photo by

USAGE SUMMARY

"photo by" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to credit the photographer who took a certain photo. For example, "This beautiful photo was taken by John Smith - Photo by John Smith."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Photo by Vickie Coker.

The New Yorker

Photo by Chika Okazumi.

The Economist

Photo by Holger Thoss.

The New York Times

Photo by ???

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Photo by Stringer/AFP/Getty.

The New Yorker

Photo by philcampbell on Flickr.

The Guardian

Photo by Vatican Pool/Getty.

The New Yorker

(Photo by Daily Progress).

The New York Times

Photo (Photo by Christie's).

The New York Times

(Photo by NASA TV).

The New York Times

Photo by wearemudlark.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "photo by", ensure the photographer's name is accurate and consistently formatted throughout your document.

Common error

Always credit the photographer when using their work. Failure to do so can lead to copyright infringement or ethical concerns.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "photo by" serves as a concise attribution, crediting the photographer for their work. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness, making it a standard way to acknowledge image authorship.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "photo by" is a grammatically sound and highly prevalent phrase used to credit photographers. As Ludwig AI confirms, it’s widely accepted across diverse sources, most notably in News & Media, Science, and Academia. While alternatives such as "photography by" or "image by" exist, "photo by" offers a concise and universally understood method of attribution. Remember to always credit photographers accurately to respect their copyright and contribution.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

photography by

Synonymous; emphasizes the art of photography.

photograph by

Synonymous; a more formal term for photo.

image by

Broader term; can refer to any type of image, not just a photograph.

picture by

Synonymous; a more informal term for photo.

credit: photographer

A shorter way to give credit to the photographer, but less common in written text.

courtesy of

Used when the photo is provided as a courtesy by the photographer or organization.

© photographer

Indicates copyright ownership by the photographer.

image courtesy of

Used when the image is provided by the photographer or organization as a courtesy.

source: photographer

Indicates the source of the photo, which is the photographer.

shot by

An informal and direct way to attribute a photo.

FAQs

How to use "photo by" in a sentence?

You can use "photo by" to credit the photographer of an image, for example: "This stunning landscape, "photo by" John Smith, captures the beauty of the mountains."

What can I say instead of "photo by"?

Alternatives include "photography by", "image by", or "photograph by". The best choice depends on the context and your desired level of formality.

Is it necessary to include "photo by" when the photographer is already mentioned in the caption?

It's generally good practice to include "photo by" even if the photographer is mentioned elsewhere, especially if the image is prominently featured. This ensures clear and immediate attribution.

Which is correct: "Photo by [Photographer's Name]" or "[Photographer's Name]'s photo"?

Both are correct, but "Photo by [Photographer's Name]" is more commonly used for direct attribution. "[Photographer's Name]'s photo" is more appropriate when referring to a specific photograph owned or taken by that person.