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How to Cite a Stock Photo in APA Style for Word and PowerPoint

Nimra Malik Oct 10, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user needs to know how to properly format a citation for a stock photo or clip art in APA style for academic work or published content.

Product: Microsoft Word and PowerPoint
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Writing an academic paper or creating a presentation that incorporates stock images and requires strict APA formatting.
Observed behavior: Requires the correct citation structure, including the creator, date, image title, source, and URL according to APA guidelines.

Before you start

Before formatting your citation, gather all available information about the stock image, including the creator's name, the year of publication, the title of the image, the name of the stock website, and the direct URL.

Solution 1Recommended

Format an APA Style Reference for a Stock Image

Follow the standard APA structure to correctly attribute stock photos and clip art in your reference list and document figures.

In APA style, the format for citing a stock photo or clip art depends on whether the image requires attribution according to its license. For academic purposes, it is best practice to cite the image even if it comes from a free-to-use site.

The standard reference list format is: Creator, A. A. (Year). Title of image [Stock image]. Site Name. URL.

Identify the creator and date

Locate the photographer's or illustrator's last name and initials, followed by the year the image was published in parentheses. E.g., Smith, J. (2023).

Add the image title and format

Write the title of the image in italics. Immediately after the title, add the medium in square brackets, such as [Stock image] or [Clip art].

Include the source website and URL

Provide the name of the stock website (e.g., Getty Images, Shutterstock, Unsplash) followed by the direct URL to the image.

Add a figure note in Word or PowerPoint

When inserting the image into your Word document or PowerPoint slide, place a figure number and title above the image, and a brief note below it containing the copyright attribution.

Format an APA Style Reference for a Stock Image

Missing Information: If the stock photo does not have a specific creator, start the reference with the image title and date. If there is no title, provide a brief description of the image in square brackets instead.

Manage Citations Easily

Format APA Citations Seamlessly with WPS Office

WPS Writer provides comprehensive reference tools to help you manage your bibliography, insert citations, and format your academic papers in APA style effortlessly.

1. Open your academic document: Launch WPS Writer and open the document where you need to insert your stock photo and citation.
2. Insert the stock photo: Go to the 'Insert' tab on the ribbon, click 'Picture', and select the downloaded stock image to place it in your document.
3. Add a caption: Right-click the inserted image and select 'Insert Caption' to easily add your APA figure note beneath the picture.
4. Manage your references: Navigate to the 'References' tab on the top ribbon to insert in-text citations and generate your final APA reference list.

Built-in reference management tools for academic writingFully compatible with Microsoft Word document formats (.docx)Easily insert figure captions directly below stock photosFree and lightweight alternative for students and professionals

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Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to cite free stock photos from sites like Unsplash or Pixabay in APA?

Yes. While the website's license may not legally require attribution, APA academic standards require you to cite the source of any image you did not create yourself. You should include the creator, date, title, site name, and URL.

How do I format an in-text citation for a stock photo?

An APA in-text citation for an image typically includes the creator's last name and the year of publication in parentheses, for example: (Smith, 2023). This is used when you refer to the image in your text.

Where should the image citation appear in my Word document?

In APA format, provide a brief copyright attribution in the figure note directly below the image in your document. The full, detailed citation should be listed in your References section at the end of the document.

What if the stock image changes or is deleted from the website?

Provide the URL where the image was originally found. In academic writing, it is recommended to save a local copy of the image and note the retrieval date if you suspect the URL might be unstable, though standard APA only requires the retrieval date if the content is designed to change over time.

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