How to import photo collections into WordPress galleries

Export each photo collection into its own local folder before uploading. Use web-sized JPEG files unless you specifically need another format, and give files useful names because WordPress does not automatically turn Lightroom collection names into WordPress galleries.

Keep one folder per collection. This makes it easier to select the correct images and avoids mixing several shoots into one gallery.

In the WordPress dashboard, go to Media and choose the option to add new media. Select all the images from one collection and upload them together. WordPress supports bulk uploads through its multi-file uploader.

If the upload stops part-way through, split the collection into smaller batches. Large originals can hit the host's upload, memory or execution limits, and a file copied into wp-content/uploads through FTP will not automatically appear in the Media Library because WordPress also needs a registered media record.

Edit the page or post where the collection should appear and add a Gallery block. Choose Media Library, select the images from this collection, and insert them. You can also drag multiple images into the Gallery block, which uploads them and adds them to the gallery at the same time.

Set the number of columns, crop behaviour and image links. Add captions or useful alt text where needed. Repeat these steps for each collection, creating a separate gallery for each one.

Preview the page on a phone and desktop before publishing. Check image order, captions, links, thumbnail crops and loading speed. WordPress's standard gallery is suitable for simple collections, but it does not provide a Lightroom-style collection manager or automatic synchronisation.

Do not assume that Media Library folders will preserve your collection structure. The standard library has no built-in folder or category system, so the collection boundary is maintained by the gallery block or by a separate organising plugin.

If you publish collections regularly, a Lightroom-connected gallery plugin can remove the repeated export, upload and selection work. The Envira Gallery Lightroom Addon creates an Envira gallery from a Lightroom published collection: configure the Lightroom settings in WordPress, generate an access token, authenticate Lightroom, create a published collection, add photos and publish it.

The addon is not required for occasional galleries. It is most useful when Lightroom is your main catalogue and you want later changes or new photos in a published collection to be sent to WordPress. Check the current Envira and Lightroom requirements before installing, since the documentation lists specific plugin and Lightroom versions.

If only some photos arrive, retry with a smaller batch and check the host's upload and server limits. The Envira documentation specifically notes that publishing more than 20 images can be limited by server settings. Also check the file type: its Lightroom documentation lists JPG and JPEG support for that workflow.

Be careful when republishing edited images. Depending on the removal setting, older files may be removed and replaced. Deleting a published Lightroom collection can also give you a choice between leaving the gallery on the site and deleting it there, so confirm the choice before proceeding.