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· By Jason from Backlink Harvest

The Complete Guide to Getting Photo Attribution Credits

The Complete Guide to Getting Photo Attribution Credits

You found a website using your photo without credit. Now what?

Getting photo attribution isn't about being aggressive or demanding. It's about professional communication that gets results. This guide covers everything you need to know about requesting and receiving photo credits.

Understanding Your Rights

First, let's clarify what you can and can't expect (for a deeper analysis, see our guide on the hidden cost of free stock photos):

Unsplash License

Unsplash uses a custom license that doesn't require attribution but "appreciates" it. You can't demand credit, but you can politely request it. (For a deeper dive into the legal landscape, see our post on whether you legally deserve credit.)

Pexels License

Similar to Unsplash: attribution is appreciated but not required. Most sites will add credit when asked nicely.

Pixabay License

Again, no legal requirement for attribution. But most site owners understand the value of crediting creators.

Key insight: You're asking for a favor, not enforcing a right. This mindset shapes your entire approach.

Finding the Right Contact

Before you write anything, find who to contact. Sending emails to the wrong address wastes everyone's time.

For Blog Posts

  1. Check the author byline. Many blogs link to author emails or social profiles.
  2. Look for a "Contact" or "About" page.
  3. Search LinkedIn for "[Company name] content manager" or "editor."

For Business Websites

  1. Check the footer for contact information.
  2. Look for a press or media contact.
  3. Check the company's LinkedIn page for relevant contacts.

For News Sites

  1. Find the article author's email (often listed).
  2. Look for a general tips or feedback email.
  3. Contact the photo editor if listed.

Email Templates That Work

Here are tested templates for different situations:

Template 1: The Simple Ask

Best for: Small blogs, personal sites, first contact

Subject: Photo credit request - [Your Photo Title]

Hi [Name],

I noticed you're using one of my photos in your article "[Article Title]."

I'm glad my work was helpful! Would you mind adding a photo credit?
Something like "Photo by [Your Name]" with a link to [your portfolio URL]
would be great.

Thanks,
[Your Name]
[Your Website]

Template 2: The Appreciative Ask

Best for: High-quality sites you'd love a link from

Subject: Loved seeing my photo on [Site Name]

Hi [Name],

I was thrilled to see my photo featured in your piece on [topic].
It's always rewarding to see my work used in quality content like yours.

If you have a moment, would you consider adding a photo credit?
A simple "Photo by [Your Name]" linking to [your portfolio] would mean a lot.

Either way, thanks for the great article.

Best,
[Your Name]

Template 3: The Follow-Up

Best for: When you haven't heard back after 5-7 days

Subject: Re: Photo credit request - [Your Photo Title]

Hi [Name],

Just following up on my note from last week about the photo credit.

I know you're busy, so no worries if it's not possible. Just wanted
to make sure my message didn't get lost.

Thanks,
[Your Name]

Best Practices for Outreach

Do:

  • Personalize each email. Mention the specific article and why you appreciate it.
  • Make it easy. Provide the exact text and link you'd like them to use.
  • Be patient. Wait at least 5 days before following up.
  • Accept no gracefully. Some sites have policies against crediting individual photos.
  • Track your outreach. Know who you've contacted and what happened.

Don't:

  • Don't threaten legal action. You have no legal standing with most stock photo licenses.
  • Don't send mass emails. Personalization is everything.
  • Don't follow up more than once. Two emails maximum.
  • Don't be passive-aggressive. "I noticed you forgot to credit my photo" reads poorly.
  • Don't expect 100% success. 20-30% response rate is normal.

What to Do When They Say Yes

When a site agrees to add credit:

  1. Respond with thanks within 24 hours.
  2. Verify the link actually works and goes to your intended URL.
  3. Add them to your tracking as a successful backlink.
  4. Consider sharing their content as a thank you.

What to Do When They Say No

It happens. Some sites have policies, some are just unresponsive. When you get a no:

  1. Thank them anyway. Leave the door open for future opportunities.
  2. Move on quickly. Don't dwell on rejections.
  3. Document it. So you don't contact them again.

What to Do When They Don't Respond

Silence is the most common outcome. After your follow-up:

  1. Don't send more emails. Two is the limit.
  2. Mark them as "no response" in your tracking.
  3. Consider re-contacting in 6 months if the content is valuable enough.

Prioritizing Your Outreach

You can't contact every site using your photos. Prioritize:

High Priority

  • High domain authority sites (check with Moz or Ahrefs)
  • Sites in your professional niche
  • News outlets and major publications
  • Sites where you have a personal connection

Medium Priority

  • Established blogs with regular traffic
  • Business websites in relevant industries
  • Educational institutions

Low Priority

  • Personal blogs with minimal traffic
  • Sites with poor design or spammy content
  • Aggregator sites that scrape content

Measuring Success

Track these metrics over time:

  • Outreach sent: How many sites you contact
  • Response rate: What percentage reply
  • Success rate: What percentage add credit
  • Domain authority gained: Quality of sites linking to you
  • Referral traffic: Clicks from your new backlinks

A healthy campaign might see:

  • 30% response rate
  • 20% success rate (credit added)
  • 50+ new backlinks per year for an active photographer

Automating the Process

Manual outreach works when you're starting out—especially when you know where your photos are being used. But if you have hundreds of photos with thousands of uses, you need help.

That's exactly what Backlink Harvest does. We handle the tedious work so you can focus on sending great outreach and collecting your backlinks.

Quick Reference Checklist

Before sending any outreach:

  • [ ] Found the right contact person
  • [ ] Verified my photo is actually being used
  • [ ] Personalized the email for this specific site
  • [ ] Included my preferred credit text and link
  • [ ] Set a reminder to follow up in 5-7 days
  • [ ] Added to tracking spreadsheet

Final Thoughts

Getting photo attribution is a numbers game with a personal touch. The photographers who succeed are persistent but polite, systematic but personal.

Every backlink you earn is a permanent asset for your online presence. The time you invest in attribution outreach compounds over years.

Start with your top photos. Send five emails today. Track your results. Refine your approach. Watch your backlink profile grow.

Ready to scale your attribution outreach? Join the Backlink Harvest waitlist and automate the entire process.