Guide CMS publishing · 7 of 9
Image Attribution: How to Credit Photos in a Blog Post
Credit images in a blog post the right way: check the license, write a TASL credit, place it in the caption, and keep a license record.
Key takeaways
- Check the license before you upload.
- Credit title, author, source, and license (TASL).
- Keep a license record with the media file.
Image attribution is the credit you give the creator of an image you did not make. In a blog post, that credit usually goes in the image caption and names the title, the author, the source, and the license. Before you add the credit, check that the license allows your use at all.
This guide shows how to check a license, write a credit, place it in your CMS, and keep a record. It includes three filled examples. It is practical guidance, not legal advice. If you are unsure whether you can use an image, ask the rights holder or a lawyer. For the release process around this step, see the blog publishing guide.
Check the license before you upload
Attribution only matters if you are allowed to use the image. Before you upload anything, find the license and answer three questions:
- Can I use it on a business blog? Some licenses do not allow commercial use.
- Can I edit it? Some licenses do not allow cropped or changed versions.
- What credit does it require? Some require a full credit, some a short one, some none.
If you cannot find a license, do not assume the image is free to use. Choose another image. The guide to choosing blog images covers how to pick images that add value.
What a credit needs: TASL
Creative Commons recommends a simple formula called TASL in its recommended practices for attribution:
- Title: the name of the work, if it has one.
- Author: the creator, or the name they ask you to use.
- Source: a link to where you found the work.
- License: the license name, linked to the license page.
Creative Commons notes that the title is optional for version 4.0 licenses but required for 3.0 and earlier. The CC BY 4.0 license deed also asks you to indicate if you made changes. Other licenses, such as a stock photo agreement, set their own rules. Follow the terms you agreed to, even if they ask for less or more than TASL.
Where to put the credit in a blog post
| Placement | When to use it | How in WordPress |
|---|---|---|
| Image caption | Most cases; the credit sits next to the image | Select the Image block and type in the caption field |
| Text under the image | When your theme hides captions | Add a short paragraph right after the image |
| Credits block at the end | Many images, or a license that allows it | Add a “Credits” heading and list each image |
A caption is a normal part of the Image block, not a separate bold line. The formatting guide explains why structure matters. Keep credits short so they read well on a phone; the mobile review guide includes a check for long captions.
Alt text is a different field with a different job. It describes the image for people who cannot see it. See the alt text audit guide for that work.
Worked examples: three credits
Fictional examples. The names, titles, and links below are invented to show the format.
| Case | Credit as written in the caption |
|---|---|
| CC BY 4.0 photo, cropped | “Morning Harbor” by Ana Ruiz, via [source link], licensed under CC BY 4.0 [license link]. Cropped from original. |
| Stock photo with its own terms | Photo: Jordan Lee / [Stock site name]. (Use the exact form the stock license asks for.) |
| Your own photo | Photo by the [Your company] team. |
In the first case, every TASL part is present, plus a note on the change. In the second, the stock license sets the credit format, so follow it. The third needs no license, but a credit tells readers the image is original.
Edited or cropped images
If you crop, resize, recolor, add text, or combine images, say so when the license asks for it. A short note works: “Cropped from original” or “Adapted from [title] by [author].” Some licenses do not allow changes at all. Check before you edit, not after.
Do this work before you schedule the post. Last-minute fixes close to a release time are easy to get wrong. If a scheduled post with finished credits still does not appear, the missed schedule guide explains the usual cause.
When no credit is required
Some images do not need a credit. Works dedicated to the public domain under CC0 do not require attribution. Some stock licenses also waive credit. Your own photos need no license.
Even then, a short credit helps. It tells readers where the image came from and shows your team checked. “Photo: public domain, via [source]” takes one line.
Common attribution mistakes
- “Image from Google.” A search engine is not the source. Find the page where the image was published.
- Credit without a license. Naming the photographer does not replace permission.
- Credit only in alt text. Alt text describes the image; it is not a visible credit.
- Dead links in credits. Check source and license links when you review old posts.
- No record. If nobody wrote down the license, nobody can confirm it later.
Keep a license record with the media file
A record lets anyone on your team answer “Can we use this image?” months later. Keep it simple:
| Field | Example entry (fictional) |
|---|---|
| File name | morning-harbor-crop.jpg |
| Source URL | [link to the original page] |
| License | CC BY 4.0 |
| Credit used | Full TASL credit in caption |
| Changes made | Cropped |
| Date checked | [date] |
| Checked by | [name] |
You can store this in a shared sheet or in the media file’s description field. Decide who is allowed to upload images and confirm licenses. The WordPress user roles guide explains which roles can upload files.
Videos from other platforms follow their own terms. The video embed guide covers how to add them and check them.
Where DEX fits
DEX publishes approved articles through the connected CMS. Image rights and credits remain a review step for your team before release. Keep the license record with the image so the check does not depend on memory.
Image credit checklist
- Find the license and confirm commercial use and edits are allowed.
- Write the credit with title, author, source, and license.
- Note any changes you made.
- Place the credit in the caption, or in a credits block if allowed.
- Save a license record with the file.
FAQ
What is TASL?
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Title, Author, Source, License: the parts Creative Commons recommends in an attribution.
Where should an image credit go?
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Usually in the image caption, next to the image.
Is this legal advice?
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No. If you are unsure whether you can use an image, ask the rights holder or a lawyer.
Sources
- Recommended practices for attribution · Creative Commons
- Attribution 4.0 International deed · Creative Commons
Dex SEO is an AI SEO agent for small businesses. Every article here is planned from search data, drafted by Dex, fact-checked against the sources it cites, and reviewed by the team before it is published.
How this article was made: planned and drafted by Dex from search data, fact-checked by Dex (3 claims checked), then approved by the Dex SEO team.