Accurately citing photographs in academic papers is essential for maintaining credibility and avoiding plagiarism. Following the American Psychological Association (APA) 7th edition guidelines ensures that you give proper credit to photographers and artists for their visual works. This guide breaks down the process of citing photos in APA format, covering various sources from museum artworks to social media images and stock photos.
Key Elements for APA Photo Citations
To correctly cite a photograph in APA 7th edition, you need to gather specific information about the image. While not all elements may be available for every photo, aim to include as much of the following as possible:
- Photographer’s Last Name and First Initial: Start with the creator of the image. If a photographer is credited, use their name. If it’s an artwork, use the artist’s name.
- Date of Creation: Provide the year the photograph was taken or the artwork was created. If a specific date is available, use the year of publication or creation.
- Title of the Work: Include the title of the photograph or artwork if it is known. Titles should be italicized. If there is no official title, create a brief description of the image enclosed in square brackets.
- [Medium]: Specify the medium of the artwork in square brackets, such as [Photograph], [Painting], [Sculpture], or [Print].
- Location or Source: Indicate where you accessed the image. This could be a museum name and location, a website name, or a platform like Instagram or Flickr.
- URL: If the image was found online, include the full URL of the webpage where you accessed it.
Citing Different Types of Photos
The format for your citation will slightly vary depending on where you found the photograph. Here are examples for common sources:
Photograph (General Example)
For a photograph not directly associated with a museum, use this format:
Photographer, P. (Year). Title of photograph [Photograph]. Source. URL
Example:
Ryan, S. (2019). Sea smoke on Lake Michigan [Photograph]. New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/world/year-in-pictures.html
Example of a Flickr image with a Creative Commons license requiring attribution for APA format citation.
Artwork in a Museum or on a Museum Website
When citing artwork found in a museum or on a museum’s website:
Artist, A. (Year). Title of artwork [Medium]. Source (Location or Website). URL
Example:
van Gogh, V. (1889). The starry night [Painting]. The Museum of Modern Art, New York, NY, United States. https://www.moma.org/learn/moma_learning/vincent-van-gogh-the-starry-night-1889/
Instagram Photo
To cite a photo from Instagram, include the Instagram handle and a brief description of the post’s content:
Author, A. or Name of Group [@instagram handle]. (Year, Month Date). Content of the post up to the first 20 words [Photograph]. Instagram. URL
Example:
Philadelphia Museum of Art [@philamuseum]. (2019, December 3). “It’s always wonderful to walk in and see my work in a collection where it’s loved, and where people are [Photograph]. Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/p/B5oDnnNhOt4/
Stock Photos and Clip Art
Citing stock photos depends on the license. Images from programs like Microsoft Word or PowerPoint generally do not require citations due to licensing agreements. However, for stock images from sources like Flickr, iStock, or Shutterstock, attribution may be necessary depending on the Creative Commons license.
Example of Flickr photo with Creative Commons license requiring attribution:
Roscoe, A. (2017). Shrinking glacier [Photograph]. Flickr. https://www.flickr.com/photos/12778388@N06/37705686052
In-Text Citations
In addition to the full reference list entry, you’ll need to include in-text citations within your paper whenever you refer to the photograph. APA format uses two types of in-text citations:
- Parenthetical Citation: Place the citation in parentheses, usually at the end of the sentence. Example: (Ryan, 2019)
- Narrative Citation: Integrate the author’s name into your sentence, followed by the year in parentheses. Example: Ryan (2019)
By consistently applying these guidelines, you can confidently and correctly cite photos in APA format, ensuring academic integrity and giving proper recognition to visual creators. Always refer to the official APA 7th Edition Style Guide for the most comprehensive and up-to-date information.
