Definition

Noun: A note or line of text that identifies and acknowledges the photographer, agency, or source of a published photograph.

Usage

The term "photo credit" is used to give proper attribution to the creator or owner of a photograph when it is published in media such as newspapers, magazines, websites, books, or exhibitions. It is a standard practice in journalism and publishing.

Examples

• The article featured a stunning image of the mountains, with the photo credit reading "John Smith / Getty Images."
• Always ensure you include the correct photo credit to avoid copyright infringement.
• The photo credit was printed in small type at the bottom of the picture.

Advanced Usage

• To receive/give/get a photo credit: This phrasing is used to describe the act of being acknowledged as the photographer.
  • The freelance photographer was happy to get a photo credit in the national magazine.
• Photo credit line: A synonym often used in publishing to refer to the specific line of text containing the credit.
  • The editor checked the photo credit line for accuracy before printing.

Variants and Related Words

• Credit (n.): A broader term for acknowledgment of any contribution (e.g., film credit, writing credit).
• Attribution (n.): The act of ascribing a work to its creator, a more formal synonym.
• Caption (n.): A title or explanation for an illustration, which is different from but often appears near a photo credit.

Synonyms

• Photographer attribution
• Image credit
• Courtesy line (often used when the photo is provided by an organization, e.g., "Photo courtesy of NASA")

Notes

"Photo credit" functions as a compound noun. Its primary and almost exclusive use is as a singular noun (e.g., "the photo credit"). The concept is about the acknowledgment itself, not the act of crediting. The act is described with verbs like "to credit" (e.g., "We must credit the photographer").

Noun

1. a note acknowledging the source of a published photograph