APA 7th Edition · Photograph
How to Cite A Photograph in APA 7th Edition
In APA 7th Edition, a photograph citation must identify the creator, date, title, format tag, and source. Instructors in psychology and education expect the bracketed format (for example [Photograph]) and a figure note whenever you reproduce the visual in your paper. Photograph entries are only as strong as the photographer credit—stock watermarks are not a substitute for a named artist.
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APA Style
7th Edition (Section 10.14)💡 "Copy Formatted" copies with HTML styling so pasting into Microsoft Word or Google Docs retains italicized titles and indentation automatically.
APA 7th formula for a photograph
Creator, A. A. (Year, Month Day). Title of work in sentence case [Photograph]. Site or Museum Name. URL
Italics: Italicize standalone image titles in sentence case; keep format tags in square brackets roman. Year position: Immediately after the author, in parentheses.
Worked example
In-text citation
(Lange, 1936)
Template: (Creator, Year) or Creator (Year)
Figure caption
Figure 1 Migrant Mother Note. From Library of Congress, by D. Lange, 1936, (https://www.loc.gov/item/2017762891/). Public domain / fair use for educational citation example.
Special rules for photographs
- Prefer the photographer’s legal name over a social handle when both appear.
- If the photo is untitled, write a concise bracketed description of the subject.
- For news photos, cite the outlet page that published the image, not a wire thumbnail feed.
Source of truth: The photographer credit plus the archive, newspaper, museum, or stock platform that hosts the file.
Common mistakes
- Crediting only the stock agency when an individual photographer is named.
- Using the capture EXIF date when the publication date is what the style asks for.
- Forgetting whether the photo is a reproduction of a painting (cite the photo source, note the original).
FAQ
How do you cite a photograph in APA 7th?
Build one APA 7th reference from creator → date → title → “Photograph” → host. Then paste the finished string into your reference list; do not leave the format field blank or point to a search-results URL.
What is the in-text citation for a photograph in APA 7th?
Match the creator spelling used in the reference entry and apply (Creator, Year) or Creator (Year). If the photograph is labeled as a numbered figure in the paper, add that figure number only where your instructor’s APA 7th handout allows.
Do I need a figure caption when I include a photograph in my paper (APA 7th)?
Only if you reprint the visual. A mention in prose needs in-text + reference list; a reproduced photograph also needs a numbered caption so readers can connect the picture on the page to the bibliography entry.
Where should I look for source details for a photograph?
Start on the object or article page that displays the photograph, then read the credit line, about panel, or download metadata. Skip aggregator cards and thumbnail feeds—they rarely carry a citable creator or permanent link.
What is a common mistake when citing photographs in APA 7th?
Students often crediting only the stock agency when an individual photographer is named. Another frequent miss: treating a cropped social share as the publisher of record.
How is citing a photograph different from citing a generic online photo in APA 7th?
A generic photo citation can stop at photographer + site + URL. For photographs, you also have to capture prefer the photographer’s legal name over a social handle when both appear. That extra field is what keeps the entry recoverable.