How to Add WordPress Image Captions

Want to add captions to your WordPress images? It’s an easy way to make your visuals more meaningful. Captions help your audience understand what they’re seeing and why it’s important. Whether you’re showcasing products, sharing moments from events, or displaying artwork, captions can make a significant impact on engagement. They also support SEO by providing additional context to search engines, similar to alt text and file names.

In this guide, you’ll learn the best ways to add captions to images in WordPress. We’ll cover both the Media Library and WordPress Editor options, along with some advanced tips if you’re looking to customize captions further. For those who want even more control, we’ll also share why using an image gallery plugin can be beneficial for organizing and enhancing your photo display.

By the end, you’ll understand the importance of adding captions, the best methods for captioning in WordPress, and when to consider gallery plugins to take your images to the next level.

How to Add Captions to Images in the WordPress Media Library

One of the easiest ways to add captions to your images is through the WordPress Media Library. Here’s how to do it step-by-step:

1. Open the Media Library:
   • Go to your WordPress dashboard and go to Media > Library. This is where all your site’s images are stored.

2. Upload a New Image:
   • Click Add New to upload an image from your device. You can either drag and drop files or click Select Files to browse and choose your images.

3. Edit the Image:
   • Once your image is uploaded, locate it in the Media Library. Hover over the image and click Edit to open the image settings.
4. Add Your Caption:
   • In the image editing view, you’ll see fields for Caption, Alt Text, Description, and Title. Enter your caption in the Caption field to add context directly beneath the image when it’s displayed.

5. Enhance with Alt Text:
   • This is also a good time to add Alt Text for accessibility and SEO. Alt text helps search engines and visually impaired users understand your image’s content.
6. Additional Edits (Optional):
   • If needed, click on Edit Image to resize or adjust the image’s dimensions.

How To Add Captions To Images in the WordPress Editor 

Adding captions in the WordPress Editor can be useful when you want to work directly within a page or post. Here’s how to quickly add captions to images using either the Block or Classic Editor.

How to Add Image Captions With the Block Editor 

In the WordPress Block Editor, adding captions to images is straightforward. Follow these steps:

1. Insert an Image Block:
   • Click the Add Block button (+) and select Image.
2. Upload or Select an Image:
   • Choose to upload a new image either or select one from the Media Library.
3. Add Your Caption:
   • After the image is inserted, a caption field will appear directly below it. Type your caption here.
4. Optional Formatting:
   • You can format your caption text using Bold, Italics, or add a link by selecting options from the toolbar above the caption field.

To make an image caption in WordPress using the Block Editor, simply insert an image block, upload or select an image, and type your desired caption in the caption field below the image.

How to Add Image Captions With Classic Editor 

In the Classic Editor, adding captions to images is simple. Follow these steps:

1. Add Media: Place your cursor where you want the image to appear, then click Add Media in the toolbar.

2. Upload or Select an Image: Upload a new image or select one from your Media Library.
3. Add Your Caption: In the Caption field on the right, type in the caption text you’d like to display below the image.

4. Insert into Post: Click Insert into Post to add the image with its caption to your content.
5. Bonus Edits: If you need to make changes, click on the image and select Edit to adjust the caption or add alt text.

How to Add Captions to Image Galleries 

Using an image gallery is a great way to organize multiple images on a single page while adding captions to enhance context. Here’s how to create a basic WordPress image gallery with captions:

1. Add a Gallery Block: In the WordPress editor, click Add Block (+) and select Gallery.
2. Upload or Select Images: Upload new images or choose from the Media Library to add images to your gallery.
3. Add Captions to Each Image: Once the images are in the gallery, click on each one to add a caption in the Caption field. You can also add alt text, titles, and descriptions for accessibility and SEO.

4. Insert the Gallery: After adding captions and metadata, click Insert Gallery to display it on your page.

Using an image gallery not only groups related images but also improves the user experience by reducing page clutter and load times.

The Best Way to Add Captions to Images? Use an Image Gallery Plugin 

If you need to display multiple images regularly – whether for a photography portfolio, a WooCommerce store, or a blog – an image gallery plugin can offer significant advantages. Unlike the basic gallery options, a dedicated plugin provides enhanced control over how your images and captions are displayed.

With a gallery plugin, you can:

• Customize gallery layouts to match your WordPress theme and style.
• Access advanced captioning options, allowing for greater flexibility in how captions appear.
• Organize large numbers of images efficiently, improving both user experience and page load times.

Using a gallery plugin gives you the ability to manage and showcase captions more effectively, helping your images stand out to visitors while keeping your website organized and visually appealing.

Creating Custom Captions With FooGallery 

If you’re using FooGallery PRO Expert or PRO Commerce, you have the ability to create custom captions using HTML, providing enhanced flexibility for your image captions. Here’s how you can use this feature:

1. Add Custom HTML to Captions:
   • With this option, you can format your captions more creatively. This includes:
     • Adding links or buttons.
     • Using formatting options like Bold or Italicized text.
     • Changing font styles or sizes for emphasis.
2. Use Dynamic Placeholders:
   • FooGallery allows you to use dynamic placeholders in your captions. This means you can pull in information like prices or additional details directly into your captions by referencing metadata fields associated with your images.
   • To use this feature, you can enter relevant metadata in the Media Library or utilize advanced plugins like ACF (Advanced Custom Fields) or Pods.

This customization is particularly useful for eCommerce businesses that want their product images to stand out. By using custom captions effectively, you can enhance the storytelling of your images and provide more context to your audience.

Make Your Image Captions More Enticing With FooGallery 

Adding captions to your images in WordPress enhances context and improves user engagement. Whether you choose to use the built-in Media Library options or the Block and Classic Editors, having captions can provide clarity and accessibility for your audience.

For users looking to showcase multiple images, using an image gallery plugin like FooGallery can offer significant advantages. With FooGallery PRO, you gain access to advanced features and customizable options that allow for better presentation and organization of your visuals. These tools enable greater flexibility in how you add and display captions, elevating the overall impact of your images.

By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can effectively add and enhance captions for your images, improving both the aesthetic appeal and functionality of your WordPress site.

FAQs

Why add image captions in WordPress?

Adding image captions in WordPress provides context to your visuals, enhancing the user experience. Captions help visitors understand the significance of the images, making your content more engaging and informative. They also contribute to SEO by providing additional text for search engines to index, which can improve your site’s visibility.

Why are my WordPress image captions not showing?

If your WordPress image captions are not displaying, it could be due to a few reasons: the theme you’re using may not support captions, the captions might not have been added correctly in the Media Library, or there could be CSS issues that hide the caption text. Ensure you’ve entered the captions properly and check your theme settings for any related options.

How are image captions different from alt text?

Image captions and alt text serve different purposes. Captions are visible text displayed below an image that provides context or commentary, helping users understand the content better. Alt text, on the other hand, is descriptive text added to images to improve accessibility and SEO; it helps visually impaired users and search engines understand the image’s content. While captions enhance user experience, alt text is crucial for compliance with web accessibility standards.