How To Cite an Image

Just like we cite text, tables, and statistics in work, citing images is equally important. It helps students and professionals maintain the integrity and authenticity of their work while avoiding plagiarism.

However, a concerning question is how to cite an image. This depends on different citation styles (APA, MLA, Chicago) because each one has a specific format for citing a photo.

However, stop worrying. This guide provides every little detail about image citations for whatever format style you use, wherever you accessed the image, and for whatever kind of work you do.

Easier Guidelines to Follow When Citing Images

Citing a photo is easier when you follow these guidelines while conducting research.

• Firstly, become aware of the image creator (Artist, photographer, painter, etc).
• Find out the Image title: if not available, look for the image caption.
• Date of the image: When was it first clicked or created?
• Date of image when it is posted online or placed in a museum or gallery.
• The date when you get access to the image.
• The location where you get the image, such as a museum or gallery. (If accessed online, track the URL and DOI.)

How To Cite an Image APA

Dealing with APA style paper, essay, or journal? Then, you must know how to cite an image APA 7th edition. An APA style reference list for an image starts with the author’s name, followed by the year, image title, and format.

Lastly, mention the website’s name along with its URL. Reference lists use this citation method for images to cite accurately and avoid plagiarism. On the other hand, if you know howtociteanimage, APA in-text only includes the author’s last name and year.

APA format	Artist/Photographer last name, Initials. (Year). Title of image [Format]. Website name. URL
APA reference list	Smith, J. (2024). Birds chirping [Photograph]. Flickr. https://www.flickr.com/nature/birds-chirping
APA intext citation	(Smith, 2024)

Citing Image viewed personally

The images viewed in person have a different citation format than online images. It replaces the website name and URL with a museum or gallery name and location where you viewed the image. In this case, the URL is only required if you cite an image APA from the venue’s website.

APA format	Artist/Photographer last name, Initials. (Year). Image title in italics [format]. Museum/Gallery name, location. URL
APA reference list	Dwayne, P. (2024). Crying women roadside [Painting]. Museum of Modern Art, New York. https://www.moma.org/collection/232/
APA intext citation	(Dwayne, 2024)

Citing Image from an Article

If the source image is taken from a journal or article, replace the website data with the article title, volume, page number, and, if available online, the article URL could also appear at the end. That’s how to cite an image in a paper or essay that comes into sight from a physical place.

MLA format	Author last name, Initial. (Year). Title of image [format]. Journal Title, Volume(Issue), page.
MLA reference list	Frank, P. (2022). Shining stars [Photograph]. Art of Astronomy, vol 2, pg 133.
MLA in-text citation	(Frank 2022)

How to Cite an Image in MLA

When cite an image MLA from an online website works reference entry, write the author’s last name and first name. Next, write down the image title and the website name in quotation marks.

Lastly, include the whole image publication date (not just the year) and the exact URL where you picked the photo. This complete format only applies to the reference list, while MLA image citation in text only comprises the author’s last name.

MLA format	Photographer last name, first name. “Image title.” Name of Website, Day Month Year, URL.
MLA reference list	Henry, Mark. “Hunting Turkeys in Canyon.” Unsplash, 22 Feb 2025, https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/wild-turkey-gm62.
MLA in-text citation	(Henry)

Citing image viewed personally

Many museums and galleries have collections of images and art that people can access by visiting in person. These images are cited in the MLA reference list by replacing the website name and URL with the name and location of the institution as described below.

MLA format	Photographer last name, first name. “Image title.” Year, Institute name, city.
MLA reference list	Clark, Emily. “Player kicking a football.” 1986, Louvre Museum in Paris, France.
MLA in-text citation	(Clark)

Citing Image from an Article

Just like we cite images from websites and books, the rules for how to cite an image from an article are easily accessible. Below is the standard guideline for citing article image which includes image and article title, volume, page no and URL if available.

MLA format	Image creator’s last name, first name. “Image title.” Image year of origin. Title of the article, volume. Article publication date, Page no, URL, DOI
MLA reference list	Smith, William. Child abusing. 2013. Bad growth of children, vol 03. 12 Feb 2014, pg 12, www.jstor.org/stable/2649, p. 12.
MLA intext citation	(Smith)

How to Cite an Image in Chicago

Learning to cite an image in Chicago is different from APA and MLA. It offers two formats: footnote and bibliography. Images may be cited in notes without the need for a reference and bibliography. However, bibs are only used when they are used frequently, crucial for your arguments, or your institute especially requires them in your paper.

To cite an image in Chicago format paper, including key elements that are creator if not accessible, move to the image title, which would come in italics. Next, add the specific format of the image, such as painting, photograph, etc. After that, the website name if picked through an online source, comes next. Lastly, add the full date in month, day, and year format, followed by the website URL.

Chicago Bibliography Entry	Photographer last name, First name. Title of Image. Format. Website name. Month Day, Year. URL.
John, Carter. Man shaking his head. Photograph. Flickr. 12 May, 2012. https://www.flickr.com/photos/149795025
Chicago footnote citation	Photographer’s first name last name. Title of Image. Format. Website name. Month Day, Year. URL.
Carter John. Man shaking his head. Photograph. Flickr. 12 May, 2012. https://www.flickr.com/photos/9795025

Citing Image viewed personally

Again, you will just refer to the notes if the image is viewed in person, either in a gallery, museum, or art exhibition. Citing in the bibliography is optional and applicable only if required by the institution or essential for evidence. However, like other format styles, physically viewed image citations replace the website information with the museum name and city.

Chicago bibliography entry	Artist last name, First name. Title of artwork. Year. Art format. Museum Name, City. URL.
Clark, Kent. Man catching fish. Painting. Flickr. 2 Feb, 2012. https://www.flickr.com/photos/975.
Chicago footnote citation	Author first name last name, Title of artwork, Year, Art format description, Museum Name, City, URL.
Clark, Kent. Man catching fish. Painting. Flickr. 2 Feb, 2012. https://www.flickr.com/photos/975

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