Export Lightroom photos to sell online

Size: enough resolution for the athlete

An athlete who buys a photo receives it in high resolution, so there is no point exporting tiny versions. Keep a generous resolution that works on large screens and, if the athlete wants, for printing.

Both programs offer options to limit the long edge of the image. Avoid shrinking too much, and if in doubt export at or close to the original size. It is always easier to serve a large image than to recover lost detail.

Quality and format

JPEG is the most practical format for this purpose. Choose a high quality setting without aggressive compression, because compression artefacts show up mainly in smooth skies, blurred backgrounds and fabrics.

Before exporting a whole event, test with two or three photos and open them on a computer and on a phone. If the image looks good on both, you can go ahead with the full batch.

sRGB colour space

Export in sRGB. It is the colour space most compatible with browsers, phones and lab printers, and it stops colours looking dull or different on the athlete's screen.

If you work in a wider colour space while editing, convert to sRGB only at export. Both Lightroom and Capture One have a colour space option in their output settings.

EXIF metadata: include everything

The platform reads the capture time stored in the EXIF data and groups photos into colour-coded sequences, known as bursts. This helps you choose between similar images and helps the athlete find their own sequence.

For this to work, export with all metadata included. If the export limits metadata to copyright information only, the capture time may be lost. Also check that your camera clock was correct on the day of the event.

File names and organisation

Keep file names that preserve the order of capture, such as the camera's original numbering. When the name follows the order, it is easier to check the gallery and spot gaps.

Create one export folder per event, named with the race and the date. That way you always know what you have already uploaded and avoid sending the same photo twice. Then upload the photos through the photographer dashboard.

A final check before you upload

Before sending the batch, open a sample and confirm three things: the date and time appear correctly in the metadata, the colours look as expected and the file size makes sense for the resolution you chose.

If you used more than one camera, check that the clocks were set to the same time, otherwise sequences may end up out of order. Finally, open one or two images on your phone. If something looks odd, it is easier to fix before you upload hundreds of photos.

Which format should I use when exporting?

High-quality JPEG in the sRGB colour space is the most practical and compatible option for selling photos online.

Why should I include all metadata?

Because the platform reads the capture time from the EXIF data to group photos into sequences. Without it, the burst feature cannot do its job.

Can I use Capture One instead of Lightroom?

Yes. The goal is the same in both programs: good resolution, sRGB, high quality and metadata included.