Portfolio website that syncs with Lightroom Classic: your options

A portfolio website syncs with Lightroom Classic when it provides a plug-in that installs in the software’s Publish Services panel: SmugMug, Zenfolio, Format, Pixieset (for client galleries) and MyBoook all offer one, while Adobe Portfolio works through cloud-based Lightroom rather than Classic itself.

This Journal is published by MyBoook, which appears in this list. Each service is described here from its own documentation.

What does "syncing" with Lightroom Classic actually mean?

In Lightroom Classic, the link to a website almost always runs through a publish plug-in. Once installed, it shows up in the Library module under Publish Services, listing your galleries or pages. You drag photos into a gallery, click Publish, and the plug-in exports and uploads the files using the settings you chose (size, quality, file naming, metadata).

The real benefit comes later: when you edit a photo that is already online, Lightroom Classic flags it and you republish it without a manual export. How far the sync goes depends on the service. Some also bring information from the website back into your catalog, others only work in one direction.

Which services offer a Lightroom Classic plug-in?

SmugMug. Its help center separates a free plug-in that only works with Lightroom Classic from a connector for cloud-based Lightroom. The plug-in creates galleries from inside Lightroom, can sync your folder and gallery structure, and shows comments left on a photo right in Lightroom. On the selling side, it lets you apply a pricelist to a gallery, set a proof delay and edit ordered photos in Lightroom before releasing the order. A good fit for photographers who sell a lot online.

Zenfolio. The plug-in only works with Lightroom Classic and is downloaded from your Zenfolio account. It mirrors your account’s folder and gallery structure and lets you publish edits to photos you have already uploaded. The documentation lists a maximum of 100 MB per file.

Format. The Format Publisher plug-in creates gallery pages or client galleries on your site from Lightroom Classic. It adds two dedicated metadata fields, a caption and alt text, which helps with accessibility. Format states that the sync is one-way: images go from Lightroom to the website, not the other way around.

Pixieset. Its plug-in is downloaded from the client gallery dashboard and only works with Lightroom Classic. An option pulls your existing collection and set structure into Lightroom, without importing the photos. It is built for Pixieset’s client galleries.

MyBoook. The plug-in installs from the photographer’s dashboard and publishes photos to their site (portfolio, client galleries, print shop). It also organizes each client’s selection inside the catalog: one collection per client and 3 stars on every photo to retouch. Rate a photo 5 stars and it is delivered to the client. For cloud-based Lightroom, the site syncs through Adobe’s API, and the photographer never shares their Adobe password. Details are on the Lightroom-synced photography website page.

What about Adobe Portfolio?

Adobe Portfolio imports Lightroom albums as pages, from Lightroom desktop, Lightroom Web or the Portfolio editor. Its help center says there is no integration with Lightroom Classic: you first need to sync your Classic collections to Adobe’s cloud before they appear in Portfolio. Edits and album changes then have to be reimported, and imports are capped at 500 images per album. A simple option if you already work with synced collections.

How do you choose based on the way you work?

Start from what happens after the shoot, not from the website itself.

• You mainly show a portfolio: a one-way plug-in such as Format’s does the job, as long as you fill in captions and alt text in Lightroom.
• You deliver client shoots: check whether the client’s selection comes back into your catalog. That is what MyBoook’s plug-in does with its collections and star ratings.
• You sell prints: check what the plug-in handles on the order side. SmugMug, for instance, lets you edit ordered photos in Lightroom before printing.
• You already use synced collections: Adobe Portfolio fits that workflow, with a reimport to plan after each edit.

Whichever you pick, install the plug-in and try it on a test gallery before moving your whole catalog over.

Frequently asked questions

Does a Lightroom Classic plug-in update the website on its own? With the plug-ins documented by SmugMug, Zenfolio and Format, publishing starts from Lightroom Classic with the Publish button. A photo edited afterwards is republished the same way.

Do Lightroom Classic plug-ins work with cloud-based Lightroom? Not necessarily: Zenfolio, Pixieset and SmugMug state that their plug-in is for Classic only. SmugMug offers a separate connector for the cloud version.

Can I keep my photos in Lightroom Classic and use Adobe Portfolio? Yes, by syncing the relevant collections to Adobe’s cloud. Portfolio then imports the albums, but changes need to be reimported.