MediaWiki:Uploadtext/ownwork

Try the Upload Wizard instead

This form is only for uploading your own work – files that you have created and where you own the copyright. To upload work created by someone else, please use a different form.
Step 1. Is this your work?
Photographs or videos you have created of: natural landscapes, animals, and plants people that are either public figures or are taken at public events useful or non-artistic objects (tools, dinner plates, etc.) Graphs, maps, diagrams, and audio you have created entirely yourself. Works that are under a free license that you have modified: like above but the original work was not yours the original author(s) need to be credited according to the license terms	Works which contain other copyrighted works (derivative works) – these are not permitted, so don't upload them! Screenshots of TV shows, movies, DVDs, and software. Photographs of art, statues, commercial packaging and often toys. Drawings of copyrighted characters from TV, Comics, or Movies, even if you drew them yourself.
Step 2. Help people find this file. (Commons has over 110 million files)
Change the destination filename to something descriptive. Don't use default filenames! Use the information box on the right Write a clear description for the work you are uploading. Try to help people searching commons find your work. Use the CommonSense tool to find categories. Consider adding location data to your image, see Commons:Geocoding for more information. Copy this into the summary box and fill out the details: {{Information |Description= |Date= |Source={{own}} |Author= MyName (~~~) |Permission= |other_versions= }} Use a descriptive destination filename. Don't use default filenames generated by cameras! Write a good description of the contents of the file. Search engines search text, not image pixels! Consider adding location data to your image, see Commons:Geocoding for more information. If you already have an {{Information}} template or similar template ready to copy/paste, use the basic upload form. To always use the old basic form layout, click here or uncheck "ImprovedUploadForm: d On Special:Upload, show an easier form and help. [documentation / talk] " on the "⧼Gadgets⧽" tab of your Preferences.
Step 3. Select a Free Content license for your work.
When you upload your work to commons you are donating it to the world by using a free content license which allow everyone to use, modify, and redistribute your work for any purpose. This donation is non-revocable. Although you retain the copyright to your work, all works submitted to commons must have at least these freedoms. To learn more about the charitable mission of the Wikimedia Foundation visit the foundation website. Commons offers multiple licensing options. They differ primarily in their attribution requirements and the existence of additional terms that require works based on your work to be under similar free terms. Choose a license from the drop-down box, or write one in the summary box (from Commons:Copyright tags). It is your responsibility to understand what rights you are keeping for yourself. More information can be found at Commons:Licensing. If you need help understanding licensing terms, please ask at the Commons:Help desk.
Step 4. Has your work been published before? (if so, help us verify that this is a rightful copy)
If your work is as yet unpublished, you can proceed with the upload. If your work was published on the internet under a free license and a credit to the same name or nickname as you are using now, you can proceed with the upload. If your file was published without a free license, or with a different credit name, or with no credit at all, please send a confirmation E-mail to the address on this page and add {{OTRS pending|month=November|day=12|year=2024}} with details about the previous publication in the permission field below.
Other tips
Upload the highest resolution file you have, and don't watermark your work. Only upload file types which Commons accepts (SVG, PNG, JPG, GIF, Ogg, DjVU, …). Compromising or embarrassing images of non-public people taken without their knowledge are often problematic. Use good judgment. Wikimedia Commons is for educational or informational content.