Look for role words
Terms such as “photo by”, “courtesy of”, “illustration” and “author” describe different relationships. A page's byline normally belongs to the article, which may use a stock image unrelated to the writer.
Check the source record
- Read the complete caption and credit.
- Follow any linked contributor or asset page.
- Compare the image with the cited record.
- Record the role explicitly in your notes.
For example, “Alex Morgan / Agency B” beneath a travel photograph could credit the photographer rather than name the traveller. Removing the slash and agency context can create a misleading people-search query.
Leave unnamed subjects unnamed
If the publication does not identify the subject, do not infer a name from nearby text or a similar portrait elsewhere. Source verification can be complete enough to establish attribution without identifying every person in the frame. Keep the research focused on the legitimate question you started with.
Continue with tracing an original source.