# 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/workflows/unsplash
- Handle: `@unsplash`
- Category: [Media processing](https://fous.com/workflows/category/media)
- Source website: https://unsplash.com
- Last verified: Sep 29, 2026
- Fous is not affiliated with Unsplash.

## Methods

### Search photos

Operation `search_photos`, version 1. 1 credit per call.

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 | `113` | Number of likes. |
| `photos[].width` | integer or null | `7360` | Image width in pixels. |
| `photos[].height` | integer or null | `4912` | Image height in pixels. |
| `photos[].photo_id` | string | `"EViKPRl7chY"` | Unsplash photo ID. |
| `photos[].blur_hash` | string or null | `"LMKK$pnh%1%M_NW=IUxu%gM{R+f+"` | Blur hash for a preview. |
| `photos[].description` | string or null | `"Top view of modern young people discussion business while working in the office"` | Photo description, or null if not available. |
| `photos[].licence_note` | string | `"Unsplash+ licence required"` | Licence requirement for this photo. |
| `photos[].photo_page_link` | string | `"https://unsplash.com/photos/top-view-of-modern-young-people-discussion-business-while-working-in-the-office-EViKPRl7chY` | Photo page on Unsplash. |
| `photos[].is_unsplash_plus` | boolean | `true` | Whether the image requires an Unsplash+ licence. |
| `photos[].photographer_name` | string or null | `"Getty Images"` | Photographer name. |
| `photos[].regular_image_link` | string or null | `"https://plus.unsplash.com/premium_photo-1683120730432-b5ea74bd9047?crop=entropy&cs=tinysrgb&fit=max&fm=jpg&ixid=M3wxMjA` | Image around 1080 pixels wide. |
| `photos[].full_size_image_link` | string or null | `"https://plus.unsplash.com/premium_photo-1683120730432-b5ea74bd9047?crop=entropy&cs=srgb&fm=jpg&ixid=M3wxMjA3fDB8MXxzZWF` | Full-size image. |
| `photos[].photographer_profile_link` | string or null | `"https://unsplash.com/@gettyimages"` | Photographer profile page. |

**Example input**

```json
{
  "query": "office meeting",
  "max_results": 5,
  "orientation": "landscape",
  "include_unsplash_plus": true
}
```

**Example output**

```json
{
  "photos": [
    {
      "likes": 113,
      "width": 7360,
      "height": 4912,
      "photo_id": "EViKPRl7chY",
      "blur_hash": "LMKK$pnh%1%M_NW=IUxu%gM{R+f+",
      "description": "Top view of modern young people discussion business while working in the office",
      "licence_note": "Unsplash+ licence required",
      "photo_page_link": "https://unsplash.com/photos/top-view-of-modern-young-people-discussion-business-while-working-in-the-office-EViKPRl7chY",
      "is_unsplash_plus": true,
      "photographer_name": "Getty Images",
      "regular_image_link": "https://plus.unsplash.com/premium_photo-1683120730432-b5ea74bd9047?crop=entropy&cs=tinysrgb&fit=max&fm=jpg&ixid=M3wxMjA3fDB8MXxzZWFyY2h8MXx8b2ZmaWNlJTIwbWVldGluZ3xlbnwwfDB8fHwxNzkwNjQzMzc0fDA&ixlib=rb…",
      "full_size_image_link": "https://plus.unsplash.com/premium_photo-1683120730432-b5ea74bd9047?crop=entropy&cs=srgb&fm=jpg&ixid=M3wxMjA3fDB8MXxzZWFyY2h8MXx8b2ZmaWNlJTIwbWVldGluZ3xlbnwwfDB8fHwxNzkwNjQzMzc0fDA&ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=85",
      "photographer_profile_link": "https://unsplash.com/@gettyimages"
    }
  ]
}
```

## Quick start

Call the API with a Fous API key (`FOUS_API_KEY`). To create one, turn on Developer mode in Fous Studio, then open Keys & connections → API keys (https://app.fous.com/keys).

```bash
# First set your key: export FOUS_API_KEY='YOUR_FOUS_API_KEY'
: "${FOUS_API_KEY:?Set FOUS_API_KEY before running this example}"

curl 'https://api.fous.com/v1/query' \
  --fail-with-body --silent --show-error --max-time 120 \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $FOUS_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.
# First set your key: export FOUS_API_KEY='YOUR_FOUS_API_KEY'
import json
import os
import urllib.error
import urllib.request

api_key = os.environ.get("FOUS_API_KEY")
if not api_key:
    raise RuntimeError("Set FOUS_API_KEY before running this example")

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=120) 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.
// First set your key: export FOUS_API_KEY='YOUR_FOUS_API_KEY'
const apiKey = process.env.FOUS_API_KEY;
if (!apiKey) throw new Error("Set FOUS_API_KEY before running this example");

const response = await fetch("https://api.fous.com/v1/query", {
  method: "POST",
  headers: {
    "Authorization": `Bearer ${apiKey}`,
    "Content-Type": "application/json",
  },
  signal: AbortSignal.timeout(120_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);
```

Or describe the data in plain language: send `{"api":"@unsplash","prompt":"Describe the data you need, with every detail"}` to the same URL. Fous fills in the input, runs the method that fits and returns only the fields you asked for; `data.route.calls[].request` is the exact call it made. Routing is free; the run costs the same.

## 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

### Is Fous affiliated with Unsplash?

No. Fous is not affiliated with Unsplash. This workflow reads the public unsplash.com website and returns its data.

### How much does it cost?

Each run costs 1 credit. 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; repeating the same request within a day may return the saved result. Fous checks this workflow automatically; it last passed a check 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/workflows/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/workflows/wikimedia-commons.md): Discover freely licensed photos and other images from Wikimedia Commons.
- [Google Search API](https://fous.com/workflows/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/workflows/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/workflows/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/workflows/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/workflows/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/workflows/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 workflows](https://fous.com/workflows/category/media)