Skip to main content
Glama

Unsplash MCP Server

English | ็ฎ€ไฝ“ไธญๆ–‡

A simple MCP server for seamless Unsplash image integration and search capabilities.

Python 3.9+ License: MIT

Trust Score

๐Ÿ“‹ Overview

Unsplash MCP Server is used for searching rich, high-quality images. It's ideal for developers who want to integrate Unsplash functionality into their own applications.

Related MCP server: Unsplash MCP Server

โœจ Features

  • Advanced Image Search: Search Unsplash's extensive photo library with filters for:

    • Keyword relevance

    • Color schemes

    • Orientation options

    • Custom sorting and pagination

๐Ÿ”‘ Obtaining Unsplash Access Key

Before installing this server, you'll need to obtain an Unsplash API Access Key:

  1. Create a developer account at Unsplash

  2. Register a new application

  3. Get your Access Key from the application details page

  4. Use this key in the configuration steps below

For more details, refer to the official Unsplash API documentation.

๐Ÿš€ Installation

To install Unsplash Image Integration Server for Claude Desktop automatically via Smithery:

IDE Setup

Cursor IDE

npx -y @smithery/cli@latest install @hellokaton/unsplash-mcp-server --client cursor --key 7558c683-****-****

Windsurf

npx -y @smithery/cli@latest install @hellokaton/unsplash-mcp-server --client windsurf --key 7558c683-****-****

Cline

npx -y @smithery/cli@latest install @hellokaton/unsplash-mcp-server --client cline --key 7558c683-****-****

Manual Installation

# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/hellokaton/unsplash-mcp-server.git

# Navigate to project directory
cd unsplash-mcp-server

# Create virtual environment
uv venv

# Install dependencies
uv pip install .

Cursor Editor Integration

Add the following configuration to your Cursor editor's settings.json:

โš ๏ธ Note: Please adjust the following configuration according to your actual installation:

  • If uv is not in your system PATH, use an absolute path (e.g., /path/to/uv)

  • ./server.py should be modified to the actual location of your server script (can use absolute path or path relative to workspace)

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "unsplash": {
      "command": "uv",
      "args": ["run", "--with", "fastmcp", "fastmcp", "run", "./server.py"],
      "env": {
        "UNSPLASH_ACCESS_KEY": "${YOUR_ACCESS_KEY}"
      }
    }
  }
}

Using in Cursor

๐Ÿ› ๏ธ Available Tools

Search Photos

{
  "tool": "search_photos",
  "query": "mountain",
  "per_page": 5,
  "orientation": "landscape"
}

๐Ÿ”„ Other Implementations

๐Ÿ“„ License

MIT License

๐Ÿ“ฌ Contact

Available Tools

1 tool
search_photosA
Search for Unsplash photos

Args:
    query: Search keyword
    page: Page number (1-based)
    per_page: Results per page (1-30)
    order_by: Sort method (relevant or latest)
    color: Color filter (black_and_white, black, white, yellow, orange, red, purple, magenta, green, teal, blue)
    orientation: Orientation filter (landscape, portrait, squarish)

Returns:
    List[UnsplashPhoto]: List of search results containing photo objects with the following properties:
        - id: Unique identifier for the photo
        - description: Optional text description of the photo
        - urls: Dictionary of available image URLs in different sizes
        - width: Original image width in pixels
        - height: Original image height in pixels
ParametersJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
queryYes
pageNo
per_pageNo
order_byNorelevant
colorNo
orientationNo

TDQS

A3.5/5.0
Behavior2/5

Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?

With no annotations provided, the description carries full burden for behavioral disclosure. It mentions the tool searches photos but doesn't cover critical aspects like rate limits, authentication requirements, pagination behavior beyond parameters, or error conditions. The return format is described, but operational context is missing.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Conciseness5/5

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

The description is well-structured and efficiently organized with clear sections for Args and Returns. Every sentence adds essential information without redundancy, making it easy to parse while maintaining completeness for the tool's functionality.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Completeness4/5

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

Given the tool's moderate complexity (6 parameters, 1 required) and lack of annotations/output schema, the description does well by detailing parameters and return format. However, it misses some behavioral context like rate limits or authentication needs, preventing a perfect score.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Parameters5/5

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

The description adds significant value beyond the input schema, which has 0% schema description coverage. It clearly explains each parameter's purpose, constraints (e.g., '1-30' for per_page), and valid values for enums like order_by, color, and orientation. This fully compensates for the schema's lack of descriptions.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Purpose4/5

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

The description clearly states the tool's purpose: 'Search for Unsplash photos'. It specifies the verb ('Search') and resource ('Unsplash photos'), making the function immediately understandable. However, without sibling tools to differentiate from, it cannot achieve the highest score of 5 which requires distinguishing from alternatives.

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Usage Guidelines2/5

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

The description provides no guidance on when to use this tool versus alternatives, prerequisites, or constraints. It simply lists parameters and returns without context about appropriate use cases, making it minimally helpful for decision-making.

Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.

Tool Schema Changelog

Recent tool additions, removals, and schema changes observed during successful MCP inspections. Dates show when Glama detected each change.

  1. 1 tool update
    • First observedsearch_photos

TDQS

A3.5/5.0
Disambiguation5/5

With only one tool, there is no possibility of confusion or overlap between tools. The single tool 'search_photos' has a clearly defined and distinct purpose.

Naming Consistency5/5

The single tool follows a clear verb_noun pattern ('search_photos'), and with only one tool, there is perfect consistency by definition.

Tool Count2/5

A single tool for an Unsplash server feels thin and incomplete for the domain. While search is a core function, typical photo services would include additional operations like getting photo details, downloading, or user-related actions.

Completeness2/5

The tool surface is severely incomplete for an Unsplash server. There are significant gaps: no ability to get photo details by ID, download photos, access user profiles, collections, or statistics. The server only supports search, which limits agent workflows.

Maintenance

ActivityInactive
ResponsivenessNo issues

Resources

Unclaimed servers have limited discoverability.

Looking for Admin?

If you are the server author, to access and configure the admin panel.

Related MCP Connectors

Related MCP Servers

  • A
    license
    Not graded
    quality
    B
    maintenance
    Provides access to the Unsplash API, enabling AI assistants to search and retrieve high-quality photos, browse collections, view photographer profiles, and get photo statistics with advanced filtering options.
    309
    MIT
  • A
    license
    B
    quality
    C
    maintenance
    Enables users to search for high-quality photos on Unsplash with support for advanced filtering by orientation and content safety. It provides formatted photo metadata and images in either base64-encoded format or as JSON with URLs via stdio transport.
    1
    31
    MIT
  • A
    license
    Not graded
    quality
    D
    maintenance
    Enables searching and downloading photos from Unsplash via the Unsplash API, with support for pagination, orientation filtering, and multiple resolutions.
    309
    1
    MIT
  • A
    license
    A
    quality
    D
    maintenance
    An MCP server for searching and retrieving photos from Unsplash with proper attribution, designed for LLMs building content pages.
    3
    24
    MIT

Latest Blog Posts

MCP directory API

We provide all the information about MCP servers via our MCP API.

curl -X GET 'https://glama.ai/api/mcp/v1/servers/hellokaton/unsplash-mcp-server'

If you have feedback or need assistance with the MCP directory API, please join our Discord server