Chicago 17th/18th · Photograph
How to Cite A Photograph in Chicago Edition
Chicago Notes & Bibliography asks for fuller repository detail when you cite a photograph—especially medium, dimensions when known, and the holding institution with city—then a URL if you consulted a digital surrogate. Photograph entries are only as strong as the photographer credit—stock watermarks are not a substitute for a named artist.
Image Citation Generator
Chicago Style (Notes & Bibliography)
17th/18th Edition (CMOS 14.235)1. Dorothea Lange, Migrant Mother, 1936, Photograph, Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division, Washington, DC, https://www.loc.gov/item/2017762891/.
💡 "Copy Formatted" copies with HTML styling so pasting into Microsoft Word or Google Docs retains italicized titles and indentation automatically.
Chicago formula for a photograph
Creator Last Name, First Name. Title of Work. Year. Photograph, dimensions. Institution, City. URL.
Italics: Italicize titles of artworks and photographs; medium and dimensions stay roman. Year position: After the title, before medium and repository details.
Worked example
In-text citation
(See note 1)
Template: Footnote number after the sentence; shortened subsequent notes.
Figure caption
Figure 1. Dorothea Lange, Migrant Mother, 1936. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division, Washington, DC.
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 Chicago?
Build one Chicago 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 Chicago?
Match the creator spelling used in the reference entry and apply Footnote number after the sentence; shortened subsequent notes.. If the photograph is labeled as a numbered figure in the paper, add that figure number only where your instructor’s Chicago handout allows.
Do I need a figure caption when I include a photograph in my paper (Chicago)?
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 Chicago?
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 Chicago?
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.