Unsplash Scraper | Stock Image Data Pipeline

Slug: fatihtahta/unsplash-scraper

Overview

Unsplash Scraper collects structured photo records from Unsplash search results, direct Unsplash URLs, public collections, and photographer profiles, including core identifiers, titles, image URLs, dimensions, engagement metrics, photographer details, and source context. Unsplash is a widely used public platform for discovering photography, illustrations, creators, and curated visual collections, making its public data valuable for content research, creative operations, market analysis, and enrichment workflows. The actor converts repeatable discovery inputs into normalized JSON records that can be used consistently across analytics, automation, and downstream data systems. It is designed for dependable recurring data acquisition while keeping outputs predictable enough for scheduled reporting, monitoring, and pipeline ingestion. Results reflect the public data available at run time, without making assumptions about completeness beyond what the target pages expose.

Why Use This Actor

• Market research / analytics: build structured extraction workflows around visual supply, topic coverage, creator activity, engagement signals, and content availability.
• Product & content teams: discover image candidates, public creator profiles, and collection context for editorial planning, content operations, and asset research.
• Developers / data engineering pipelines: feed normalized Unsplash records into downstream systems, enrichment pipelines, catalogs, search indexes, and operational reporting.
• Lead gen / enrichment: collect public photographer profile attributes, portfolio links, usernames, locations, and visual specialization signals for enrichment workflows.
• Monitoring / competitive tracking: schedule repeatable collection to observe new content, category movement, search result changes, and public profile updates over time.

Common Use Cases

• Visual market intelligence: monitor public image supply, topic coverage, creator activity, likes, and content availability across search terms.
• Content sourcing workflows: build repeatable shortlists of public photo records for creative review, editorial planning, or internal asset evaluation.
• Creator discovery: collect public photographer profiles and photo attribution details for research, outreach preparation, or enrichment.
• Catalog and directory building: populate internal databases with structured public records for photos, collections, and creator-linked assets.
• Data enrichment: add current public image metadata, creator details, and source URLs to existing CRM, BI, or analytics datasets.
• Recurring reporting: schedule periodic runs for dashboards, alerts, trend analysis, and topic-level monitoring.
• Collection monitoring: track public Unsplash collections or direct URLs over time to identify new or changed records.

Quick Start

1. Choose a scrape target: add direct Unsplash URLs in start_url, enter keyword searches in queries, or use both when you need combined coverage.
2. Select the search category for keyword searches: photos, illustrations, collections, or users.
3. For keyword photo or illustration searches, optionally refine results with sort_by, orientation, license, and illustration style.
4. Set a small limit, such as 25 or 50, for the first validation run.
5. Run the actor in Apify Console and inspect the first dataset records to confirm the output shape matches your use case.
6. Increase the limit, add more targets, or schedule the actor once the output is verified.

Input Parameters

Provide at least one scrape target using start_url, queries, or both; optional filters refine keyword-based discovery.

Parameter	Type	Description	Default
start_url	array of strings	Full Unsplash URLs to collect from directly. Use for search result pages, public collections, photographer profiles, or other public Unsplash URLs.	–
queries	array of strings	Search terms for keyword-based discovery, such as nature, office workspace, or black background.	–
category	string	Search category used for keyword searches. Allowed values: photos, illustrations, collections, users. This does not change direct URL targets.	photos
sort_by	string	Sort order for keyword photo and illustration searches. Allowed values: relevance, newest, curated.	relevance
orientation	string	Optional image layout filter for keyword photo and illustration searches. Allowed values: landscape, portrait, square.	–
license	string	Optional license grouping for keyword photo and illustration searches. Allowed values: unsplash_plus, free.	–
style	array of strings	Optional illustration style filters for keyword searches in the illustrations category. Allowed values: 3d, hand_drawn, line_art, flat.	–
limit	integer	Maximum number of photo records to save per URL or search term. Minimum: 1. Leave empty to collect available records until the target is exhausted or the run stops.	–

Choosing Inputs

Use start_url when you already know the exact Unsplash page you want to collect from, such as a public collection, profile, or search results URL. Use queries when you want broader discovery across topics, visual themes, people, collections, or content categories.

The category field controls how keyword searches are interpreted: use photos for image records, illustrations for illustrated assets, collections for curated groups, and users for photographer profile discovery. Narrower filters such as orientation, license, and style produce more targeted datasets, while broader inputs improve discovery and coverage. Use sort_by: "newest" for freshness-oriented monitoring, relevance for general discovery, and curated when editorially selected results are preferred. Start with a small limit to validate output quality, then increase it once the saved records match your workflow.

Example Inputs

Search-driven photo discovery

{
  "queries": ["nature", "forest trail"],
  "category": "photos",
  "sort_by": "relevance",
  "orientation": "landscape",
  "license": "free",
  "limit": 50
}

Direct collection URL run

{
  "start_url": ["https://unsplash.com/collections/1319040/nature"],
  "limit": 100
}

Targeted illustration search

{
  "queries": ["remote work", "team collaboration"],
  "category": "illustrations",
  "sort_by": "newest",
  "orientation": "square",
  "style": ["flat", "line_art"],
  "limit": 40
}

Output

Output destination

The actor writes results to an Apify dataset as JSON records. The dataset is designed for direct consumption by analytics tools, ETL pipelines, and downstream APIs with minimal post-processing.

When multiple entity types or record shapes exist, the README documents each shape separately based on the provided Example Output. The examples below document the observed photo, illustration, collection, and profile record shapes.

Record envelope and stable identifiers

Each record is organized as a JSON object with top-level identity fields, nested detail objects, and source_context. The recommended idempotency key is id for all documented record types; if your storage layer requires a URL-based key, use url as a secondary stable identifier. For deduplication and upserts, store one record per type + id pair and update mutable fields such as metrics, timestamps, media URLs, and source context on repeated runs. Stable identifiers make records easier to merge, deduplicate, and sync across repeated runs.

The source_context.source_url field identifies the source context used for collection, while source_context.seed_id, source_context.seed_type, and source_context.seed_value help connect each record back to the input that produced it.

Examples

Example: photo (type = "photo")

{
  "type": "photo",
  "id": "pH0t0Exmpl1",
  "slug": "misty-forest-trail-at-sunrise-pH0t0Exmpl1",
  "url": "https://unsplash.com/photos/misty-forest-trail-at-sunrise-pH0t0Exmpl1",
  "title": "misty forest trail at sunrise",
  "alt_description": "misty forest trail at sunrise",
  "created_at": "2023-01-12T15:26:03Z",
  "updated_at": "2026-05-18T21:13:54Z",
  "metrics": {
    "likes": 428
  },
  "media": {
    "images": {
      "raw": "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-example-forest-trail-raw?ixlib=rb-4.1.0",
      "full": "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-example-forest-trail-full?crop=entropy&cs=srgb&fm=jpg&ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=85",
      "regular": "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-example-forest-trail-regular?crop=entropy&cs=tinysrgb&fit=max&fm=jpg&ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=80&w=1080",
      "small": "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-example-forest-trail-small?crop=entropy&cs=tinysrgb&fit=max&fm=jpg&ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=80&w=400",
      "thumbnail": "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-example-forest-trail-thumb?crop=entropy&cs=tinysrgb&fit=max&fm=jpg&ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=80&w=200"
    },
    "dimensions": {
      "width": 4000,
      "height": 6000
    },
    "color": "#EFEFEF",
    "blur_hash": "L35}~Mx@D=xpVhtQ%dWB8*t7xWM}"
  },
  "downloads": {
    "download_url": "https://unsplash.com/photos/pH0t0Exmpl1/download?ixid=example",
    "download_location": "https://api.unsplash.com/photos/pH0t0Exmpl1/download?ixid=example"
  },
  "photographer": {
    "id": "usrNature01",
    "username": "maya_rivers",
    "name": "Maya Rivers",
    "url": "https://unsplash.com/@maya_rivers",
    "location": "Portland, Oregon",
    "bio": "Landscape photographer focused on forests, quiet trails, and natural light.",
    "portfolio_url": "https://example.com/maya-rivers",
    "instagram_username": "maya.rivers",
    "profile_image_url": "https://images.unsplash.com/profile-example-maya-rivers?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&crop=faces&fit=crop&w=128&h=128"
  },
  "flags": {
    "premium": true,
    "plus": true
  },
  "attributes": {
    "asset_type": "photo"
  },
  "source_context": {
    "source_url": "https://unsplash.com/s/photos/nature",
    "seed_id": "seed_nature_001",
    "seed_type": "query",
    "seed_value": "nature",
    "category": "photos",
    "page_index": 1
  }
}

Example: illustration (type = "illustration")

{
  "type": "illustration",
  "id": "iLlustrEx01",
  "slug": "remote-designer-working-at-a-laptop-iLlustrEx01",
  "url": "https://unsplash.com/illustrations/remote-designer-working-at-a-laptop-iLlustrEx01",
  "title": "remote designer working at a laptop",
  "alt_description": "remote designer working at a laptop",
  "created_at": "2024-03-15T15:24:30Z",
  "updated_at": "2026-05-11T19:20:52Z",
  "metrics": {
    "likes": 36
  },
  "media": {
    "images": {
      "raw": "https://plus.unsplash.com/premium_vector-example-remote-work-raw?ixlib=rb-4.1.0",
      "full": "https://plus.unsplash.com/premium_vector-example-remote-work-full?crop=entropy&cs=srgb&fm=jpg&ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=85",
      "regular": "https://plus.unsplash.com/premium_vector-example-remote-work-regular?crop=entropy&cs=tinysrgb&fit=max&fm=jpg&ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=80&w=1080",
      "small": "https://plus.unsplash.com/premium_vector-example-remote-work-small?crop=entropy&cs=tinysrgb&fit=max&fm=jpg&ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=80&w=400",
      "thumbnail": "https://plus.unsplash.com/premium_vector-example-remote-work-thumb?crop=entropy&cs=tinysrgb&fit=max&fm=jpg&ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=80&w=200"
    },
    "dimensions": {
      "width": 225,
      "height": 150
    },
    "color": "#d9c0c0",
    "blur_hash": "LPL4BCt79Zt8.To2Diay9FaeIUV["
  },
  "downloads": {
    "download_url": "https://unsplash.com/photos/iLlustrEx01/download?ixid=example",
    "download_location": "https://api.unsplash.com/photos/iLlustrEx01/download?ixid=example"
  },
  "photographer": {
    "id": "usrDesign02",
    "username": "studio_lina",
    "name": "Lina Studio",
    "url": "https://unsplash.com/@studio_lina",
    "instagram_username": "studio.lina",
    "profile_image_url": "https://images.unsplash.com/profile-example-lina-studio?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&crop=faces&fit=crop&w=128&h=128"
  },
  "flags": {
    "premium": true,
    "plus": true
  },
  "attributes": {
    "asset_type": "illustration"
  },
  "source_context": {
    "source_url": "https://unsplash.com/s/illustrations/remote-work",
    "seed_id": "seed_remote_001",
    "seed_type": "query",
    "seed_value": "remote work",
    "category": "illustrations",
    "page_index": 1
  }
}

Example: collection (type = "collection")

{
  "type": "collection",
  "id": "colNature001",
  "url": "https://unsplash.com/collections/colNature001/evergreen-landscapes",
  "title": "Evergreen Landscapes",
  "published_at": "2017-10-24T15:57:12Z",
  "last_collected_at": "2026-05-17T21:35:18Z",
  "updated_at": "2026-05-17T21:35:18Z",
  "metrics": {
    "total_photos": 1842,
    "total_plus": 0
  },
  "flags": {
    "featured": false,
    "private": false
  },
  "cover_photo": {
    "id": "coverEx001",
    "url": "https://unsplash.com/photos/mountain-valley-cover-coverEx001",
    "images": {
      "regular": "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-example-mountain-cover-regular?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=80&fm=jpg&crop=entropy&cs=tinysrgb&w=1080&fit=max",
      "small": "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-example-mountain-cover-small?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=80&fm=jpg&crop=entropy&cs=tinysrgb&w=400&fit=max",
      "thumbnail": "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-example-mountain-cover-thumb?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=80&fm=jpg&crop=entropy&cs=tinysrgb&w=200&fit=max"
    }
  },
  "preview_photo_ids": [
    "coverEx001",
    "prevNature02",
    "prevNature03",
    "prevNature04"
  ],
  "owner": {
    "id": "usrCurator03",
    "username": "northlight_curator",
    "name": "Northlight Curator",
    "url": "https://unsplash.com/@northlight_curator",
    "location": "Vancouver, Canada",
    "bio": "Curated landscape collections for editorial planning and visual research.",
    "instagram_username": "northlight.curator",
    "profile_image_url": "https://images.unsplash.com/profile-example-northlight?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&crop=faces&fit=crop&w=128&h=128"
  },
  "attributes": {
    "share_key": "example-share-key-001"
  },
  "source_context": {
    "source_url": "https://unsplash.com/s/collections/nature",
    "seed_id": "seed_nature_001",
    "seed_type": "query",
    "seed_value": "nature",
    "category": "collections",
    "page_index": 1
  }
}

Example: profile (type = "profile")

{
  "type": "profile",
  "id": "profExample01",
  "url": "https://unsplash.com/@alex_morgan_photo",
  "username": "alex_morgan_photo",
  "name": "Alex Morgan",
  "first_name": "Alex",
  "last_name": "Morgan",
  "location": "Landscape | Travel | Editorial | Outdoor Lifestyle",
  "updated_at": "2026-05-09T14:47:30Z",
  "metrics": {
    "total_collections": 0,
    "total_likes": 126,
    "total_photos": 84,
    "total_free_photos": 84,
    "total_promoted_photos": 0,
    "total_illustrations": 0,
    "total_free_illustrations": 0,
    "total_promoted_illustrations": 0
  },
  "flags": {
    "accepted_tos": true,
    "for_hire": false
  },
  "media": {
    "profile_image_url": "https://images.unsplash.com/profile-example-alex-morgan?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&crop=faces&fit=crop&w=128&h=128"
  },
  "sample_photo_ids": [
    "samplePhoto01",
    "samplePhoto02",
    "samplePhoto03"
  ],
  "source_context": {
    "source_url": "https://unsplash.com/s/users/landscape",
    "seed_id": "seed_landscape_001",
    "seed_type": "query",
    "seed_value": "landscape",
    "category": "users",
    "page_index": 1
  }
}

Field Reference

photo and illustration records

type (string, required): Record type. Values shown: photo, illustration.

id (string, required): Stable asset identifier and recommended idempotency key.

slug (string, optional): Human-readable asset slug when available.

url (string, required): Public Unsplash asset URL.

title (string, optional): Asset title or title-like public text.

alt_description (string, optional): Public alternative description.

created_at (string, optional): Creation timestamp in ISO 8601 format when available.

updated_at (string, optional): Last update timestamp in ISO 8601 format when available.

metrics.likes (integer, optional): Public like count.

media.images.raw (string, optional): Raw image URL when available.

media.images.full (string, optional): Full-size image URL when available.

media.images.regular (string, optional): Regular-size image URL when available.

media.images.small (string, optional): Small image URL when available.

media.images.thumbnail (string, optional): Thumbnail image URL when available.

media.dimensions.width (integer, optional): Image width in pixels.

media.dimensions.height (integer, optional): Image height in pixels.

media.color (string, optional): Dominant color value when available.

media.blur_hash (string, optional): Blur hash placeholder value when available.

downloads.download_url (string, optional): Public download URL when available.

downloads.download_location (string, optional): Download location reference when available.

photographer.id (string, optional): Stable photographer identifier.

photographer.username (string, optional): Unsplash username.

photographer.name (string, optional): Public photographer display name.

photographer.url (string, optional): Public Unsplash photographer profile URL.

photographer.location (string, optional): Public photographer location text.

photographer.bio (string, optional): Public photographer bio.

photographer.portfolio_url (string, optional): Public portfolio URL provided by the photographer.

photographer.instagram_username (string, optional): Public Instagram username when available.

photographer.profile_image_url (string, optional): Public profile image URL.

flags.premium (boolean, optional): Indicates whether the record is marked as premium content.

flags.plus (boolean, optional): Indicates whether the record is marked as Unsplash Plus content.

attributes.asset_type (string, optional): Asset classification, such as photo or illustration.

source_context.source_url (string, optional): Source URL or source context associated with the record.

source_context.seed_id (string, optional): Identifier for the input seed that produced the record.

source_context.seed_type (string, optional): Input seed type, such as query or direct URL.

source_context.seed_value (string, optional): Original input value associated with the record.

source_context.category (string, optional): Search category associated with the record.

source_context.page_index (integer, optional): Result page index associated with the record when available.

collection record

type (string, required): Record type. For this shape, the value is collection.

id (string, required): Stable collection identifier and recommended idempotency key.

url (string, required): Public Unsplash collection URL.

title (string, optional): Public collection title.

published_at (string, optional): Collection publication timestamp in ISO 8601 format.

last_collected_at (string, optional): Timestamp for latest collection activity when available.

updated_at (string, optional): Last update timestamp in ISO 8601 format.

metrics.total_photos (integer, optional): Public photo count for the collection.

metrics.total_plus (integer, optional): Public Unsplash Plus count for the collection.

flags.featured (boolean, optional): Indicates whether the collection is marked as featured.

flags.private (boolean, optional): Indicates whether the collection is marked private in the returned public data.

cover_photo.id (string, optional): Stable identifier for the collection cover photo.

cover_photo.url (string, optional): Public URL for the cover photo.

cover_photo.images.regular (string, optional): Regular-size cover image URL.

cover_photo.images.small (string, optional): Small cover image URL.

cover_photo.images.thumbnail (string, optional): Thumbnail cover image URL.

preview_photo_ids (array of strings, optional): Preview photo identifiers associated with the collection.

owner.id (string, optional): Stable owner identifier.

owner.username (string, optional): Public owner username.

owner.name (string, optional): Public owner display name.

owner.url (string, optional): Public owner profile URL.

owner.location (string, optional): Public owner location text.

owner.bio (string, optional): Public owner bio.

owner.instagram_username (string, optional): Public Instagram username when available.

owner.profile_image_url (string, optional): Public owner profile image URL.

attributes.share_key (string, optional): Collection share key when available in the public data.

source_context.source_url (string, optional): Source URL or source context associated with the record.

source_context.seed_id (string, optional): Identifier for the input seed that produced the record.

source_context.seed_type (string, optional): Input seed type, such as query or direct URL.

source_context.seed_value (string, optional): Original input value associated with the record.

source_context.category (string, optional): Search category associated with the record.

source_context.page_index (integer, optional): Result page index associated with the record when available.

profile record

type (string, required): Record type. For this shape, the value is profile.

id (string, required): Stable profile identifier and recommended idempotency key.

url (string, required): Public Unsplash profile URL.

username (string, optional): Public Unsplash username.

name (string, optional): Public profile display name.

first_name (string, optional): Public first name when available.

last_name (string, optional): Public last name when available.

location (string, optional): Public profile location or location-like profile text.

updated_at (string, optional): Last update timestamp in ISO 8601 format.

metrics.total_collections (integer, optional): Public collection count.

metrics.total_likes (integer, optional): Public like count.

metrics.total_photos (integer, optional): Public photo count.

metrics.total_free_photos (integer, optional): Public free-photo count.

metrics.total_promoted_photos (integer, optional): Public promoted-photo count.

metrics.total_illustrations (integer, optional): Public illustration count.

metrics.total_free_illustrations (integer, optional): Public free-illustration count.

metrics.total_promoted_illustrations (integer, optional): Public promoted-illustration count.

flags.accepted_tos (boolean, optional): Public account flag returned for the profile.

flags.for_hire (boolean, optional): Indicates whether the profile is marked as available for hire.

media.profile_image_url (string, optional): Public profile image URL.

sample_photo_ids (array of strings, optional): Sample photo identifiers associated with the profile.

source_context.source_url (string, optional): Source URL or source context associated with the record.

source_context.seed_id (string, optional): Identifier for the input seed that produced the record.

source_context.seed_type (string, optional): Input seed type, such as query or direct URL.

source_context.seed_value (string, optional): Original input value associated with the record.

source_context.category (string, optional): Search category associated with the record.

source_context.page_index (integer, optional): Result page index associated with the record when available.

Data Quality, Guarantees, And Handling

• Structured records: results are normalized into predictable JSON objects for downstream use.
• Best-effort extraction: fields may vary by region, session, availability, and public interface changes.
• Optional fields: null-check optional fields in downstream code, especially profile details, media variants, timestamps, and engagement metrics.
• Deduplication: use id as the strongest stable key for photo records, with url as a secondary reference when needed.
• Freshness: results reflect the publicly available data at run time.
• Repeated runs: use the recommended idempotency key when syncing data into warehouses, CRMs, or search indexes.

Tips For Best Results

• Start with a small limit to validate the output shape before scaling up.
• Use one topic, category, collection, or profile segment per run when you need cleaner segmentation.
• Use start_url for known collections or profiles, and queries for discovery workflows.
• Leave optional filters empty when the goal is broad discovery.
• Add orientation, license, and style filters gradually to understand how each field changes coverage.
• Use sort_by: "newest" for monitoring recently added keyword results.
• Store results by id when comparing records across repeated runs.

How to Run on Apify

1. Open the Actor in Apify Console.
2. Configure the available input fields for the target scope.
3. Set the maximum number of outputs to collect with limit.
4. Click Start and wait for the run to finish.
5. Open the dataset and inspect the first records.
6. Download results in JSON, CSV, Excel, or other supported formats.

Scheduling & Automation

Scheduling

Automated Data Collection

Schedule runs to keep Unsplash search, collection, and profile datasets fresh for recurring analysis. Use scheduled inputs for stable topics, monitored collections, or repeatable creator discovery workflows.

• Navigate to Schedules in Apify Console
• Create a new schedule, such as daily, weekly, or custom cron
• Configure input parameters
• Enable notifications for run completion
• Add webhooks for automated processing

Integration Options

• ETL pipelines: ingest normalized photo records, media metadata, and source context into downstream data workflows.
• BI dashboards: monitor topic coverage, creator activity, public engagement metrics, and content volume over time.
• Search indexes: power internal discovery tools with titles, descriptions, photographer fields, and image metadata.
• Content operations systems: route candidate photo records into editorial review, asset selection, or catalog workflows.
• Webhooks: trigger validation, notification, or ingestion workflows after each completed run.
• Google Sheets or Airtable: review small curated datasets, shortlist visual assets, or coordinate lightweight research tasks.

Export Formats And Downstream Use

Apify datasets can be exported or consumed by downstream systems for reporting, enrichment, and automation. Choose the format that matches how your team reviews or processes structured Unsplash records.

• JSON: for APIs, applications, and data pipelines
• CSV or Excel: for spreadsheet workflows and manual review
• API access: for automated ingestion into internal systems
• BI and warehouses: for reporting, dashboards, and historical analysis

Performance

Estimated run times:

• Small runs (< 1,000 outputs): ~3-5 minutes
• Medium runs (1,000-5,000 outputs): ~5-15 minutes
• Large runs (5,000+ outputs): ~15-30 minutes

Execution time varies based on filters, result volume, and how much information is returned per record. Highly filtered runs can finish faster, while broad discovery or detail-rich records may take longer.

Limitations

• Availability depends on what https://unsplash.com publicly exposes at run time.
• Some optional fields may be missing on sparse photo, collection, or profile records.
• Very broad searches may take longer or require higher limits to collect the desired coverage.
• Target-side changes can affect field availability, naming, or visible result ordering.
• Regional, account, or availability differences may change visible results.
• Unsplash Plus and free content availability can vary by query, category, and current public visibility.

Troubleshooting

• No results returned: check filters, category spelling, direct URLs, and whether the target has matching public records.
• Fewer results than expected: broaden filters, raise the limit, or verify that the target contains enough matching records.
• Some fields are empty: optional fields depend on what each public record provides.
• Run takes longer than expected: reduce scope, lower limit for validation, or split broad collection into smaller segments.
• Output changed: compare the current output with the field reference and report a small sample if support is needed.

FAQ

What data does this actor collect?

It collects structured public Unsplash records from search results, direct Unsplash URLs, public collections, and photographer profiles. Photo records can include identifiers, URLs, titles, descriptions, image variants, dimensions, likes, download references, photographer details, flags, attributes, and source context.

Can I filter by location, category, date, price, or other criteria?

The schema supports category, sort_by, orientation, license, style, and limit. It does not include date, price, radius, or location filters; public profile records may still include a photographer location field when Unsplash provides it.

Why did I receive fewer results than my limit?

The target may not expose enough matching public records for the selected query, category, URL, or filters. Broaden the filters, use a different query, or verify that the source page contains enough public results.

Can I schedule recurring runs?

Yes. Use Apify schedules to run the actor daily, weekly, or on a custom cron schedule with saved input parameters.

How do I avoid duplicates across runs?

Use id as the primary idempotency key for photo records. If your system is URL-oriented, store url as a secondary stable reference.

Can I export the data to CSV, Excel, or JSON?

Yes. Apify datasets support export formats including JSON, CSV, Excel, and other formats available in Apify Console.

Does this actor collect private data?

No. The actor is intended for publicly available Unsplash information visible from the target website. Users are responsible for using the collected data lawfully and responsibly.

Can I collect Unsplash Plus and free content separately?

Yes, keyword photo and illustration searches can use the license field with unsplash_plus or free where that refinement is supported by Unsplash.

What should I include when reporting an issue?

Include the input used, redacted if needed, the run ID, expected versus actual behavior, and a small output sample when it helps explain the issue.

Compliance & Ethics

Responsible Data Collection

This actor collects publicly available photo, collection, and photographer profile information from https://unsplash.com for legitimate business purposes, including:

• Creative and media research and market analysis
• Content operations and asset discovery workflows
• Data enrichment for analytics, catalogs, and internal reporting

This section is informational and not legal advice. Users are responsible for ensuring that their use of the actor and the resulting data complies with applicable laws, regulations, and contractual obligations.

Best Practices

• Use collected data in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, and the target site's terms
• Respect individual privacy and personal information
• Use data responsibly and avoid disruptive or excessive collection
• Do not use this actor for spamming, harassment, or other harmful purposes
• Follow relevant data protection requirements where applicable, such as GDPR and CCPA

Support

For help, use the Issues tab or the actor page support options. Include the input used, redacted where appropriate, the run ID, expected versus actual behavior, and a small output sample if it helps reproduce or understand the issue.