APA 7th Edition · Image
How to Cite An Image in APA 7th Edition
In APA 7th Edition, an image citation must identify the creator, date, title, format tag, and source. Instructors in psychology and education expect the bracketed format (for example [Digital image]) and a figure note whenever you reproduce the visual in your paper. Even a “generic” image citation fails if you credit a search engine instead of the page that actually hosts the file.
Image Citation Generator
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 an image
Creator, A. A. (Year, Month Day). Title of work in sentence case [Digital image]. 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
(Adams, 1942)
Template: (Creator, Year) or Creator (Year)
Figure caption
Figure 1 The Tetons and the Snake River Note. From U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, by A. Adams, 1942, (https://catalog.archives.gov/id/519885). Public domain / fair use for educational citation example.
Special rules for images
- Name the creator if credited; otherwise move the title or a bracketed description to the author slot.
- Include a format description that matches what you actually used (digital image, JPEG, online illustration).
- Cite the permanent page URL, never a Google Images or Pinterest search URL.
Source of truth: The hosting webpage or repository that publishes the file—not a search results page.
Common mistakes
- Listing Google Images as the publisher.
- Omitting a format tag when the style requires one (especially APA).
- Copying a CDN asset URL that expires instead of the stable landing page.
FAQ
How do you cite an image in APA 7th?
Build one APA 7th reference from creator → date → title → “Digital image” → 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 an image in APA 7th?
Match the creator spelling used in the reference entry and apply (Creator, Year) or Creator (Year). If the image 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 an image in my paper (APA 7th)?
Only if you reprint the visual. A mention in prose needs in-text + reference list; a reproduced image 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 an image?
Start on the object or article page that displays the image, 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 images in APA 7th?
Students often listing Google Images as the publisher. Another frequent miss: treating a cropped social share as the publisher of record.
How is citing an image different from citing a generic online photo in APA 7th?
A generic photo citation can stop at photographer + site + URL. For images, you also have to capture name the creator if credited; otherwise move the title or a bracketed description to the author slot. That extra field is what keeps the entry recoverable.