Any images used in your paper should be copyright free.
Always ask your instructor on how images should appear in your paper. If no instructions are given, APA has some guidance:
When referring to your image in the text of your paper, refer to it by the figure number.
For example:
In Your Paper
Insert the image in your paper following the format, below.
Example of an image with no known creator, title or date
Figure 1
Productive Group Meeting
Note. From [Group meeting with person taking notes on a laptop] [Photograph], n.d., PxHere (https://pxhere.com/en/photo/1431569). CC0 Public Domain.
Example of an image with a known photographer, title and date
Figure 1
Kids Playing With Bubbles
Note. From Bubbles! [Photograph], by C. McCorkle, 2006, Flickr (https://flic.kr/p/NRiRR7). CC BY-SA 2.0.
Include a References entry for the image in your References as well (please see examples below).
More sample figures can be found on APA Style.
Use this example when:
For information on how to include an image in your paper, please see the "Inserting Images into Your Assignment" box at the top of this page.
Reference
Photographer Last Name, Initials. (Year). Title or description of image in italics [Image format]. Website name. Hyperlinked URL
Tierney, S. (2013). Transporter bridge: Middlesborough [Photograph]. Flickr. https://www.flickr.com/photos/stephentierney/9997909524
In-text Citation
(Photographer Last Name, Year).
Use this example when:
For information on how to include an image in your paper, please see the "Inserting Images into Your Assignment" box at the top of this page.
If the creator is unknown, begin the reference with the image title. If there is no date, enter: n.d. in the date field.
Reference
[Title or description of image] [Format]. (Date). Website name. Hyperlinked URL
[Golden Gate suspension bridge] [Photograph]. (n.d.). Pexels. https://www.pexels.com/photo/sea-city-mountains-landmark-2042/
In-text Citation
([Title or description of image], Year).
Reference
Author(s) or Developer(s) (Year). Model name (Version of model, if applicable) [Type of AI used]. Link to AI model.
Perchance. (2023). AI Image Generator [AI image creator]. https://perchance.org/ai-text-to-image-generator
In Your Paper
Figure 1
Example of an AI generated image
Note. Image generated using the prompt "Fall trees" by Perchance, AI Image Generator, 2023 (https://perchance.org/ai-text-to-image-generator).
Refer to your image in the text of your paper using the figure number. For example:
Use this example when:
For information on how to include an image in your paper, please see the "Inserting Images into Your Assignment" box at the top of this page.
Libraries subscribes to several image databases, including Artstor and Britannica ImageQuest.
List the name of the database where you found the image. Do not include a link to the image in the database.
Reference
Photographer Last Name, Initials. (Year). Title or description of image in italics [Image format]. Database name.
Dominguez, C. (n.d.). Sydney Opera House [Photograph]. Britannica ImageQuest.
In-text Citation
(Photographer last name, Year).
Use this example when:
For information on how to include an image in your paper, please see the "Inserting Images into Your Assignment" box at the top of this page.
Reference
Artist’s Last Name, First Initial. Second Initial if given. (Year). Title of work [Format of work]. Museum Name, Museum Location. Hyperlinked URL
Mackintosh, C. R., & Macdonald, M. (1901). Design for a fireplace wall [Drawing]. Museum of Modern Art, New York, NY, United States. https://www.moma.org/calendar/exhibitions/1258
In-text Citation
(Artist's Last Name, Year).
Use this example when:
For information on how to include an image in your paper, please see the "Inserting Images into Your Assignment" box at the top of this page.
It is not necessary to cite clip art taken from Microsoft Word or PowerPoint.
Reference
Artist’s Last Name, First Initial. Second Initial if given or username. (Year). Title of work [Image format]. Publisher. Hyperlinked URL
Katze2122. (2018). Cat icon grey [Clip art]. Openclipart. https://openclipart.org/detail/308557/cat-icon-grey
In-text Citation
(Artist Last Name or username, Year).
Use this example when:
For information on how to include an image in your paper, please see the "Inserting Images into Your Assignment" box at the top of this page.
Reference
Photographer Last Name, Initials. (Year photo was taken). Title or description of image [Image format]. In Article Author's Initials. Article Author's Last Name. (Year article was published). Title of article: Capitalize first word in title and subtitle. Title of Journal: Capitalize all Major Words, Volume number in italics(issue number), page range. Hyperlinked DOI or URL, if applicable
Emanuel, F. (n.d.) Young man being bullied [Photograph]. In K. VanderVen. (2011). From the bully pulpit: A child and youth work approach to bullying. Relational Child & Youth Care Practice, 24(1/2), 86.
In-text Citation
(Photographer Last Name, Year).
Unpublished images include photographs taken by you but not available publicly online or in a published form.
These types of unpublished images do not need to be cited.
However, you may wish to add a note underneath the photograph to let your reader know it's your photograph (otherwise, your reader may assume you forgot to cite the image!)
Example
Note. Photograph by author.
Many of your assignments will require you to find and cite images in your assignment.
On this page we've provided: