Adding a New Photo of a Person to Wikipedia
If you have a conflict of interest (COI)—such as being the person in the photo, working for them, or being paid to make edits—you must follow Wikipedia’s disclosure rules and best practices to ensure transparency and compliance.
Step 1
Confirm the Photo’s Copyright Status
Wikipedia only accepts freely licensed or public domain images of people. This means the image must:
Be your own work (you took the photo yourself), OR
Be taken by someone who has agreed to release it under a free license, OR
Already be public domain (e.g., a very old historical image).
If the photo is copyrighted (e.g., from a news site, a studio, or social media), you CANNOT upload it unless the copyright holder grants permission.
Step 2
Obtain Permission (if needed)
If you did not take the photo, you need written permission from the photographer. The photographer must email Wikimedia Commons with permission:
Email: permissions-commons@wikimedia.org
Use this template: Email Permission Template
Step 3
Upload the Photo to Wikimedia Commons
Wikipedia does not allow non-free images of living people under fair use, so the image must be uploaded to Wikimedia Commons, Wikipedia’s free media repository.
Steps to Upload
Go to the Wikimedia Commons Upload Wizard 🔗 Upload Wizard
Upload the image
Select the appropriate release rights: Select whether you took the photo, or if it was created by someone else, and answer the appropriate questions
Choose a Free License (required):
The most common option: CC BY-SA 4.0 (Attribution-ShareAlike).
This means others can reuse the image with credit.
Add Image Details:
Title: Use a clear name (e.g., First_Last_2025.jpg).
Description: Include the person’s name, date, and location of the photo.
Date: When the photo was taken.
Source: "Own work" (if you took it yourself).
Author: Photographer's name
Publish the image to complete the upload process.
Step 4
Request to Add the Photo to the Wikipedia Page
Since you have a COI, you should not directly edit the article. Instead, go to the Wikipedia article’s Talk page (click the "Talk" tab at the top).
Post a request using the template below. Note, the four squiggly lines at the end are your signature, which will auto-populate if you are logged in:
== Request to add a photo == {{Edit COI}} Hello editors, I have a conflict of interest as I work with [Person’s Name]. I would like to request adding a freely licensed photo to their Wikipedia article. The photo has been uploaded to Wikimedia Commons under the name [File:First_Last_2025.jpg]. The image is properly licensed under [CC BY-SA 4.0], and I believe it improves the article by providing an updated and high-quality representation of the subject. Can an editor review this and add it if appropriate? Thank you! ~~~~
Step 5
Wait for an Editor to Review and Add the Photo
Wikipedia editors may take a few days to respond.
If your request is ignored, you can politely follow up after a week.
If declined, review the feedback and adjust accordingly.
Step 6
Monitor and Maintain Compliance
Do not re-upload the file unnecessarily—this can be seen as disruptive.
Ensure the image is used only in the correct article.
If Wikipedia editors remove the image, respect the decision and ask for guidance.
Common Issues and Troubleshooting
❌ The image was removed! Why?
✅ Reason: No valid free license.
Ensure the photo is your own work or the photographer has granted free use.
✅ Reason: Uploaded to Wikipedia instead of Commons.
Only non-free content (like logos) can be uploaded to Wikipedia directly.
✅ Reason: No permission from the photographer.
Have the photographer email permissions-commons@wikimedia.org.
Final Takeaways
✅ Always disclose your COI before making requests.
✅ Use the Talk page or edit request process—don’t add the image yourself.
✅ Ensure the file follows free licensing rules.
✅ Respect Wikipedia’s editorial process if the request is declined.
Need Help Navigating Wikipedia’s COI Policies?
Understanding and following Wikipedia’s conflict of interest (COI) and paid editing guidelines can be complex—but you don’t have to do it alone.
