How to Use the Unsplash Extended MCP in Claude Code

Q: How do I use Unsplash Extended and Claude Code for photo searching?

Write a script that executes searchphotos(keyword) against the MCP Server. The output will be JSON data containing matching photos, which you can pipe directly to another utility or file.

Q: Can Unsplash Extended and Claude Code manage photo collections?

Yes. You'll use getcollection(id) to pull details on a specific group, then potentially modify it using updatecollection within your script.

Q: Does Unsplash Extended and Claude Code handle user profiles?

It can retrieve public profile data using getuser(username). This is useful for running automated checks on who exists in the system via the MCP Server.

Q: What are the prerequisites when connecting Unsplash Extended and Claude Code?

You must configure the transport layer correctly using claude mcp add before writing any scripts. The server needs to be accessible over HTTP or STDIO for headless operation.

Script photo management with Unsplash Extended, headless via Claude Code.

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Connect Unsplash Extended MCP to Claude Code

Create your Vinkius account to connect Unsplash Extended to Claude Code and route execution through our secure gateway. The platform manages server hosting, runtime updates, and security layers. Configuration requires no manual server provisioning.

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Setup Unsplash Extended with Claude Code

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Listing and Searching Assets using MCP Server

Running a script? You can list all available topics using `list_topics` or get targeted images by calling `get_topic_photos`. To find specific assets, run `search_collections(keyword)` to check existing groups.

Photo Collection Control with Unsplash Extended

Automate cleanup tasks. You can write a shell script that calls `delete_collection` on old groupings or uses `get_photo_statistics` to determine if a collection needs updating via `update_collection`. It's direct terminal work.

Tracking Usage and Listing Public Data

For reporting, the `track_photo_download` function is your go-to call. You can also run a simple check on public user data using `list_photos` to see what's in the editorial feed.

Setup guide

Set up Unsplash Extended MCP in Claude Code

Prerequisites

Claude Code CLI installed (npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code)
Active Vinkius subscription with a valid endpoint token

1

Run the add command

Open your terminal and run the command shown on the right. Replace [YOUR_TOKEN_HERE] with your endpoint token from cloud.vinkius.com. Use --scope user to make it available across all projects.
2

Verify the connection

Start a Claude Code session and type /mcp to list connected servers. You should see unsplash-extended-mcp with a green status indicator.
3

Start using tools

Ask Claude Code something like "Check my latest Unsplash Extended transactions." It will automatically discover and invoke the available Unsplash Extended tools.

Terminal

claude mcp add --transport http unsplash-extended-mcp https://edge.vinkius.com/[YOUR_TOKEN_HERE]/mcp

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Prerequisites

Claude Code CLI installed
Active Vinkius subscription with a valid endpoint token

1

Open the config file

Create or edit .mcp.json in your project root for project-level scope, or ~/.claude.json for user-level scope.
2

Add the Unsplash Extended MCP

Paste the JSON snippet shown on the right into the mcpServers object. Replace [YOUR_TOKEN_HERE] with your endpoint token from cloud.vinkius.com.
3

Restart Claude Code

Start a new Claude Code session. Type /mcp to confirm the server is connected. The tools will be automatically available in your conversation.

.mcp.json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "unsplash-extended-mcp": {
      "type": "url",
      "url": "https://edge.vinkius.com/[YOUR_TOKEN_HERE]/mcp"
    }
  }
}

Get your connection token →

Independent Platform Disclaimer: Vinkius is an independent platform and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, verified by, or otherwise authorized by Unsplash. All third-party trademarks, logos, and brand names are the property of their respective owners. Their use on this website is strictly for informational purposes to identify service compatibility and interoperability.

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Common questions about Unsplash Extended MCP in Claude Code

Write a script that executes `search_photos(keyword)` against the MCP Server. The output will be JSON data containing matching photos, which you can pipe directly to another utility or file.

Yes. You'll use `get_collection(id)` to pull details on a specific group, then potentially modify it using `update_collection` within your script.

The server primarily deals with collection IDs, photo IDs, and user authentication tokens. Mutation calls like `add_photo_to_collection` require both the source ID and destination ID.

It can retrieve public profile data using `get_user(username)`. This is useful for running automated checks on who exists in the system via the MCP Server.

You must configure the transport layer correctly using `claude mcp add` before writing any scripts. The server needs to be accessible over HTTP or STDIO for headless operation.

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