# Unsplash MCP > Unsplash gives your AI agent instant access to millions of high-resolution photos. Search specific topics or keywords, manage personal photo collections, and pull detailed download statistics—all without leaving your chat window. ## Overview - **Category:** design-creative - **Price:** Free - **Tags:** stock-photography, image-search, visual-assets, creative-workflow, media-library, high-resolution ## Description Connect this MCP using your Unsplash developer account key, and you get immediate access to the world's largest open image library through any AI agent. Instead of opening a browser and juggling tabs, your agent handles everything. You can ask it to find photos matching specific criteria, like 'minimalist workspace in landscape orientation,' or fetch random images related to an architectural topic. If you need to organize assets for a client campaign, the MCP lets you create new collections and add multiple pictures simultaneously. It also tracks user engagement, letting you check photo statistics or see which images are downloading the most. This makes it easy to keep all your visual assets organized directly within your workflow. Vinkius hosts this connection, so whether you use Claude, Cursor, or another compatible client, the power of Unsplash is always connected. ## Tools ### get_photo Retrieves the full image data for one photo using its ID. ### search_users Searches the platform for other users based on their public profile name or activity. ### add_photo_to_collection Adds a specific photo to your existing collection. ### list_user_photos Lists photos that were uploaded by your specific user account. ### remove_photo_from_collection Takes a photo out of an existing collection when the asset is no longer relevant. ### search_collections Searches for collections using descriptive keywords, helping you find niche sets of images. ### search_photos Finds specific photos by entering general search terms or keywords. ### track_photo_download Records a photo download to ensure proper attribution and track usage metrics. ### create_collection Sets up and names a brand new private or public photo collection for organization. ### delete_collection Permanently removes an existing photo collection when it's no longer needed. ### get_collection_photos Retrieves a list of all photos currently stored inside a specified collection. ### get_collection Fetches the details for one specific photo collection using its unique ID. ### get_me Retrieves your public profile information and details about your Unsplash account. ### get_photo_statistics Gets detailed metrics, like views and downloads, for a single photo ID. ### get_random_photo Pulls one or more random, high-quality photos from the library. ### get_related_collections Lists other collections that are thematically similar to a given collection ID. ### get_topic_photos Fetches photos specifically categorized under a defined topic. ### get_topic Retrieves details about a specific photo topic using its ID or slug. ### get_user_statistics Gets overall download and view statistics for an entire user account. ### get_user Retrieves a public profile of any specified Unsplash user by username. ### like_photo Marks your account as liking a specific photo to show appreciation for the creator. ### list_collections Shows all public collections available across the Unsplash platform. ### list_photos Fetches a list of photos from the main editorial feed. ### list_topics Provides a comprehensive list of all available photo topics and categories. ### list_user_collections Shows all collections that you, the authenticated user, have created. ### unlike_photo Removes your 'like' status from a photo, reversing the action you previously took. ### update_collection Edits an existing collection's details or membership structure using its unique ID. ### update_me Changes personal information on your authenticated Unsplash user profile. ## Prompt Examples **Prompt:** ``` Search for 3 high-resolution photos of 'minimalist workspace' in landscape orientation. ``` **Response:** ``` I've found 3 minimalist workspace photos for you. [Photo 1: Clean desk with laptop], [Photo 2: Bright office with plants], [Photo 3: Zen wooden desk]. Would you like the download links for any of these? ``` **Prompt:** ``` Get a random photo from the 'Architecture' topic. ``` **Response:** ``` Here is a stunning random photo from the Architecture topic: [Image of a modern spiral staircase]. It was taken by 'UserXYZ'. Do you want to see more from this photographer? ``` **Prompt:** ``` Show me the statistics for the user 'unsplash_photographer'. ``` **Response:** ``` The user 'unsplash_photographer' has impressive engagement: 1.2M total views and 450k downloads across their 120 uploaded photos. Would you like to see their most popular collections? ``` ## Capabilities ### Search and discover images Find photos across the library using keywords, topics, or by filtering for specific orientations. ### Manage photo collections Create, update, and delete organized groups of photos, adding or removing individual pictures as needed. ### Analyze user performance data Pull statistics on specific photos, or view overall download counts for users to understand asset popularity. ### Curate visual assets by topic Browse photo sets categorized by popular topics curated by the Unsplash editorial team. ## Use Cases ### The brand needs a new campaign visual, but the team is disorganized. A Marketing Manager asks their agent to 'Find 10 photos about sustainability and put them into a new collection.' The MCP handles this by calling `search_photos` first, then using `create_collection`, and finally executing multiple `add_photo_to_collection` calls. All assets are instantly curated. ### The design team needs to audit which photos perform best. A Designer asks the agent for 'the download statistics on our top 20 images.' The MCP runs `get_photo_statistics` for each image, compiling a report that helps them decide where to invest their visual effort. ### The developer is building an asset viewer and needs test data. A Developer asks the agent to 'Fetch three random photos from the architecture topic.' The MCP uses `get_random_photo` combined with `get_topic_photos`, allowing the developer to populate a staging environment instantly. ### The user needs to track their personal contributions. A User asks the agent, 'What photos did I upload last month?' The MCP uses `list_user_photos` and provides an overview of the creator's portfolio without needing to visit the website. ## Benefits - Never manually search for stock photos again. Use the agent to find assets by topic, keyword, or orientation directly in your chat window using `search_photos`. - Organize massive asset dumps efficiently. You can use `create_collection` and immediately add multiple images via `add_photo_to_collection`, keeping related visuals grouped for a campaign. - Understand image performance at a glance. Get deep insights into user engagement by running `get_photo_statistics` on any single picture, or checking total stats with `get_user_statistics`. - Build your own visual library dashboard. You can list all available topics using `list_topics`, ensuring you always know where to find high-quality inspiration for niche projects. - Automate content population tasks. Developers use the MCP to automatically fetch image metadata and track downloads via `track_photo_download` for application testing. ## How It Works The bottom line is that your agent handles all the API calls and data retrieval so you don't have to switch applications. 1. First, connect your Unsplash developer account key to this MCP. 2. Next, tell your AI agent what you need—for example, 'Find me three photos of vintage cameras.' 3. Finally, the agent uses the tools to find and list the assets, allowing you to organize them into collections or pull specific download statistics. ## Frequently Asked Questions **How do I search for photos using Unsplash Extended MCP?** You use the `search_photos` tool by providing keywords or phrases. For example, asking the agent to 'Search for autumn leaves' will run the necessary query and return results. **Can I track how many times a photo was downloaded using Unsplash Extended MCP?** Yes, you can check usage data with `get_photo_statistics`. This tool pulls detailed metrics on views and downloads for any specific image ID. **What is the difference between listing topics and searching photos in Unsplash Extended MCP?** Listing topics (`list_topics`) gives you all available categories (e.g., 'Nature,' 'Minimalism'). Searching photos (`search_photos`) lets you find images using custom words, like 'minimalist coffee shop.' **Does Unsplash Extended MCP require me to use my own API key?** Yes, connecting your personal Unsplash developer access key is required for the agent to perform any actions. This allows the tool to act on behalf of your account. **How do I add a photo to an existing collection using the MCP?** You use `add_photo_to_collection` and must provide both the specific photo's ID and the name or ID of the target collection. This keeps your assets organized. **Can I fetch a random photo based on a specific search term or topic?** Yes! Use the `get_random_photo` tool. You can provide a `query` (like 'nature') or `topics` IDs to filter the random selection to exactly what you need. **Is it possible to create and manage my own photo collections via the AI?** Absolutely. With a valid Bearer Token, you can use `create_collection`, `add_photo_to_collection`, and `remove_photo_from_collection` to curate your Unsplash assets directly through conversation. **How can I check the performance or popularity of a specific photo?** You can use the `get_photo_statistics` tool by providing the photo ID. It will return detailed metrics including total views and downloads.