Generate image caption from text
AI reads selected paragraph and creates perfect photo caption with context.
Generate image caption from text
River's Image Caption Generator creates photo captions from surrounding story context. You provide the paragraph where an image will appear plus brief description of what the image shows, and the AI writes a complete caption that identifies subjects, provides context, and connects to the story. Whether you're editing photo essays, news stories, or features, you get captions that inform readers and enhance storytelling.
Unlike generic descriptions, we create journalistic captions following AP style. The AI understands caption conventions (identify people and action, provide context needed, write in present tense, keep concise but complete), connects images to story narrative, and writes captions that add value beyond what readers can see. You get captions that properly contextualize images within your journalism.
This tool is perfect for reporters adding captions, photo editors managing images, digital journalists optimizing visual stories, and anyone publishing photo-heavy content. If you struggle writing informative captions, or if you need to caption many images quickly, this tool helps. Use it when placing images in stories to ensure proper context and identification.
What Makes Photo Captions Effective
Photo captions succeed when they tell readers what they're looking at while adding information the image alone can't convey. Effective captions identify people (full names, left to right or specific description), explain the action or moment, provide relevant context from the story, and use present tense for what's happening in the image. Weak captions just describe the obvious (people standing outside a building). Strong captions add context (Protesters gather outside City Hall Tuesday before the housing vote, where Council ultimately approved the controversial development).
The best captions follow clear conventions. First sentence describes what's happening (present tense). Second sentence, if needed, provides context or background (past tense). Identify all recognizable people, left to right or with specific description. Include photographer credit. Keep concise (most captions are one to two sentences). Add information, don't just describe. If readers can see it, you don't need to state it. Tell them what they can't see: who these people are, when this happened, why it matters, what happened next.
To improve captions, get full names and proper titles for everyone pictured. Include relevant context from the story. Use specific details (meeting Tuesday, not recent meeting). Follow your publication's style (AP style is standard for news). Never make assumptions about what image shows (verify details). Avoid editorializing or adding opinion. Present tense for action in image, past tense for context. Read caption without seeing image. Does it make sense? Then look at image with caption. Together, do they tell complete story?
What You Get
Complete photo caption with identification and context
Proper present tense for image action
Story context integrated naturally
AP style journalistic format
Ready-to-publish caption connecting image to narrative
How It Works
- 1Paste context and image descriptionProvide paragraph where image appears plus what image shows
- 2AI generates captionOur AI creates complete photo caption in under 1 minute
- 3Review and copyRead the caption and copy it
- 4Add to image and publishInsert caption with image, add photo credit, publish
Frequently Asked Questions
Will this identify people in photos?
You must provide names and identifications. The AI can't see images or identify people. Describe who is in the photo (include full names, titles, left-to-right order) and the AI will incorporate proper identification in the caption. Never publish captions without verifying all names and identifications are correct.
Should captions repeat information from the story?
Some repetition is fine and often necessary for readers who scan images before reading. But captions should add value, not just duplicate. If the paragraph says (Mayor Smith announced the decision), the caption can say (Mayor John Smith speaks at City Hall Tuesday after announcing the housing decision). Captions provide entry point for skimmers.
What tense should captions use?
Present tense for what's happening in the image (speaks, walks, holds). Past tense for context or events not shown (announced earlier, voted Tuesday, will meet Friday). This is AP style convention. The image shows a frozen moment, so describe that moment in present tense.
How long should captions be?
Most captions are one to two sentences. First sentence describes the image action. Second sentence provides context if needed. Be concise but complete. Don't artificially limit useful information, but don't pad with unnecessary details either. If readers need more than two sentences of context, the image might not be serving your story well.
Do captions need photographer credits?
Yes, always credit photographers. The AI focuses on caption text. You add the credit separately following your publication's format (typically (Photo by Jane Doe) or (Jane Doe / Publication Name)). Proper attribution is essential and often legally required. Never publish photos without proper credits.
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