How to Cite an Image in APA, MLA & Chicago Style

Images are a great way to support your arguments, illustrate your points, and add some visual appeal to your writing. However, they also require proper citation, just like any other source.

In this blog, you will learn how to cite images in different citation styles, such as APA, MLA, and Chicago. Not only that, but we will also tell you how to cite images from various sources such as online images, printed photographs, images in books, etc.

So, let’s not keep you waiting any longer and get right into it!

Citing Images in Different Citation Styles

The citation format for images depends on the source and the style you are using. Here are some formats and examples of how to cite images in APA, MLA, and Chicago style.

Citing Online Image

If you are using an image from a website, such as a blog, a news article, or a social media post, you need to include the following information in your citation:

Name of the creator or author of the image, if available.
Title or description of the image.
Name of the website or platform where the image is hosted.
URL or DOI of the image.
Date of publication or access, in parentheses.

Here is how to cite online images in different citation styles:

APA Style:

Format:

Creator Last Name, First Name Initial. (Date). Title of image [Description]. Website Name. URL

Example:
Smith, J. (2022). Delicious Chocolate Creations [Photograph]. SweetTreats.com. https://www.sweettreats.com/chocolate-creations

MLA Style:

Format:

Creator Last Name, First Name. "Title of Image." Website Name, Date of publication, URL.

Example:

Doe, Jane. "The Art of Chocolate Sculpting." ChocoMasterpieces.org, 2019, https://www.chocomasterpieces.org/art-of-chocolate.

Chicago Style:

Format:

Creator Last Name, First Name, Title of Image, Website Name, Date, URL.

Example:

James, Jessie. Decadent Chocolate Desserts. DivineDesserts.com, 2020, https://www.divinedesserts.com/chocolate-desserts.

Citing a Photograph

If you are using a photograph that you took yourself or obtained from another person, you need to include the following information in your citation:

Name of the photographer or the person/organization who provided the photograph.
Title or description of the photograph.
Date the photograph was taken.
Medium or format of the photograph, such as print, digital, or slide.

Here are some examples of how to cite photographs in different styles:

APA Style:

Format:

Creator Last Name, First Name Initial. (Date). Title of photograph [Description]. Source.

Example:

Smith, J. (2020). Delicious Chocolate Delight [Photograph]. Chocolate Lovers Magazine.

MLA Style:

Format:

Creator’s Last Name and First Name. "Title of Photograph." Date of creation, Source.

Example:

Doe, Jane. "Tempting Chocolate Truffles." Sweet Indulgences Cookbook, 2015.

Chicago Style:

Format:

Creator’s Last Name and First Name, Title of Image, Year, Source.

Example:

James, Jessie. Heavenly Chocolate Fondue. 2018. Dessert Enthusiast Blog.

Citing an Image From a Book

If you are using an image from a book, such as a diagram, a graph, a map, or a painting, you need to include the following information in your citation:

Name of the creator or author of the image, if different from the book author.
Title or description of the image.
Page number where the image is located, preceded by p. or pp.
Name of the book author or editor.
Title of the book.
Edition, volume, or series, if applicable.
Publisher, city, and year of publication.

Here are some citation style formats on how to cite images from books:

APA Style:

Format:

Creator Last Name, First Name Initial. (Date). Title of image [Description]. In Title of book (pp. xx-xx). Publisher.

Example:

Smith, J. (2020). Delicious chocolate delights [Photograph]. In The Sweet World of Chocolates (pp. 45-60). ChocoPrints Publishing.

MLA Style:

Format:

Creator’s Last Name, First Name. "Title of Image." Book Title, Volume, Publisher, Year, Page(s).

Example:

Doe, Jane. "Cocoa Beans Close-up." The Chocolate Encyclopedia, SweetPress, 2018, pp. 112-125.

Chicago Style:

Format:

Creator’s Last Name and First Name, Title of Image, Year, in Book Title, (City: Publisher, Year), Page(s).

Example:

James, Jessie. Tempering Chocolate Process. 2019. In Chocolate Artistry. (DessertDreams Publishing, 2019), 78-89.

Citing an Artwork from the Museum

If you are using an artwork from a museum, such as a painting, a sculpture, or a photograph, you need to include the following information in your citation:

Name of the artist or creator of the artwork.
Title of the artwork.
Date of creation.
Medium or materials of the artwork, such as oil on canvas, marble, or gelatin silver print.
Name and location of the museum where the artwork is displayed.

Here are some examples of how to cite artworks from museums in different styles:

APA Style:

Format:

Artist Last Name, First Name Initial. (Date). Title of artwork [Description of the Image/Type]. Museum Name, City, Country.

Example:

Smith, J. (2022). Delicious Chocolate Temptation [Oil Painting]. Chocolate Museum, Cocoa City, USA.

MLA Style:

Format:

Artist's Last Name, First Name. Title of Artwork. Date of creation, Museum Name, City.

Example:

Doe, Jane. "Cocoa Dreams." 2017, Sugary Delights Museum, Confectionery Town.

Chicago Style:

Format:

Artist's Last Name and First Name, Title of Artwork, Date of creation, Museum or Location Name, City.

Example:

James, Jessie. "Chocolate Euphoria." 2018, Truffleville Art Gallery, England.

Why Images are Necessary in Academic Writing

Images can enhance your academic writing in many ways, such as:

Providing visual evidence for your claims.
Simplifying complex data or ideas.
Adding interest and variety to your text.
Supporting your analysis or interpretation of a topic.

Rules of Using Images

Using images also comes with some responsibilities, such as:

Obtaining permission from the original creator or owner of the image, if needed.
Giving credit to the source of the image.
Following the citation rules of your chosen style.
Providing enough information for your readers to locate the image.

Try PerfectEssayWriter.ai’s New Citation Machine

If you struggle with citing your sources correctly or if you waste time formatting your references manually, then you need to try PerfectEssayWriter.ai’s new citation machine.

This amazing citation tool can help you generate accurate and consistent citations in any style, such as APA, MLA, and Chicago. All you have to do is enter the source information, choose the style, and click the button. The citation machine will do the rest for you.

WRITTEN BY

Cathy Aranda (Mass communication)

Cathy is a highly dedicated author who has been writing for the platform for over five years. With a Master's degree in Mass Communication, she is well-versed in various forms of writing such as articles, press releases, blog posts, and whitepapers. As an essay writing guide author at PerfectEssayWriter.ai, she has been helping students and professionals improve their writing skills by offering practical tips on research, citation, sentence structure, and style.

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