How to Cite a Image or Photograph in APA (7th edition)
Learn how to cite photographs, artwork, charts, and online images in APA format (7th edition). This guide includes the reference list format, in-text citation examples, and key formatting rules.
APA Reference List Format
Here is the standard APA format for citing a image or photograph in your reference list:
Artist/Creator, A. A. (Year). Title of image [Format]. Museum/Site. https://url
APA Example for a Image or Photograph
A complete APA reference for a image or photograph, formatted by the official APA CSL style definition — the same engine that powers the generator on this site:
Moreau, C. (1974). Study at the window [Photograph]. City Museum of Art. https://www.example.org/collection/study-at-the-window
Matching in-text citation: (Moreau, 1974)
APA In-Text Citation
Use one of these formats when referencing this source within your paper:
Parenthetical
(Artist, Year)
Narrative
Artist (Year) depicts...
Key APA Formatting Rules
- Put the artist or creator in the author position.
- Italicize the image title; describe an untitled image in square brackets instead.
- Add a bracketed descriptor such as [Painting], [Photograph] or [Infographic].
- Name the museum, collection or website, then the URL.
- Cite an image reproduced in a book or article as part of that source.
Step-by-Step Guide
- Gather source information: Collect the author name, title, publication date, and URL or DOI for your image or photograph.
- Format the reference: Arrange the elements following the APA (7th edition) template shown above.
- Create the in-text citation: Add a parenthetical or narrative citation in your paper where you reference this source.
- Add to your reference list: Include the full formatted citation at the end of your paper.
- Double-check formatting: Verify italics, punctuation, capitalization, and hanging indents match APA requirements.
Evidence and review notes
Worked examples are generated by citeproc from the published CSL definition, not written by a language model. Editorial guidance and sources in this section were reviewed on 2026-08-14.
CSL style record: apa.csl
Metadata to collect
- artist or creator
- title, or a description of an untitled image
- year of creation
- medium or format
- museum, collection or website
- URL
Common metadata traps
- Cite the page or collection where you saw the image, never a search engine result.
- Distinguish the original artwork from a reproduction printed in a book or article.
Editorial sources
Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I cite a image or photograph in APA?
- To cite a image or photograph in APA (7th edition), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.
- What is the APA format for a image or photograph citation?
- The APA format for a image or photograph is: Artist/Creator, A. A. (Year). Title of image [Format]. Museum/Site. https://url
- What does the in-text citation look like for a image or photograph in APA?
- In APA, the in-text citation for the example above is (Artist, Year)
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