.
  • Again, you are unlikely to have to pay for the royalties in case you use the photo in an artwork that won't go into circulation.
Cite a Photograph Step 3
Cite a Photograph Step 3

Step 3. Contact the photographer or publisher of the work for permission to use it

Make sure you have written permission that allows you to use the photo within the limits you have specified. If payment is required, you should receive a high resolution copy of the photo for use in your artwork.

Cite a Photograph Step 4
Cite a Photograph Step 4

Step 4. Mention the source of the photograph, making sure you do it properly

Getting permission and citing the source appropriately will help you avoid a possible legal dispute.

Method 2 of 4: Part 2: Quote a Photograph Using the APA Style

Cite a Photograph Step 5
Cite a Photograph Step 5

Step 1. Create a note

The APA style requires placing a note directly below the image, which should be inserted within the text. Include the following information in the APA-style quote:

  • A number for the image. All photographs should be numbered consecutively. Write the word "Picture", followed by a number, followed by a period. Write everything in italics. Example: "Image 1".
  • The title of the photograph in italics. Include the entire title of the photo, followed by a period. Example: "Walking in the Woods".
  • A description. Write a brief explanation of why photography is used. Otherwise, you can simply add the publication date of the photo.
Cite a Photograph Step 6
Cite a Photograph Step 6

Step 2. Create a quote

Include a full quote in the Sources section at the end of the work. The full quote should be written as follows:

  • Start with the author's name (in this case the author is whoever created the image, or the photographer). Write the surname, followed by a comma, followed by the initial of the name, followed by a period. Example: Parks, G. If the author name is not available, do not write it.
  • Write the word "Photographer" in parentheses. Make sure the word is capitalized and ends with a period outside the parentheses. Example: (Photographer).
  • Write the year the image was created.
  • Write the title of the work in italics. End with a period. Example: American Gothic, Washington, DC.
  • Write the word "Photography" in parentheses. Make sure the word is capitalized and ends with a period outside the brackets. Example: (Photography).
  • If you found the image online, write the date you accessed it in this format: Month Day, Year. Example: February 28, 2013.
  • Write the word "from" followed by the URL. Example: from:
Cite a Photograph Step 7
Cite a Photograph Step 7

Step 3. Use as much information as you can find

Do your best to track down the photographer's name, the photograph's name, and the date it was taken. If you can't find any information, don't write it down.

Method 3 of 4: Part 3: Quote a Photograph Using the MLA Style

Cite a Photograph Step 8
Cite a Photograph Step 8

Step 1. Create a note

In the MLA-style note, include the following information:

  • A number for the image. The image number should appear both within the text (as in "see Image 1) and below the image. The word" Image "can be abbreviated to" Im."
  • The title of the photo in italics.
  • A brief description of the work.
  • A partial or complete quotation of the work. If you provide a complete citation below the photo, it is not necessary to repeat it on the Cited Works page at the end of the paper. In both cases, the details of the citation highlighted in the next step must appear in the paper.
Cite a Photograph Step 9
Cite a Photograph Step 9

Step 2. Create a quote

Include the quote in the note below the photo or in the Cited Works section. The citation should include the following components:

  • The surname of the photographer, followed by a comma, followed by the name, followed by a period. Example: Parks, Gordon.
  • The title of the photograph in italics, followed by a period. Example: American Gothic, Washington, DC.
  • The year the photo was taken.
  • The name of the institution or collection the photo came from. Example: Parks Collection.
  • If you quote a photo you found in a book, include this additional information in the following format: Book title. Name and surname of the author / editor. Place of publication: Publisher, year. Page / table number. Means of reproduction. Example: The Best of Parks. New York: Random House, 1999. Plate 88. Printed.
  • If you quote a photo you found online, include this additional information in the following format: Database or website title. Publisher / sponsor of the database or website. Half consulted. Date of access.. Example: Parks Online '. University of Parks. Web. February 18, 2013. .
Cite a Photograph Step 10
Cite a Photograph Step 10

Step 3. Use as much information as possible

Do your best to track down the photographer's name, the photograph's name, and the date it was taken. If there is any information you can't find, don't write it down.

Method 4 of 4: Part 4: Quote a Photograph Using the CMS Style

Cite a Photograph Step 11
Cite a Photograph Step 11

Step 1. Create a note

Each photograph should have a note under it that includes the following information:

  • An image number. Type "Image" or "Image" followed by a number.
  • The author's full name followed by a period.
  • The name of the photo in italics, followed by a period.
  • The date the photo was taken, followed by a period.
  • If available, the location of the photo, followed by a comma, followed by the name of the museum or collection in which it is located. End with a period.
Cite a Photograph Step 12
Cite a Photograph Step 12

Step 2. Create a quote

If you find the photo in a book or website, you should add a complete quote to the bibliography at the end of the paper. Include the following information in the quote:

  • The number of the image. Type "Image" or "Image" followed by the number.
  • The photographer's full name, followed by a period.
  • The name of the photograph in italics, followed by a period.
  • The date the photo was taken, followed by a period.
  • If available, the city where the photo is located, followed by a comma, followed by the name of the museum or collection in which it resides. End with a period.
  • The word "Source" followed by a colon.
  • If you find the photo in a book, please include this additional information in the following photo: author's name and surname. Book's title. City of publication: Publisher, date of publication. Table number. Example: Chris O'Brien. The Best of Parks. New York: Random House, 1999. Plate 88.
  • If you find the photo online, please include this additional information in the following format: Website name, URL (date of access). Example: University of Parks Online, https://parksonline.org (February 9, 2013).
Cite a Photograph Step 13
Cite a Photograph Step 13

Step 3. Use as much information as possible

Do your best to track down the photographer's name, the photograph's name, and the date it was taken. If there is any information you can't find, don't write it down.

Advice

  • Use the style preferred by your professor, academic institution or director.
  • Many corporations or institutions have their own customized guidelines in order to present their branding consistently in the format approved by their communications department.

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