Instagram is the social media platform where millions of users post their content daily, out of which many are not their own. Some people luckily get away with posting someone else’s content as their own, but it is not considered morally correct. It is basically stealing if you upload somebody else’s work without giving them the credit they deserve. So how to give photo credit on Instagram?
Answer:
You can give photo credit on Instagram by mentioning the photographer in the caption or your story, tagging the photographer in the photo, adding links to the photographer’s work, or by adding a watermark of the photographer’s username.
What Is “Photo Credit” On Instagram?
A Photo credit simply means mentioning the rightful owner of the photo or the person who took that photo for you. Along with it, it is also important that you tag everyone else involved in that picture.
Giving a photo credit on Instagram is necessary in the following cases:
- Somebody clicked a picture for you, and you want to share it on your Instagram feed.
- You found a photo to match your Instagram account theme and want to post it on Instagram.
- You randomly found the work of someone from another source and want to share it with others through your Instagram account.
On Instagram, we often times find people not crediting the rightful owner enough. This action not only risks you from getting a copyright claim but also shows that you do not appreciate the efforts of the people behind the picture. Thus, a photo credit on Instagram is a nice gesture towards the rightful owner to show that you appreciate their work.
5 Right Ways To Give Photo Credit On Instagram
There are multiple ways to give photo credit on Instagram. Below I have mentioned the right ways to give photo credit on Instagram.
- Mention the photographer in the caption
- Tag the photographer in the photo
- Mention the photographer in your story
- Add links to the photographer’s work
- Add a watermark of the photographer’s username
Mention The Photographer In The Caption
Whether you are a model, a business, or just using Instagram as a personal account, crediting the rightful owner is a must!
While there are many ways to give a photo credit on Instagram, mentioning the photographer in the caption is the one that is used by many. Here’s an example of how you can give credit by mentioning them in the caption,
Photo Credit: @username, Shot by @username, Photo by @username, or “camera emoji”: @username to mention the photographer behind the picture.
To mention the photographer in the caption of your Instagram post, follow the steps below:
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Log in to your Instagram.
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Tap on the “+” icon.
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Select the photo you want to upload.
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Tap on the “Next” option at the top right corner of your screen.
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Then, tap on the next option again.
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In the caption section, write some lines appreciating the picture and the people behind it with the photo credit.
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Finally, tap on the “Share” option at the top right corner of your screen.
Sometimes the user might have turned off the mentioning option so tagging can be an issue in such cases. But you should still mention the photographers to show them appreciation and avoid copyright issues.
Tag The Photographer In The Photo
Tagging the photographer in the photo you upload is another way to give credit to the photographer. You’ll find the option to tag people on the edit panel before you hit the share button on Instagram.
If you don’t know how to tag the photographer in the photo on Instagram, follow the steps below:
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Go to your Instagram account.
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Tap on the “+” icon.
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Select the photo you want to upload.
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Tap on the “Next” option at the top right corner of your screen.
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Then, tap on the next option again on the next page.
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Once you’ve included everything you want to, tap on the “Tag people” option.
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Then, tap on the photo.
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On the search bar, search for the Instagram username you want to tag.
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Next, tap on the username.
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Tap on “Done.”
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Finally, tap on the share option at the top right corner.
Mention The Photographer In Your Story
You can also give credit to the respective photographer by sharing their work on your story. While doing so, tag their Instagram username on your story.
Follow the steps below to mention the photographer in your story.
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Go to the story section by tapping on the “Your story” option at the top left corner of your screen on the Instagram homepage.
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Select a photo to add as a story.
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Tap on the “Aa” icon.
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Then, type in @username.
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Tap on the “Done” option at the top right corner of your screen.
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Adjust the placement and size of the mention to your liking.
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Finally, tap on the “Your story” option at the bottom left corner of your screen.
This way, you can share the photographer’s work on your story while giving them the proper credit for their work.
Add Links To The Photographer’s Work
If you want to go beyond mentioning their username, adding links to the photographer’s work is another great way of giving photo credit. The link might be to either their website or other social media platforms.
This way, your viewers might be able to check out more of their works on other platforms.
Add A Watermark Of The Photographer’s Username
Many people also opt to put the Instagram username of the photographer as a watermark on their picture. This might not be the first choice of everyone, but this is also one of the ways to give photo credit on Instagram.
While it’s completely your choice to use the method that you find the best, I personally find mentioning the photographer in the caption convenient and the best to give credit on Instagram.
Important Things To Remember While Giving Photo Credit On Instagram
Now that you have learned different ways to give photo credit on Instagram, it is also necessary that you keep certain things in mind.
While giving a photo credit on Instagram, make sure to
- Ask For Permission
- Give Credit To The Rightful Owner
Ask For Permission
Before you go ahead and post a photo owned by somebody else or even your own picture taken by them, ask if it is okay to post the photo on your feed. Some people might be strict with giving away their work, so asking for permission is a must!
If they agree with you posting their work, then go ahead and post the picture with proper credit. This saves you from copyright infringement issues in the future and also helps to maintain a good relationship with the photographer.
Give Credit To The Rightful Owner
Even if we give credit on Instagram with good intentions, there might be cases where we end up crediting the wrong source. So before you give credit to the rightful owner, do proper research and ensure that you are crediting the original source.
This applies to the photos from Pinterest as well. While Pinterest is a great source of inspiration for many users, the photos there are definitely not to be used as stock images. Having said this, giving credit to just Pinterest isn’t right as well.
So if you decide to upload a picture from Pinterest on your Instagram account, tag the rightful owner, not Pinterest. For example, instead of Photo Credit: @Pinterest, you need to tag the rightful owner, i.e., Photo Credit: @username. It shouldn’t be too hard to find the photographer’s info. You may also try reverse image searching and find out more about the image.
Also Read: How To Find Someone On Instagram With Pictures?
What Not To Do While Giving Photo Credit On Instagram
Remember not to do these points mentioned below while giving photo credit on Instagram.
- Using excessive periods and putting the photo credit at the end
- Tagging the photographer by just using a hashtag
- Mentioning them in your story by making the name hidden or too tough to see
- Do not alter the photo to your liking
Using Excessive Periods And Putting Photo Credit At The End
We can see some people writing a caption and putting the photo credit at the end after excessive periods. This should be avoided, and the photo credit should preferably be included where people will actually notice.
Tagging By Just Using A Hashtag
We can find many people using the hashtag method to give credit to the rightful owner. This method is right only if the respective person does not have an Instagram account.
If they have an Instagram account, just using the hashtag and not mentioning their account on Instagram isn’t the correct way to give credit.
The wrong way: #username
The right way: Photo by/ Photo Credit: @username (and a link to their profile if you want)
Mentioning On Story Hiding Their Name
If you plan to share their work on your story, make sure to give proper credit. Mentioning them by hiding their name or making it too tough to see isn’t the right way to do it. You can’t even see their name, so what’s the point of giving credit?
Do Not Alter The Photo To Your Liking
While giving credit is crucial if you share their work, it is also very important that you do not make any changes to the work. Editing and altering the picture to your liking while sharing the work on your feed can put you into trouble. So strictly refrain from doing that.
Why Is It Necessary To Give Photo Credit On Instagram?
Giving photo credit on Instagram is a must! Do you want to know why? I’ve included some reasons why giving photo credit on Instagram is necessary.
- Because the work is not yours
- To avoid copyright issues
- To show work appreciation
- Basic Instagram Courtesy
Because The Work Is Not Yours
Posting others’ work on your feed requires you to give credit to them as the work does not belong to you. If you don’t give them the credit they deserve, it is the same as stealing their work which might put you in a bad place.
Basic Instagram Courtesy
In the real world, it is a basic courtesy to thank a person and appreciate their effort in any work. Likewise, on Instagram, it is a basic courtesy to give photo credit to the rightful owner.
This helps you maintain a good relationship with the photographer as well as prevents you from any potential reporting in the future.
To Avoid Copyright Issues
One of the main reasons it is a must to give photo credit on Instagram is to avoid copyright issues. Not all people are the same, and some can be very strict with who can share their work.
So it is best that you ask for permission beforehand and give them the photo credit they deserve.
To Show Work Appreciation
Giving photo courtesy to the rightful owner is also a way of showing appreciation for their hard work. It can be a simple but nice gesture to show that you are thankful for their efforts. This helps the photographer gain more exposure at the same time.
The Benefits Of Giving Photo Credit On Instagram
Giving photo credit on Instagram isn’t only beneficial to the photographer but also to you. Some of its benefits are:
- Networking Opportunity
- Avoid The Risk Of Being Reported
- Help Increase Your Followers
Networking Opportunity
Giving proper credit to the photographer will make you seem decent. You will also maintain a good relationship with the photographer, which might help you in the future. Through the photographer’s account, you might also come across many more people you can relate to.
Avoid The Risk Of Being Reported
Crediting the rightful owner while sharing their work on your Instagram is the safest option. You do not have to worry about people thinking that you stole their work. Thus, this will avoid the risk of being reported.
Help Increase Your Followers
If you mention the photographer in the caption or your Instagram story, not only the photographer will gain more exposure, chances are that you might increase your followers as well. Now you may wonder, how?
The photographer might have many more followers than you, and if they reshare your post, more people will come across your Instagram account. And they might even end up following you.
When Is It Not Necessary To Give Photo Credit On Instagram?
Giving photo credit on Instagram is not necessary only when you have full rights to the photo, i.e., it was taken by you, or you bought it from others with full rights to use it.
It is also not necessary to give photo credit On Instagram while using stock images from the internet. If the images are free to use, it is not compulsory to credit the source.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some frequently asked questions related to the topic.
Can I Use An Image If I Give Credit?
I cannot give a definite answer to this question since it depends on the owner whose image you are using. While many find it okay to share their work as long as you give them proper credit, many are very strict with who shares their work and how.
So instead of using the image, ask the rightful owner if you can use their work after giving them the proper credit.
How To Change Username On Instagram?
To change your Username on Instagram, firstly, Open your Instagram application > Tap on your profile/ Bitmoji > Click on edit profile > Tap on your Username > Lastly, change your Username.
Conclusion
Thus, in simple words, give credit where credit is due. Appreciating people for their work and giving them proper credit is essential not just on Instagram but everywhere. So next time you post somebody else’s work on your Instagram account, make sure to give them the proper credit. This will make the respective person happy and save you from uncomfortable situations, a win-win situation for both parties.
Hope you found our article helpful. Thank you for sticking with us till the very end!
