# Unsplash API

> Unsplash returns searchable photos, photographer details, and image links as a workflow and API.

Unsplash Photos searches photos by a required phrase, with optional page, result count, orientation, and Unsplash+ inclusion. Search photos returns images with dimensions, likes, descriptions, licence notes, photo links, and photographer details.

- Page: https://fous.com/tools/unsplash
- Handle: `@unsplash`
- Category: [Media processing](https://fous.com/tools/category/media)
- Source website: https://unsplash.com
- Last verified: Sep 29, 2026

## Methods

### Search photos

Operation `search_photos`, version 1. 1 credit per completed call. Failed calls without a completed billing receipt are free; completed work can remain charged if delivery is interrupted.

Find Unsplash photos matching a search phrase, in search order. Excludes Unsplash+ photos unless included; each result has image, photographer, licence and photo links. The site returns up to 20 photos per search page, so larger requests span multiple pages.

**Input**

| Field | Type | Required | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| `page` | integer | no | `2` | Page of results for the requested count, for example 1. |
| `query` | string | yes | `"team meeting"` | What the photos should show, for example team meeting. |
| `max_results` | integer | no | `25` | Maximum photos per returned page, for example 20. |
| `orientation` | string | no | `"square"` | Photo shape to show, for example landscape. |
| `include_unsplash_plus` | boolean | no | `true` | Include paid Unsplash+ photos, for example false. |

**Input schema**

```json
{
  "type": "object",
  "required": [
    "query"
  ],
  "properties": {
    "page": {
      "type": "integer",
      "default": 1,
      "minimum": 1,
      "description": "Page of results for the requested count, for example 1.",
      "x-fous-developer": true,
      "examples": [
        2
      ]
    },
    "query": {
      "type": "string",
      "minLength": 1,
      "description": "What the photos should show, for example team meeting.",
      "examples": [
        "team meeting",
        "mountain lake",
        "office meeting"
      ]
    },
    "max_results": {
      "type": "integer",
      "default": 20,
      "maximum": 100,
      "minimum": 1,
      "description": "Maximum photos per returned page, for example 20.",
      "x-fous-developer": true,
      "examples": [
        25,
        5
      ]
    },
    "orientation": {
      "enum": [
        "any",
        "landscape",
        "portrait",
        "square"
      ],
      "type": "string",
      "default": "any",
      "description": "Photo shape to show, for example landscape.",
      "examples": [
        "square",
        "landscape"
      ]
    },
    "include_unsplash_plus": {
      "type": "boolean",
      "default": false,
      "description": "Include paid Unsplash+ photos, for example false.",
      "examples": [
        true
      ]
    }
  },
  "additionalProperties": false,
  "examples": [
    {
      "query": "team meeting"
    },
    {
      "page": 2,
      "query": "mountain lake",
      "max_results": 25,
      "orientation": "square"
    },
    {
      "query": "office meeting",
      "max_results": 5,
      "orientation": "landscape",
      "include_unsplash_plus": true
    }
  ]
}
```

**Output**

| Field | Type | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| `photos` | array |  |  |
| `photos[].likes` | integer or null | `6558` | Number of likes. |
| `photos[].width` | integer or null | `5472` | Image width in pixels. |
| `photos[].height` | integer or null | `3648` | Image height in pixels. |
| `photos[].photo_id` | string | `"KdeqA3aTnBY"` | Unsplash photo ID. |
| `photos[].blur_hash` | string or null | `"LLH2K8Dh0L%h-:XUem%2E2r;xFW="` | Blur hash for a preview. |
| `photos[].description` | string or null | `"Teamwork makes the dream work."` | Photo description, or null if not available. |
| `photos[].licence_note` | string | `"Free to use under the Unsplash License"` | Licence requirement for this photo. |
| `photos[].photo_page_link` | string | `"https://unsplash.com/photos/people-sitting-on-chair-in-front-of-table-while-holding-pens-during-daytime-KdeqA3aTnBY"` | Photo page on Unsplash. |
| `photos[].is_unsplash_plus` | boolean | `false` | Whether the image requires an Unsplash+ licence. |
| `photos[].photographer_name` | string or null | `"Dylan Gillis"` | Photographer name. |
| `photos[].regular_image_link` | string or null | `"https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1517048676732-d65bc937f952?crop=entropy&cs=tinysrgb&fit=max&fm=jpg&ixid=M3wxMjA3fDB8M` | Image around 1080 pixels wide. |
| `photos[].full_size_image_link` | string or null | `"https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1517048676732-d65bc937f952?crop=entropy&cs=srgb&fm=jpg&ixid=M3wxMjA3fDB8MXxzZWFyY2h8M` | Full-size image. |
| `photos[].photographer_profile_link` | string or null | `"https://unsplash.com/@mainermedia"` | Photographer profile page. |

**Example input**

```json
{
  "query": "team meeting"
}
```

**Example output**

```json
{
  "photos": [
    {
      "likes": 6558,
      "width": 5472,
      "height": 3648,
      "photo_id": "KdeqA3aTnBY",
      "blur_hash": "LLH2K8Dh0L%h-:XUem%2E2r;xFW=",
      "description": "Teamwork makes the dream work.",
      "licence_note": "Free to use under the Unsplash License",
      "photo_page_link": "https://unsplash.com/photos/people-sitting-on-chair-in-front-of-table-while-holding-pens-during-daytime-KdeqA3aTnBY",
      "is_unsplash_plus": false,
      "photographer_name": "Dylan Gillis",
      "regular_image_link": "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1517048676732-d65bc937f952?crop=entropy&cs=tinysrgb&fit=max&fm=jpg&ixid=M3wxMjA3fDB8MXxzZWFyY2h8MXx8dGVhbSUyMG1lZXRpbmd8ZW58MHx8fHwxNzkwNjQzMzQ3fDI&ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=8…",
      "full_size_image_link": "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1517048676732-d65bc937f952?crop=entropy&cs=srgb&fm=jpg&ixid=M3wxMjA3fDB8MXxzZWFyY2h8MXx8dGVhbSUyMG1lZXRpbmd8ZW58MHx8fHwxNzkwNjQzMzQ3fDI&ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=85",
      "photographer_profile_link": "https://unsplash.com/@mainermedia"
    }
  ]
}
```

## Quick start

Replace `YOUR_API_KEY` with a Fous API key. To create one, open Developers at the bottom of Fous Studio, turn on Developer mode, then go to API keys (https://app.fous.com/keys). Change the values in `input` to run the same tool on new data.

```bash
curl 'https://api.fous.com/v1/query' \
  --fail-with-body --silent --show-error --max-time 180 \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  --data-raw '{
  "api": "@unsplash",
  "visibility": "public",
  "operation": "search_photos",
  "version": 1,
  "input": {
    "query": "team meeting"
  },
  "response": {
    "format": "json"
  }
}'
```

```python
# Save as fous.py and run with python3 fous.py. No packages needed.
import json
import urllib.error
import urllib.request

api_key = "YOUR_API_KEY"

body = json.loads("{\n  \"api\": \"@unsplash\",\n  \"visibility\": \"public\",\n  \"operation\": \"search_photos\",\n  \"version\": 1,\n  \"input\": {\n    \"query\": \"team meeting\"\n  },\n  \"response\": {\n    \"format\": \"json\"\n  }\n}")
request = urllib.request.Request(
    "https://api.fous.com/v1/query",
    data=json.dumps(body).encode("utf-8"),
    headers={
        "Authorization": f"Bearer {api_key}",
        "Content-Type": "application/json",
    },
    method="POST",
)
try:
    with urllib.request.urlopen(request, timeout=180) as response:
        result = json.load(response)
except urllib.error.HTTPError as error:
    raise RuntimeError(f"HTTP {error.code}: {error.read().decode('utf-8', errors='replace')}") from error
if result.get("success") is False:
    raise RuntimeError(result.get("error", {}).get("message", "Request failed"))
print(json.dumps(result["data"]["output"], indent=2))
```

```typescript
// Save as fous.mts and run with npx tsx fous.mts.
const apiKey = "YOUR_API_KEY";

const response = await fetch("https://api.fous.com/v1/query", {
  method: "POST",
  headers: {
    "Authorization": `Bearer ${apiKey}`,
    "Content-Type": "application/json",
  },
  signal: AbortSignal.timeout(180_000),
  body: JSON.stringify({
  "api": "@unsplash",
  "visibility": "public",
  "operation": "search_photos",
  "version": 1,
  "input": {
    "query": "team meeting"
  },
  "response": {
    "format": "json"
  }
}),
});
type ApiResult = { success: boolean; data?: { output: unknown }; error?: { message: string } };
const result: ApiResult = await response.json();
if (!response.ok || result.success === false) {
  throw new Error(result.error?.message ?? `HTTP ${response.status}`);
}
if (!result.data) throw new Error("Missing API response data");
console.log(result.data.output);
```

## Use from an AI assistant

Connect this tool to Claude Code, Claude Desktop, Cursor, VS Code, Codex and any MCP client as its own MCP server. Each method is a typed tool whose arguments are the method’s input.

- Server URL: `https://api.fous.com/mcp/tools/unsplash`
- Authorization: `Authorization: Bearer <Fous API key>`

**Tools**

- `search_photos`: Search photos. 1 credit per completed call. Failed calls without a completed billing receipt are free; completed work can remain charged if delivery is interrupted.
- `fous_get_run`: the result of a run that was still going, by its `request_id`. Free.

Claude Code:

```bash
claude mcp add --scope user --transport http fous-unsplash https://api.fous.com/mcp/tools/unsplash --header "Authorization: Bearer ${FOUS_API_KEY:?Set FOUS_API_KEY to your Fous API key}"
```

To give the assistant every tool, connect `https://api.fous.com/mcp`: it finds one with `fous_search_tools` and runs it with `fous_run_tool`. Setup for other clients: https://fous.com/llms-full.txt.

## Use cases

- Find photos for a presentation by topic and orientation
- Review photographer names and licence notes before selecting images
- Compare photo dimensions and likes across search results
- Collect photo and photographer links for editorial research

## FAQ

### Can I run it with my own inputs?

Yes. Change the inputs in Studio and press Run, or send new inputs from your code, or ask a connected AI assistant.

### Can I call this Unsplash tool as an API?

Yes. Send a POST request to /v1/query with your Fous API key and the inputs, and get JSON back.

### How much does it cost?

Each completed run costs 1 credit. Failed runs without a completed receipt are free; completed work can remain charged if delivery is interrupted. With pay as you go, a credit costs 1¢. Monthly plans cost less per credit.

### Do I need a Unsplash account?

No. You only need a Fous account.

### How current is the data?

Fous gets the data from unsplash.com when you run it. Some results are reused for up to 24 hours, and results that use your account or key are never reused. It was last verified on Sep 29, 2026.

### What photos match a particular search phrase?

Search photos returns matching photos in search order for the required search phrase.

### Who took a photo?

Search photos returns the photographer's name and profile link with each result.

### What licence applies to a photo?

Search photos returns a licence note and indicates whether a photo requires an Unsplash+ licence.

## Related

- [Pexels API](https://fous.com/tools/pexels.md): Pexels offers free stock photos and videos, with searches returning up to 80 results in Pexels search order.
- [Wikimedia Commons API](https://fous.com/tools/wikimedia-commons.md): Discover freely licensed photos and other images from Wikimedia Commons.
- [Google Search API](https://fous.com/tools/google-search.md): Google Search returns public web, image, job, event, related-question, and autocomplete results in Google’s order, with answers and details when available; results may be fewer, omit information, or be empty.
- [Pinterest API](https://fous.com/tools/pinterest.md): Pinterest helps people discover and save visual ideas, returning public search results from the first page and visible profile boards, with monthly views only when shown.
- [Bluesky API](https://fous.com/tools/bluesky.md): Bluesky provides public profile details and latest posts, plus searches of up to 100 matching public posts; search results may lag behind new posts.
- [Spotify API](https://fous.com/tools/spotify.md): Spotify returns public artist profiles, album credits and ordered tracks, song details and play counts, up to 500 playlist songs, keyword results, and country-based podcast charts; dates and regional options vary.
- [Product Hunt API](https://fous.com/tools/product-hunt.md): Product Hunt provides Pacific-time daily launches, product search, and profiles with reviews, alternatives, and 10 recent launches; ratings may be missing without reviews.
- [Hugging Face API](https://fous.com/tools/hugging-face.md): Hugging Face returns public model, dataset, and demo search results, model details, or weekly trending models; unpublished information may be missing, and demo availability can change.
- [All Media processing tools](https://fous.com/tools/category/media)