How to Easily Add Captions to Images in WordPress (In-Depth Tutorial)

Adding captions to your images is one of the easiest ways to enhance your WordPress site‘s content.

Descriptive captions provide context, explain images better, and improve the overall user experience.

In this detailed guide, you‘ll learn various ways to add image captions in WordPress using the block editor, classic editor, and media library.

Let‘s get started!

Why You Should Be Using Captions on Your WordPress Site

Here are some key reasons why using captions under your images is highly recommended:

Provides Important Context

Captions give your readers the backstory and context about an image quickly without having to read the entire post content to understand it.

According to an eye-tracking study by the Poynter Institute, 79% of the timespent looking at a page is focused on text. Only 21% is focused on images.

This suggests most people are more likely to read your image captions than study the images closely.

Boosts Accessibility

Adding appropriate alt text and captions makes your images more accessible.

Visually impaired users who rely on screen readers to interpret web pages are able to better understand the purpose and context of an image with good captions.

Web accessibility should be a priority. Around 15% of the world‘s population has some form of visual impairment.

SEO Benefits

Captions allow search engines to better interpret the topic of an image, which can improve its rankings in image search results.

According to Moz, captions can improve image SEO rankings by providing relevant keywords and context to search engine crawlers.

Improves Engagement

Posts with well-written captions tend to perform better socially. Audiences are more likely to engage with an image if the caption grabs their attention.

An industry survey found that 40% of consumers wanted more images and visuals in business to business (B2B) content marketing. Using good captions with your images helps cater to this demand.

Enhances Visual Appeal

A well-positioned caption can complement the visual appearance of an image. Much like a clothing outfit, the right accessories can complete the look.

Now that you know the benefits, let‘s dive into the various ways you can add image captions in WordPress.

Comparing Block Editor vs Classic Editor for Image Captions

Before we get into specifics, let‘s briefly compare using the block editor vs the classic editor for adding image captions:

Feature	Block Editor	Classic Editor
Ease of Use	Very easy. Just add text in caption field.	Easy. Enter caption in sidebar fields.
Where caption is stored	Stores caption metadata with image.	Stores caption in image attachment post.
Reusability	Can reuse images with captions.	Can reuse images with captions.
Availability	Available in all recent WordPress versions.	Only available if classic editor is enabled.
Extensibility	Limited options to customize caption style/layout.	Can modify caption styling with CSS.
Suitability	Great for simple informative captions.	Works for all types of captions.

Both options allow you to add captions to images in WordPress. The block editor provides a quicker and simpler process while the classic editor gives you more customization freedom.

Now let‘s look at each method in more detail.

Adding Captions to Images with the Block Editor

The WordPress block editor makes it easy to add captions to images on your pages and posts.

When you upload an image or insert one from your media library, a caption field instantly appears below it.

Here is the step-by-step process:

1. Open an existing post or create a new one. Click the + icon to insert a new block.

2. Select the Image block type. Upload or choose your image.

3. Once added, you will see the ‘Add caption‘ text field below the image block.

4. Type your caption into this field. Use 2-3 concise sentences to provide context.

5. When done, click Publish or Update to save your caption.

And that‘s all there is to it!

Let‘s look at an example image with a caption added using the block editor:

The block editor seamlessly stores the caption text you add along with the image. This metadata gets saved with the image in your media library.

Pros of Using the Block Editor for Captions

Here are some of the advantages of using the block editor:

• Extremely quick and easy to add captions. Just type in the dedicated field.
• Allows reuse of images with captions already added.
• Keeps your captions consistent visually across posts and pages.
• Ideal for informative non-styled captions.

Cons of Using the Block Editor for Captions

Some limitations to note:

• Minimal options for custom styling the caption appearance and layout.
• Captions always appear above images by default (can change via Advanced settings).
• No access to HTML for advanced caption formatting.

Overall, the block editor is great for quickly adding standard captions to your images. But it lacks the extensibility of the classic editor approach.

Next, let‘s see how to add captions to gallery images using the block editor.

Adding Captions to Gallery Images with the Block Editor

The WordPress block editor also includes a Gallery block to display multiple images in a grid layout.

To add captions to your gallery images:

1. Insert the Gallery block and upload or select your photos.

2. Click an image and enter your caption in the provided text field.

3. Repeat this for all images that need a caption.

4. Publish your gallery post/page.

The Gallery block groups and neatly presents your captioned images.

Here is an example gallery with captions:

The ability to quickly give context to multiple images makes the Gallery block very useful.

Next, we‘ll look at uploading directly to the media library with captions.

Adding Captions When Uploading Images to the Media Library

You can add image captions when bulk uploading your pictures to the WordPress media library too.

Here is how it works:

1. Go to Media > Add New to upload your photos.

2. After uploading, click the Edit link below an image.

3. This opens the media edit screen. Enter a caption in the dedicated field.

4. Click Update to save the caption. Repeat for other images.

Now when you insert these images into posts, their captions will be included automatically.

Let‘s look at an example edited image with a caption:

Bulk uploading is an easy way to add many images complete with captions, alt text, and other metadata to your site.

Next, we‘ll cover adding captions using the classic editor.

Adding Image Captions Using the Classic Editor

If your WordPress site still uses the classic editor, you can add captions to images in a few simple steps:

1. Click Add Media when editing a post or page.

2. Select your image and click Insert into post.

3. In the media sidebar, enter your caption in the Caption field.

4. Click Insert into post to add the captioned image to your content.

Here is an example image and caption added using the classic editor method:

The classic editor stores the caption in the image attachment metadata, similar to the block editor.

Let‘s go over some pros and cons of using the classic editor approach.

Pros of the Classic Editor Method

• Allows using HTML for advanced caption formatting and styles.
• More design customization control with CSS.
• Ability to position the caption above, below, or alongside images.
• Works with any WordPress theme that supports image captions.

Cons of the Classic Editor Method

• Slightly more time consuming than the block editor.
• Need to re-enter captions when reusing images.
• Captions require coding expertise for advanced customization.
• Only available if you have the classic editor enabled.

The classic editor is great if you need more design flexibility or use HTML/CSS for custom styling.

Next, we‘ll cover adding captions to gallery images using the classic editor.

Adding Captions to Gallery Images with the Classic Editor

Similar to singular images, you can add captions to gallery images using the media uploader in the classic editor.

Here is a step-by-step guide:

1. Go to Add Media and select your gallery images.

2. Click Create Gallery in the left menu.

3. In the popup, click Create a new gallery.

4. Below each image, enter your caption in the provided field.

5. When done, click Insert gallery to add the gallery with captions to your content.

Here is an example gallery created using the classic editor approach:

This method allows you to create an entire captioned gallery before inserting it into your post or page.

Next, let‘s go over some best practices for writing effective captions.

Best Practices for Writing Image Captions

Creating engaging image captions is an art that takes a bit of practice. Use these tips:

Be Concise Yet Descriptive

Ideally, keep captions between 25-125 characters or 1-3 sentences. Be succinct but provide useful details.

Give Relevant Background Context

Help the reader understand what is shown without being redundant. Give context the image alone doesn‘t provide.

Use an Active Voice

Opt for "The crew builds the fence" over "The fence is being built by the construction crew". Active voice is more clear and engaging.

Include Important Keywords

Work relevant keywords into your caption naturally to enhance SEO. But don‘t just cram keywords.

Add a Call to Action When Applicable

Captions can include a CTA like "Click here to register for our event today!" if it aligns with your goal.

Maintain Visual Consistency

Keep font styles, sizes, and formatting consistent across captions on your site.

Proofread Thoroughly

Double-check spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Typographical errors undermine quality.

Take your time to write great captions. Next let‘s discuss some common issues and troubleshooting.

Troubleshooting Common Caption Problems in WordPress

Here are some solutions to common caption issues people run into:

Problem: Captions not displaying on your site.

Solution: Check the theme settings for an option to enable image captions. Some themes hide captions by default.

Problem: Captions displaying above when you want them below images.

Solution: In the block editor, under Advanced settings, enable "Display caption below image".

Problem: Captions formatting incorrectly or not applied.

Solution: Use the classic editor approach for more styling control and HTML formatting options.

Problem: Reused images not showing previous captions.

Solution: Make sure you add captions when first uploading to the media library then insert images from there.

Problem: Captions cut off and not fully visible.

Solution: Increase caption max-width via CSS based on your image sizes to display the full caption.

Taking a couple minutes to troubleshoot can save you hours of frustration!

Other Ways to Add Image Captions in WordPress

Here are a few other methods you can use:

• Add captions directly in your themes‘ image HTML – For full design control, you can add <figcaption> tags within image HTML markup.

• Use a caption plugin – Plugins like WP Caption give you added caption features.

• Insert captions using shortcodes – Some themes support shortcodes like to insert captions in the visual editor.

The options covered in detail in this article are the easiest ways to add standard captions for most users. But the possibilities are unlimited for customization!

Final Thoughts

Adding informative, engaging captions to your images improves the user experience. With WordPress, you have several user-friendly options to accomplish this.

To recap, you can use:

• The block editor for quick standard captions
• The classic editor for advanced custom captions
• Media library for bulk upload captions
• Shortcodes and HTML for complete design control

No matter which solution you pick, take the time to write strong image captions. This effort can go a long way in enhancing your site‘s content.

We hope this detailed guide gives you all the tools you need to add excellent captions to your pictures in WordPress!