Use Unsplash Photo Search by Topic, Collection & Creator with Python

Searches Unsplash by keyword or browses a curated topic, numbered collection, or photographer's portfolio, returning photo dimensions, orientation, license, and photographer credit.

1. Choose the data you need

Review the published README for supported collection modes, examples, and limits. The recipe below uses the current published input definition.

2. Prepare a source-based input

This JSON contains published prefills and required-field defaults. Review every value for your task before running it; it is not a promise of successful collection.

{
  "collectionIds": [],
  "color": "any",
  "freeOnly": false,
  "includePhotoDetails": false,
  "includePhotographerStats": false,
  "maxItems": 2,
  "mode": "search",
  "orientation": "any",
  "photoIds": [],
  "searchOrderBy": "relevant",
  "searchQueries": [
    "nature"
  ],
  "startUrls": [],
  "topicSlugs": [],
  "userOrderBy": "pinned",
  "usernames": []
}

Download input.example.json and save your reviewed copy as input.json.

Field	Type	Required	Description
`mode`	string	required	What to scrape. Each mode has its own list field below.
`searchQueries`	array	optional	One or more keywords, e.g. `nature`, `coffee shop`, `minimal workspace`. Each query is searched separately.
`topicSlugs`	array	optional	One or more curated Unsplash photo topics.
`collectionIds`	array	optional	Collection IDs or collection URLs, e.g. `1065396` or `https://unsplash.com/collections/1065396/...`.
`usernames`	array	optional	Photographer usernames with or without `@`, or profile URLs, e.g. `v2osk` or `https://unsplash.com/@v2osk`.
`photoIds`	array	optional	Unsplash photo IDs, slugs, or photo page URLs, e.g. `fWBZ9r4vO9M`. Used as lookup targets in byPhoto and as seed photos in byRelated.
`startUrls`	array	optional	Any mix of supported Unsplash search, topic, collection, photographer, or photo URLs.
`orientation`	string	optional	Only keep photos of this orientation. The filter is exact and works in every mode.
`color`	string	optional	Filter keyword searches by Unsplash's dominant-colour tag. Not supported on topic, collection, or portfolio feeds.
`freeOnly`	boolean	optional	Exclude Unsplash+ (paid/locked) photos. Their full-size files require a separate Unsplash+ plan.
`searchOrderBy`	string	optional	Sort keyword search results by best match or newest first.
`userOrderBy`	string	optional	Sort a photographer's photos. Pinned matches the order shown on their Unsplash profile.
`includePhotoDetails`	boolean	optional	Add tags, camera EXIF, geolocation, topics, and view/download counts. Costs extra requests per photo and is slower.
`includePhotographerStats`	boolean	optional	Add each photographer's lifetime view and download totals. One extra request per photographer.
`maxItems`	integer	optional	Hard cap on emitted photos across all queries and URLs.

3. Start an Actor run

Set APIFY_TOKEN in your environment. Python 3.10 or newer is sufficient; this recipe uses no third-party packages.

Execution may incur charges. Review current pricing on Apify. The request asks for a 120-second timeout and a charge limit; these settings are subject to Apify’s pricing and do not guarantee an all-inclusive spending cap.

import json
import os
import urllib.request

# Save the schema-derived example as input.json; review and edit it first.
with open("input.json", encoding="utf-8") as stream:
    actor_input = json.load(stream)

token = os.environ["APIFY_TOKEN"]
request = urllib.request.Request(
    "https://api.apify.com/v2/acts/hyzBjwc4TeOTrPbn3/runs?timeout=120&maxTotalChargeUsd=0.50",
    data=json.dumps(actor_input).encode("utf-8"),
    headers={"Authorization": "Bearer " + token, "Content-Type": "application/json"},
    method="POST",
)
# This starts a potentially billable run. Do not automatically retry this POST.
with urllib.request.urlopen(request, timeout=40) as response:
    run = json.load(response)["data"]
print("Run ID:", run["id"])
print("Status:", run["status"])
# Inspect and download results in Apify Console once the run succeeds.

4. Inspect the actual results

Open the run in Apify Console and wait for a successful completion. Use the published output schema to locate results and the dataset schema to understand declared views. Missing or optional record fields must not be treated as guaranteed values.

Photos from Unsplash with five image sizes, photographer attribution, dimensions, orientation, dominant colour, likes, and optional EXIF, geolocation, tags, topics, and engagement counts.

Questions before you run

Which inputs are required?

The published required fields are mode

What does this guide verify?

The fields, prefills, and schema links are rendered from the published build. This is a usage recipe, not a paid live extraction test. Source availability and collection results can vary.

What if the run request times out?

Check Apify Console before retrying. The first request may already have created a run. Do not automatically repeat a run-creation POST.

Open on Apify Full Actor reference

Generated from source build cdOIAmh17Gliaabig and its README and schemas. Source changes regenerate this guide; no third-party editorial claims are inferred.