Credits

DIRECTIONALS

For multiple images on a page or spread, include a directional in parentheses at the end of each credit. It may be possible to omit one directional if it is clear by a process of elimination what picture it applies to.   

DAVID BARR, WORLDVIEW ENTERTAINMENT (BOTH)

DAVID MCLAIN (ALL)

JOHN GURCHE (INSETS); REBECCA HALE, NGM STAFF

MARK W. MOFFETT (TOP); JUNE LIVERSEDGE

IRA BLOCK (LEFT AND SMALL SKULL, FAR LEFT)

When using (above), the photograph should be immediately above the credit; otherwise use (top). The same is true in reverse for (below) and (bottom).

ANNIE GRIFFITHS (ABOVE); MARK THIESSEN, NGM STAFF (BELOW)

On pages with several images, indicate the order at the beginning of the credit.

FROM TOP: DON RYAN, AP PHOTO; AP PHOTO; LAURA DICKSON, NGT&F; ROBERT CLARK

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: ED KASHI, CORBIS; FRANS LANTING; DAVID DOUBILET

Sometimes it works to identify the image by subject rather than by directionals.

PHOTOGRAPHED AT OXFORD UNIVERSITY MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY (SKELETONS) AND AT WILLIAM L. CLEMENTS LIBRARY, UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN, ANN ARBOR (PORTRAIT)

AGENCIES AND INSTITUTIONS

A credit provided by an agency or institution will be adapted to NG style and occasionally shortened. That format should be rechecked with the agency or institution. 

Use National Geographic Image Collection for images drawn from the archives. 

Commonly used agencies: 

Adobe

AFP/Getty Images

Alamy

AP Images

Art Resource

Bridgeman Images

Getty Images

Granger Images

Library of Congress

Magnum Images

Minden Pictures

Nature Picture Library

Newscom

Redux

Reuters

Science Photo Library

Science Source

Shutterstock

Superstock

Trunk Archive

Zuma Press

Abbreviation

If an institution’s name can be abbreviated, use the full name on first use with abbreviation in parentheses. Subsequent credits need only the abbreviation.

NASA AND MALIN SPACE SCIENCE SYSTEMS (MSSS) and then NASA AND MSSS

AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY (AMNH) and then AMNH

A few well-known institutions may be abbreviated on first use.

IUCN

JPL

NASA

NOAA

UNESCO

USGS

Use a slash only if the organization or agency writes its name with a slash.

INSTITUTE FOR EXPLORATION/INSTITUTE FOR ARCHAEOLOGICAL OCEANOGRAPHY, UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND

Special case: Because of JPL’s connection to Caltech as well as to NASA, write:

NASA/JET PROPULSION LABORATORY

NASA/JPL

For other NASA installations write:

NASA GODDARD SPACE FLIGHT CENTER

In a single credit, it may sometimes be appropriate to use a formal order, giving the subsection first and the institution second, separated by a comma:

GODDARD SPACE FLIGHT CENTER, NASA

JET PROPULSION LABORATORY, NASA

EROS DATA CENTER, USGS

VISUALIZATION LABORATORY, NAVAL OCEANOGRAPHIC OFFICE

NATIONAL GEOPHYSICAL DATA CENTER, NOAA

Museums and Institutions

A photograph of an object in a museum or other institution usually needs to be credited to that institution. Give the photographer’s name first, then the institution. If the photograph was made by the bylined photographer, naming just the institution is often enough. However, for clarity it may be necessary to use “at” or “photographed at.”

SISSE BRIMBERG AT NATIONAL ARCHIVES

KENNETH GARRETT, EGYPTIAN MUSEUM, CAIRO

PHOTOGRAPHED AT MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY, UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN, ANN ARBOR

PAINTING PHOTOGRAPHED BY STEPAN BARTOS AT MENDEL MUSEUM, BRNO, CZECHIA

In some instances, a general note on the opening spread is an effective way to credit a museum.

ALL ARTIFACTS PHOTOGRAPHED WITH PERMISSION OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AFGHANISTAN

EXCEPT WHERE NOTED, ALL MUMMIES AND ARTIFACTS PHOTOGRAPHED AT ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM OF SAN MIGUEL DE AZAPA

Omit the from an institution’s name unless there is a compelling reason to include it:

NEW YORK TIMES

ANDRE CAMARA, TIMES OF LONDON

ANDRE CAMARA, LONDON TIMES

JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY

THE INSTITUTE FOR GENOMIC RESEARCH (TIGR)

The names of foreign museums and institutions may be written in the native language or in English; be consistent throughout an article. The location of an institution or museum should be given on first use but does not have to appear in subsequent credits. If a city is not well-known, include the state or country in the credit.

BIBLIOTHÈQUE NATIONALE, PARIS

REGIONAL ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM, LIPARI

MUSEO ARCHEOLOGICO NAZIONALE D’ABRUZZO

GENERAL ARCHIVES OF THE INDIES, SEVILLE

ARCHIVO GENERAL DE INDIAS, SEVILLE

WALT WHITMAN HOUSE, CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY

EXHIBIT MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY, UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN, ANN ARBOR

COPYRIGHT

When using copyright or the copyright symbol, do not precede it with a comma, but insert a space both before and after the copyright symbol.

RICHARD H. MEADOW © HARAPPA ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESEARCH PROJECT

COURTESY

Use courtesy for rare situations when images are provided under special conditions and without charge, such as a family archive or collection. When using courtesy in a credit, do not use of.

BIBLIOTHÈQUE NATIONALE, PARIS, COURTESY EUROTUNNEL

With free promotional images of a place or product, it is not necessary to use the courtesy credit. 

STAFF

If a staff member is not given a byline, then on first mention in credits follow the name with NGM STAFF: MARK THIESSEN, NGM STAFF

Note: NGM Staff (uppercase "S") when not in all caps

Use with when crediting NG photo engineering staff.

PETER ESSICK WITH JOSEPH S. STANCAMPIANO, NGM STAFF

Graphics Credits

Credits for NGM Art staff read:

ART: FERNANDO BAPTISTA, NGM STAFF

DIAGRAM: MARIEL FURLONG, NGM STAFF

DIAGRAM: NGM ART

In addition to an artist's credit, a graphic often needs a credit for the source or sources:

ART: DAVID FIERSTEIN. SOURCES: H. SAPIENS, CHRISTOPHER B. RUFF; H. ERECTUS, SUSAN C. ANTON AND CONNIE FELLMAN

ART: FERNANDO G. BAPTISTA, NGM STAFF. SOURCE: COUNCIL ON STANDARDS FOR INTERNATIONAL EDUCATIONAL TRAVEL

Map Credits

Generally give the map credit first, followed by the source or sources. The sources may be run in with the map sources or written on a new line.

MARTIN GAMACHE, NGM STAFF

DATA: NAVTEO

NGM MAPS. SOURCE: PHILLIP T. ROBINSON, UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO