M
API Matrix

Getty Images API

Photography / OAuth Advanced HTTPS
Varies by plan (check documentation)
68 Score
Grade C
Visit Official Site Compare Alternatives

Overview

The Getty Images API provides programmatic access to one of the largest professional stock photo libraries in the world, with over 480 million images, videos, and illustrations. It uses OAuth 2.0 for authentication and is designed for media companies and developers building content-heavy applications. Note that commercial use requires a licensing agreement with Getty.

💡

Beginner Tip

Start with the sandbox environment and the Sandbox API key—it returns watermarked images so you can test your integration without a commercial license. Switch to a full key only when you are ready for production.

Available Data

image URLs in multiple sizes
photographer credit
image dimensions
download link
color data

Example Response

JSON Response 
{
  "id": "Dwu85P9SOIk",
  "urls": {
    "full": "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-...",
    "regular": "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-...?w=1080",
    "thumb": "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-...?w=200"
  },
  "width": 4000,
  "height": 3000,
  "user": {
    "name": "John Doe",
    "username": "johndoe"
  }
}

Field Reference

images[].id Unique Getty Images asset identifier.
images[].title Descriptive title or caption for the asset.
images[].display_sizes[].uri URL of the watermarked comp image for display/preview purposes.
images[].asset_family creative for editorial/commercial or editorial for news use only.
result_count Total number of assets matching the search query.

Implementation Example 

const url = "http://developers.gettyimages.com/en/";
// Replace headers or query params with the values required by this API.
const response = await fetch(url, {
  headers: {
  "Authorization": "Bearer YOUR_API_KEY"
  }
});
if (!response.ok) throw new Error(`Request failed: ${response.status}`);
const data = await response.json();
console.log(data);

What Can You Build?

Note: These code examples are AI-generated and unverified. Always refer to the official API documentation for accurate usage.

Common Errors & Troubleshooting

401 Unauthorized The Api-Key header is missing or the key has not been approved yet.
✓ Apply for API access at developers.gettyimages.com; sandbox keys are approved automatically for testing.
403 Forbidden on download Your API plan does not include download rights for the requested asset.
✓ Check your licensing agreement; embed links (comp images) are available for display, while downloads require a commercial license.
Empty results array The search phrase returned no matches or the asset type filter is too restrictive.
✓ Broaden your phrase, remove extra filters, or try asset_type=images to search all image types.

Matrix Score Breakdown

🌐 Reachability 30/30
⚡ Speed 10/20
🔒 Security 15/15
🛠 Developer XP 3/20
✓ Reliability 10/15

Partially tested on Apr 5, 2026

Technical Specifications

Auth OAuth
HTTPS REQUIRED
CORS UNKNOWN
Category Photography
Difficulty Advanced
Verified: 2026-04-04

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