Unsplash Image Search Scraper

Search public Unsplash photos and export structured image and creator metadata without an Unsplash login, browser runtime, residential proxy, or external API key. The Unsplash Image Search Scraper returns multiple image sizes, dimensions, descriptions, likes, tags, topics, photographer profiles, attribution links, and download metadata with real pagination.

The Actor calls the first-party JSON resource used by Unsplash's public search experience. It supports several queries, relevance or latest ordering, orientation, dominant color, content filtering, bounded pagination, and cross-query deduplication. Results are saved one unique photo per dataset row for JSON, CSV, Excel, API, webhook, or scheduled workflows.

What can you use it for?

• Research public image results for products, topics, places, or campaigns.
• Build a reviewed visual-reference table with photographer attribution.
• Compare how different queries overlap in Unsplash search.
• Discover public creator profiles and portfolio links.
• Collect image dimensions, aspect ratios, tags, topics, and descriptions.
• Prepare a human-reviewed shortlist for editorial or design work.
• Monitor changes in public image-search ranking over time.
• Feed metadata into a DAM, spreadsheet, database, or workflow.

This Actor returns public metadata and current source URLs. It does not transfer image rights, remove attribution requirements, permanently host media, or grant permission to republish a photo.

Input

{
  "queries": ["mountain landscape", "remote work"],
  "orderBy": "relevant",
  "orientation": "any",
  "color": "any",
  "contentFilter": "high",
  "maxResultsPerQuery": 20,
  "maxPagesPerQuery": 20
}

Input fields

Field	Type	Default	Description
queries	array	["mountain landscape"]	Public Unsplash photo search terms.
orderBy	string	relevant	Use relevance ranking or newest-first ordering.
orientation	string	any	Any, landscape, portrait, or square orientation.
color	string	any	Optional Unsplash dominant-color filter.
contentFilter	string	high	High or low source content-filter setting.
maxResultsPerQuery	integer	20	Maximum source photos processed per query, up to 1,000.
maxPagesPerQuery	integer	20	Hard pagination limit per query, up to 50.

Use a small limit while testing a workflow. A page contains up to 30 source photos. The Actor stops when the requested count is reached, the page limit is reached, the source reports its final page, or no further results are returned.

Queries are deduplicated before requests start. If the same photo appears for several queries, it is written once and its query matches and ranks are merged. This avoids duplicate result charges and makes overlap analysis straightforward.

Output

Each dataset item represents one unique public Unsplash photo.

{
  "id": "Bkci_8qcdvQ",
  "slug": "snow-capped-mountains-with-valley-and-forest-Bkci_8qcdvQ",
  "url": "https://unsplash.com/photos/Bkci_8qcdvQ",
  "description": null,
  "alt_description": "snow capped mountains with valley and forest",
  "width": 5760,
  "height": 3840,
  "aspect_ratio": 1.5,
  "color": "#8c999c",
  "blur_hash": "LKH_...",
  "created_at": "2016-05-03T11:58:29Z",
  "updated_at": "2026-07-11T08:00:00Z",
  "promoted_at": null,
  "likes": 1342,
  "is_liked_by_user": false,
  "is_premium": false,
  "is_plus": false,
  "image_raw_url": "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-example",
  "image_full_url": "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-example?fit=max",
  "image_regular_url": "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-example?w=1080",
  "image_small_url": "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-example?w=400",
  "image_thumbnail_url": "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-example?w=200",
  "download_url": "https://unsplash.com/photos/Bkci_8qcdvQ/download",
  "download_location": "https://unsplash.com/napi/photos/Bkci_8qcdvQ/download",
  "photographer_id": "public-user-id",
  "photographer_username": "kalenemsley",
  "photographer_name": "Kalen Emsley",
  "photographer_url": "https://unsplash.com/@kalenemsley",
  "photographer_bio": "Public profile bio",
  "photographer_location": "Canada",
  "photographer_portfolio_url": "https://example.com",
  "photographer_instagram_username": "example",
  "photographer_profile_image_url": "https://images.unsplash.com/profile-example",
  "photographer_total_collections": 3,
  "photographer_total_likes": 77,
  "photographer_total_photos": 120,
  "tags": ["mountain", "nature"],
  "topics": ["nature"],
  "sponsorship": null,
  "matched_queries": ["mountain landscape"],
  "query_ranks": {"mountain landscape": 2},
  "query_totals": {"mountain landscape": 10100},
  "rank": 2,
  "scraped_at": "2026-07-11T12:00:00+00:00"
}

Image fields

• image_raw_url preserves the source image endpoint with minimal transformation.
• image_full_url, image_regular_url, image_small_url, and image_thumbnail_url provide source-selected variants.
• width, height, and aspect_ratio describe the original photo dimensions.
• color and blur_hash can support placeholders and visual loading states.
• description and alt_description are public source text and can be absent.

Unsplash image URLs support transformation parameters. Do not strip attribution or use transformations to circumvent source rules. Keep the public photo and photographer URLs in downstream records.

Photographer fields

The output includes public username, name, profile URL, bio, location, portfolio, social handles, profile image, and aggregate profile counts when available. These are source observations at scrape time. They are not independent identity verification and should not be used for sensitive profiling or unsolicited mass outreach.

Cross-query fields

• matched_queries lists every input query that returned the photo.
• query_ranks maps each matching query to its source rank.
• query_totals records the source-reported result count for each query.
• rank is the unique output insertion order for the run.

Cross-query merging means a photo returned for three searches creates one billed result instead of three. It also makes it possible to find visual assets that cover several concepts.

A practical visual-research workflow

1. Start with three to ten narrow queries.
2. Use the high content filter and a 20-result limit for the first run.
3. Inspect attribution, licensing context, and visual relevance manually.
4. Keep id, url, photographer_url, matched_queries, and scraped_at.
5. Use thumbnails in review tables and open the public photo page before selection.
6. Confirm permitted use and attribution requirements before publishing.
7. Trigger any required download tracking when an actual download occurs.
8. Store only metadata and media needed for the legitimate project.

Search rank is not a quality score or recommendation. Results can contain sponsored or Plus content, change between runs, and vary with Unsplash experiments. is_plus, is_premium, and sponsorship help downstream workflows route those records for review.

Scheduling and integrations

Save a tested input as an Apify Task, then attach a schedule or webhook. Results can feed:

• Google Sheets or Airtable for a visual review queue;
• n8n, Make, or Zapier for workflow automation;
• BigQuery, Snowflake, PostgreSQL, or object storage for search snapshots;
• a digital asset management intake process;
• Python or JavaScript through the Apify API.

For rank monitoring, append timestamped datasets and compare query_ranks by photo ID. Avoid high-frequency polling: public image search usually does not require minute-by-minute collection.

Pricing

This Actor uses transparent pay-per-event pricing:

• $0.005 when the Actor starts.
• $0.0015 for each unique photo saved to the default dataset.

A 100-photo run costs about $0.155 in Actor charges before ordinary Apify platform usage. Cross-query duplicates are merged and billed once. Empty pages, failed requests, and source rows beyond the configured limit do not create result charges. The result price is about half the closest current competing Unsplash image Actor's $0.00299, with a much lower run-start charge than its $0.09.

Reliability and limits

The engine uses Chrome-compatible TLS impersonation and direct HTTP requests to Unsplash's public search resource. It launches no browser and requires no proxy. Requests have explicit timeouts, up to three bounded retries, and a short delay between pages. Query, page, and result counts are capped, and empty overall output fails explicitly.

Unsplash controls its public endpoint, result ordering, filters, fields, and availability. The source can change without notice. Image CDN links and download routes can rotate. This Actor does not cache or redistribute image binaries and cannot guarantee that a previously returned photo remains available.

Licensing and responsible use

Review the current Unsplash License and API guidelines before using or downloading photos. The output includes attribution and source links to support compliant workflows, but the Actor does not decide whether a particular commercial, editorial, model, property, trademark, or privacy use is lawful. Additional permissions may be needed for recognizable people, private property, brands, or sensitive contexts.

Do not use the Actor for unauthorized bulk republication, removing attribution, creating a competing image service, harassment, sensitive profiling, or spam. download_location is provided as source metadata; this Actor does not call it on behalf of an actual download.

This Actor is independent and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Unsplash.

Frequently asked questions

Does it require an Unsplash API key?

No. It reads the public first-party web search resource.

Does it download or store the image files?

No. It returns current public image variants and metadata in small dataset rows.

Can it search multiple phrases?

Yes. Duplicate photos are merged and matched_queries preserves every match.

Can I filter by orientation and color?

Yes. The Actor passes supported orientation and dominant-color filters to Unsplash.

Does a returned URL grant permission to publish the photo?

No. Review Unsplash's current license, attribution guidance, and any additional rights required for the intended use.

Can I schedule it?

Yes. Save the input as an Apify Task and use a reasonable daily or weekly cadence for rank monitoring.

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If the Actor saved time or replaced manual work, leave a Store review. Reviews help prioritize source monitoring, field improvements, and support.

Keywords: Unsplash scraper, Unsplash image search API, free stock photo scraper, image metadata scraper, photographer profile scraper, visual content research, Unsplash photo downloader metadata, image SEO research.