creditText

creditText · Recommended

Appears in

• ImageObject

What is it?

The name of the person or organization that should be credited when an image is published. creditText is the structured data equivalent of a photo credit line. Google uses this property as part of its image license metadata feature, displaying credit information alongside images in Google Images.

Why this matters for AEO

When AI engines pull images to illustrate answers, proper attribution becomes critical. creditText provides a machine-readable credit line that AI systems can display alongside the image. For a query like "photos of the Northern Lights," an AI that surfaces images can also display "Photo: National Geographic / Aurora Photographer" from the creditText field, ensuring creators receive proper credit in AI-generated responses.

What the specs say

Schema.org: Text. Text that can be used to credit person(s) and/or organization(s) associated with a published Creative Work. schema.org/creditText

Google: Recommended. "The name of the person and/or organization that is credited for the image when it's published." Google Image License docs

How to find your value

• Photo credit line — Text displayed below or beside the image
• Stock photo license — Photographer/agency name from the license agreement
• Press release — Credit requirements in the media kit
• Photographer contract — Attribution terms in the usage agreement

Format and code

creditText is a plain text string. Include the photographer name and/or organization.

{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "ImageObject",
  "contentUrl": "https://example.com/photos/1x1/black-labrador-puppy.jpg",
  "license": "https://example.com/license",
  "acquireLicensePage": "https://example.com/how-to-use-my-images",
  "creditText": "Labrador PhotoLab",
  "creator": {
    "@type": "Person",
    "name": "Brixton Brownstone"
  },
  "copyrightNotice": "Clara Kent"
}

Webflow implementation

Static pages

Add creditText in the ImageObject JSON-LD block in Page Settings > Custom Code:

<script type="application/ld+json">
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "ImageObject",
  "contentUrl": "https://example.com/photo.jpg",
  "creditText": "Photographer Name / Agency",
  "license": "https://example.com/license"
}
</script>

CMS template pages

Create a plain text field for photo credit in your CMS collection. Reference it as the creditText value in the JSON-LD embed. This works well for sites with photographer-attributed content like portfolios, news sites, or stock photo libraries.

In Schema HQ

Field mapping pulls credit CMS field to creditText in the ImageObject markup, alongside license and creator properties when available.

Real examples

Google Search Central (Image license metadata):

{
  "@context": "https://schema.org/",
  "@type": "ImageObject",
  "contentUrl": "https://example.com/photos/1x1/black-labrador-puppy.jpg",
  "license": "https://example.com/license",
  "acquireLicensePage": "https://example.com/how-to-use-my-images",
  "creditText": "Labrador PhotoLab",
  "creator": {
    "@type": "Person",
    "name": "Brixton Brownstone"
  },
  "copyrightNotice": "Clara Kent"
}

Search Engine Journal:

{
  "@context": "https://schema.org/",
  "@type": "ImageObject",
  "contentUrl": "https://example.com/photos/primary.jpg",
  "creditText": "Labrador PhotoLab",
  "creator": {
    "@type": "Person",
    "name": "Brixton Brownstone"
  },
  "copyrightNotice": "Clara Kent",
  "license": "https://example.com/license"
}

Related fields

• creator
• copyrightNotice
• license
• caption
• acquireLicensePage

FAQ

What is the difference between creditText and creator?

creditText is a plain text display string (e.g., "Labrador PhotoLab"). creator is a structured Person or Organization object with @type and name. Use both: creator for machine readability and creditText for the human-readable credit line. Google's documentation recommends including creditText alongside creator.

Is creditText required for Google's Licensable badge?

Not individually required, but Google needs at least one of creator, creditText, or copyrightNotice alongside a license URL and contentUrl to show the Licensable badge in Google Images. creditText is the simplest to implement.

Can creditText include multiple credits?

Yes. Use a single string with multiple names: "Photo: Jane Smith / National Geographic." There is no need for separate entries since creditText is a display string, not a structured list.