Noble Blogger Guidelines: How to Cite Pictures
Today’s media is all about the visual. Your website is not likely to survive if it does not have striking graphics. Graphics are the spice in your reader’s soup.
It’s not always convenient, or even possible to use your own materials, so naturally you turn to outside sources. However, your effort to dress up a page will not end as soon as you find a proper picture, because now, you need to cite it correctly.
Many bloggers are really struggling with correctly citing the source of their graphics. Copyright laws are strict, and one small omission may result in a spoilt reputation or even a lawsuit. In order to avoid that, you must stop being an online Robin Hood and improve your blogging processes.
So, you need to use safe images in your blog post. What’s the plan? I will explain everything with the help of the following guidelines, provided by a Noble Blogger.
1. You have found an image online. Start by checking its copyright status.
The first tool to use is TinEye, which comes into play when you need to find out the origins of the image and the availability of versions with higher resolution. TinEye will tell you who owns the image, where it comes from and who can use it. You can either upload the image or use its URL.
2. If the picture is under copyright, you can ask permission to use it.
It’s usually not difficult to find the photographer's contact information and ask if you can use his or her images on your blog with the appropriate tribute. Make sure the permission is written.
3. If you want to find pictures that are free of copyright, there are several options.
You can use «Advanced Search» in Google Images Search, choosing «free to use or share» or «free to use or share, even commercially» depending on your needs.
Some free websites where you don't need any permissions for using images in blog posts are Flickr, morgueFile, FreeFoto, FreeDigitalPhotos and Pixabay. In many cases, you will need to include a link to the source and a small nod to the source. Pixabay offers images you can use without any links or attributions.
For example, if I find a photo posted on Flickr by Tori Siegel, I’ll create my citation the following way:
Please note that there are several license types presented on Flickr, including Attribution, Noncommercial, Share Alike and No Derivative Works. Choose the best fit for your blog needs.
NOTE: There are paid picture services too. Stock Xchange, Fotolia, Shutterstock and Dreamstime will request a small fee from you ($1-2 for a small pic). You can use keywords to make your search faster. You won’t need to attribute to the source in this case.
4. Name the person who owns the picture.
Do it right under each picture you use. It is a good idea to use full name and check if you spelled it right. The image credit should be put next to the picture, either right underneath it or on the right/left side, depending on what position looks best in your blog post.
If you find the original source of the image on the photographer’s website, you should use the following format of your image credit:
Image by [Author’s Name with a hyperlink to the image owner’s website].
If, on the other hand, you find the image at a website that is different from the author’s website, you should use the following format:
Image by [Author’s Name with a hyperlink to his/her website] via [Name of the website where you found the picture with the hyperlink attached].
Here’s an example of one way to handle this tricky, yet necessary process: I simply emailed Melody Miller, a talented designer inspired by vintage fashion, and Irene Suchocki, an amazing fine art photographer who is in love with London, Paris and New York, and they both helped me out.
When I found a lovely typewriter image on Melody’s own website, I cited it like this:
But if I come across the artwork of Irene Suchocki – one of the most popular photographers in Canada – on a décor website, I need to include both links to Irene’s personal website and the source where I found the picture:
Image by Irene Suchocki via Etsy Shop
5. Remember to use the links to the websites where the picture originally appeared.
You cannot just put “via Google,” “via Pinterest,” “via Flickr” or “via Tumblr.” Sometimes you have to do some research on the matter; usually, it’s an online gallery or exhibition that you need.
6. Name the image in order to show what it represents.
Make sure you get it right and do a double check.
When you’resaving an image that you want to use on your WordPress blog post, name it according to what is on it instead of tricky codes that are a default name of your save. This way, the name of your file will be recorded, and it will be a lot easier to find on Google and attract more traffic.
For example, if you use an image from a conference or other event, it is wise to add the conference’s name, location and date. Let’s say it’s something like NMX 2013. Put “nmx_2013_las_vegas” as the picture’s name. (However, if it’s just a photo of a flower, you don’t have to be too tricky about it.)
7. Use the attribute links both in the body and at the end of your blog post.
It will be super nice and very noble of you! Building relationships in business is, for the most part, extremely important for your company’s promotion.
The image owner may be very pleased with your gesture and if so, will cooperate with you in the future.
8. Familiarize yourself with Copyright and Fair Use regulations.
It’s better to avoid using somebody else’s material that is under copyright, in case you cannot get permission to use it.
If you are using pictures frequently, or when it comes to unique photos of great value, it’s especially important not to risk violating the copyright law, in order to prevent potential lawsuits.
9. Be aware of the gray areas in copyright laws.
Some of these rules are still unwritten and are more related to etiquette rather than law.
Fair Use is the most disputable area in copyright, as it assumes that you may not have to ask permission from the image owner if you’re using it for getting feedback, criticism or comments, or for the purposes of teaching, educating, reporting news or research. At times, the bond between educational and commercial purposes is unclear on blogs, so it’s better to ask permission and play it safe.
10. Learn how to use Creative Commons.
Creative Commons is a great platform to share creative materials for free with the help of user-friendly copyright licenses. The artwork you can freely use is not limited to pictures – there are also songs, academic and scientific works, and videos.
Before you start working with copyright, it’s reasonable to spend enough time educating yourself on the issue. Copyright Law of the United States helps you out with this great extract. The expiration terms for copyright works can be found here.
Don't think you're simply going the extra mile – the benefits of being a nobleman of your industry are too intriguing to miss. Being a Robin Hood online is not as romantic as the legend implies, and copyrights represent a case when discretion is definitely the better part of valor. So put pen to paper and prove that you can do better by citing images on your blog using all the necessary attributes.
Do you love or hate citing images? What tools do you use for it? What do you think are the benefits of being noble in terms of image copyrights? Share your thoughts in comments please.
Comments (67)
This has been a most helpful post! Just what I have been looking for to make my blog more content-compliant! Thank you so much.
You’re welcome! I am happy you found it useful and I hope it will improve your blogging :-)
Very interesting info!Perfect just what I was looking for!
Thomas, you’re absolutely welcome!
Thank you for this very informative post. If you don’t mind, I am writing a blog regarding images and would like to use this as “related post,” with link going to this post. Again, thanks!
You’re welcome, Ruby. We’re glad to know that it was useful for you.
Thanks for writing this post. It helps a lot. I was wondering how you can tell from TinEye that the photo has a copyright or not.
Thanks!
Elissa, TinEye will provide you with the link to a site where the image originally appeared. Follow the link and look at the copywrite here.
Thank you very much for this post. I was looking for something like this for my students.
Awesome that you found it helpful :)
How do we find out where the picture originally appeared?
Pallavi, what you really want to do is initially use use images with the right usage rights (allowed for commercial use).
Hi there,
I am wondering about your examples. Where you write “image source” under the photo, should actually be “Photo by (author) hyperlink”
Nicole, that can be an option too. Yet – image source can also be sufficient depending on image license rules.
Hi There,
Do you always have to email the source to use the picture even if you’re going to give credit to them on your site? I am trying to do an inspiration board with images I’ve found on the internet for my business (obviously the page will be called inspiration and not my photos). but just wondering if I have to email each person of the photos I want to use or is giving them credit enough?
Well, Alicia, it’s advisable to do this. In case some owners of photos state on their resource that they’re not against using their works (if you provide source credit), then you may skip e-mailing them and just use the work indicating the source.
Thanks for the info.. im new to blogging and it really help me lot
You’re welcome, Matt.
Very well presented piece, Sasha. Useful content all the way.
Thanks for your kind words, Earl!
If you purchase images from Shutterstock to use on a website do you have to sisplay a credit ?
This information helps a lot about how to cite a pictures.
Thanks
Glad to be helpful, Joepet!
Thank you for the info. What about photos I have scanned into the computer from a newspaper, book or magazine that obviously does not have any hyperlinks. How do I cite it then?
Thanks for the tips. It was really helpful.
Glad we could be of help, Ansu!
Dear Sacha,
Thank you for making this page. I have two questions :
1) How does copyright rules apply to a screenshot images
2) How does copyright rules apply to an edited image (for instance a google map screenshot on which I add some info)
Regards
Hi Edouard,
Please check this topic on Quora – https://www.quora.com/If-I-take-a-screenshot-a-website-and-use-it-on-my-own-website-am-I-violating-any-copyright-laws
It should address both of your questions :)
I’m currently writing an essay and I included a picture from a graphic novel. Should I cite the person who took the picture and their blog, or should I cite the book that it came from?
Hello Helen Nesterenko,
Thank you for your comments to Pallavi Khemka where you wrote:
“Pallavi, what you really want to do is initially use use images with the right usage rights (allowed for commercial use).”
As I mentioned in my comments to Sasha Zinevych, I am a new blogger who is very much in need of this information. Thank you.
Thanks for ur post. its useful info for me & also I like your presentation
Very useful post. Do you know how do I proceed when I want to use, in my blog post, a famous ad as a graphic design example? It’s enough just to put the source link? or does this one go into a different category of copyright….
Thanks!
I would really like to use an image but I can’t reach the owner. What should I do?
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I notice that some sites place the following credits right underneath the images they placed. I highly doubt the author obtained the permission to use their photos.
Is this legal free way to use any photos from other sites and post into your own blogging/news site which is considered non-commercial site? I’m little confused by this method. Thank you!!!
Image Credit: Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
Image Credit: Getty Images
Image Credit: AP
I am having the same issue here lol. That is why I am reading about it first.
Thanks for the great post. I’m working on a blog covering existing ads, some quite old. Do I have to get permission to show the work? Thanks!
Thank you for this info. It helps. I am new to blogging and desire to use lots of pics. what is the easiest way to get the photo and the name or links from the site it is on back to my own photos or to my blog?
Thanks,
Lisa
I am using pixabay. They don’t need attribution. Image Courtesy or Image credit which one is correct?
Helpful information. Fortunate me I found your website
unintentionally, and I’m surprised why this coincidence did
not happened earlier! I bookmarked it.2
Can you simply make the picture a link to its original source so when somebody clicks on it, it takes them to the website?
One of the pictures I have used in a post links to another blog so when you click on the picture in my blog it takes the person to the blog where I got it. Now, I have no idea where that blog got the picture from as there is no credit. So interesting.
Thanks for the brilliant info!
I’m just about to start a blog (I’m new to the blogosphere) and knew from the outset that I’ll be using other people’s pictures to let readers know what I’m talking about, but finding help on crediting their work hasn’t been a cakewalk. This is so, so helpful! Thank you so much!
This is quite informative and helpful. I definitely need this for my blog since it’s my first time to use an image from another source. Thank you so much!
Very helpful tips for newbies. I have taken an image to use as the background for my web page, how do I cite or reference this? Thanks in advance.
How can i create the image source link?
Thanks Sasha for your article. It’s very important to give proper citation when copying the intellectual property of other people. As an artist I’ve found a number of cases of people who have copied the images I’ve posted to my website and pasted without citation into their blogs. I’m not a stickler about copyright restriction, in fact I’m very flattered that someone likes my paintings enough to want to use them, but it’s common courtesy to ask permission before using the property of someone else. Artists, writers, anyone in a creative field of work has the legal right to pursue copyright infringement, and it isn’t hard at all to find unauthorized usage. Google and Bing make that task incredibly easy. My advice to bloggers is the same as is presented in this article. If you find an image on the internet that you want to use, in most cases all you have to do is find the email address and drop the owner a line or two. If there’s no contact information, at least provide a citation along with the image. Doing so shows respect to the person who owns the right to the image.
Bust h
Hi, I found that my images has been reproduced in tarpaulin and banners of the Local Tourism. Without asking my permission and citing its source. Are they liable for a criminal lawsuit? Thank you!
Brilliant article – tons of useful tips – thank you )
Can I upload screenshots (as images) from movies in my blog?
Hello Friend, May I ask how can I be very sure or still check that once I have given photo credit to its owner on your blog below the picture or included the link of where it’s from, how can I be sure its ok. I am written a blog post and I need to use a picture of a few celebrities but the image has copyright bellow them. So if I give photo credit to where I got it from, How can I be sure there won’t be any issue. xx
This info is helpful for new bloggers. My question is that by this image source method can I use a Shutterstock image in the blog. Please a reply
Thank you for the informative post! I am a novice blogger/vlogger at knxshn.org who recently began looking for other sources for images to spice up my content. For sure, I want to be mindful and give other creatives their credit.
I’m new to the blogging world and my posts were being postponed because I didn’t personally take the photos I needed for the article! This posts really helped with clarifying what needs to be done if I were to use others photos! Great blog posts!! Thank you so much!
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Thank you for this very helpful information!
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Hey. I know that this is an old post but I am just starting my blog and I really thank you for getting me out of trouble. I thought I can just grab any picture I like on the internet and use it on my blog. Not that I am famous or something, but glad to know. Thanks
Thank you for such a simple explanation of a complicated topic.
Very helpful post !
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Hello, thanks for the great guide!
What if I want to use print screens of popular websites (news articles, blogs, etc.)? Within my article I need to use print screens as examples to make my point. Is it enough if the print screen has the website’s url or I need to mention the source under it anyway?
Thanks
Hi guys
Writing work I do