“Troubleshooting the SmugMug Export Plugin: Common Fixes”

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How to Use the SmugMug Export Plugin: Step-by-StepSmugMug’s Export Plugin (commonly used with tools like Adobe Lightroom) helps photographers move finished images from their editing environment directly to their SmugMug galleries — preserving image quality, metadata, and gallery organization. This guide walks through installation, setup, export settings, common workflows, and troubleshooting so you can publish your photos smoothly and professionally.

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1. What the SmugMug Export Plugin does and when to use it

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The SmugMug Export Plugin is an extension for photo-editing/cataloging apps (most often Adobe Lightroom Classic) that uploads images directly to SmugMug. Use it when you want to:

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• Upload finished images without leaving your editor.

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• Preserve EXIF/IPTC metadata and keywords.

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• Control image sizing, sharpening, and privacy on upload.

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• Maintain album/galleries structure between your local catalog and SmugMug.

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Key benefit: direct integration saves time and reduces manual steps compared with exporting files then uploading via the web.

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2. Before you begin — prerequisites

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• A SmugMug account (Basic, Power, Portfolio, or Pro).

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• A compatible host application (this guide assumes Adobe Lightroom Classic; process is similar in other apps that support export plugins).

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• Internet connection and account credentials.

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• The SmugMug Export Plugin installed and enabled.

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3. Installing the SmugMug Export Plugin (Lightroom Classic)

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1. Download the plugin:
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   • Get the latest SmugMug Export Plugin from SmugMug’s help pages or the plugin developer’s distribution (check SmugMug support for official links).

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2. Install in Lightroom Classic:
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   • Open Lightroom Classic.

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   • Go to File > Plug-in Manager.

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   • Click Add and navigate to the downloaded plugin (.zip or folder). Select it and click Add Plug-in.

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3. Enable and configure:
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   • Once added, ensure the plugin shows as “Installed and Running”.

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   • Click the plugin name and choose Configure; you’ll be prompted to sign into SmugMug and authorize Lightroom.

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4. Connecting and authorizing your SmugMug account

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• In the plugin configuration, click “Authorize” or “Sign in”.

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• A browser window opens asking you to log into SmugMug (if not already).

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• Approve the connection between Lightroom and SmugMug.

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• Return to Lightroom — the plugin should display your SmugMug profile and available galleries.

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5. Organizing images locally before export

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• Finalize edits, keywording, and captions in Lightroom.

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• Use Collections to group images you want to upload together.

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• Rename files or apply any export-time metadata settings you require.

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6. Export workflow — step-by-step

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1. Select images:
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   • Choose the Collection or select photos in Grid/Develop module.

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2. Open Export dialog:
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   • File > Export… then choose the SmugMug Export location in the Export dialog’s “Export To” dropdown (or use Export to SmugMug directly if the plugin placed an entry in the Export dialog).

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3. Choose destination gallery:
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   • In the plugin panel, pick an existing SmugMug gallery/album or create a new one. You can also map Lightroom collections to SmugMug galleries.

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4. Set image format and quality:
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   • Choose JPEG or original file (or TIFF/PNG if supported).

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   • Set Quality (e.g., 80–100 for web-quality JPEGs).

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5. Resize and sharpening:
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   • If you want resized images, specify long edge or pixel dimensions.

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   • Apply Output Sharpening for screen or standard sharpening level.

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6. Metadata and watermarking:
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   • Decide which metadata to include (All Metadata, Copyright Only, or None).

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   • Enable watermarking if you have a watermark set in Lightroom.

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7. Privacy and gallery settings:
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   • Choose whether the gallery is Public, Unlisted, or Private (SmugMug’s privacy options).

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   • Set access controls or password if required.

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8. Keywords and captions:
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   • Ensure keywords and captions are included in the export settings if you want them visible on SmugMug.

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9. Click Export:
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   • The plugin uploads images and shows progress. Larger uploads take longer; Lightroom continues processing other tasks while uploading.

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7. Post-export checks on SmugMug

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• Open SmugMug in a browser and review the gallery.

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• Confirm image quality, captions, metadata, and gallery layout.

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• Adjust gallery-level settings (pricing, prints, download permissions) in SmugMug if needed.

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8. Common workflows and tips

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• Batch uploads: Use Collections to batch similar images (events, client galleries).

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• Client galleries: Create separate galleries per client and set a password for privacy.

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• Print sales: Enable SmugMug’s pricing and print options on galleries intended for sales.

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• Backup originals: If you want to preserve original RAW files, either export originals or enable SmugMug’s Original Image upload if the plugin supports it.

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• Automate keywords: Use Lightroom’s metadata templates to maintain consistent tagging before export.

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9. Troubleshooting

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• Authorization failed:
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  • Re-authorize the plugin via Plug-in Manager. Ensure browser blocks/pop-up blockers aren’t preventing the OAuth flow.

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• Uploads stop or timeout:
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  • Check internet connection; try smaller batches; verify SmugMug server status.

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• Missing captions/keywords:
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  • Confirm metadata is selected in export settings and that captions are entered in the correct Lightroom field (Caption/Title).

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• Wrong sizes or low quality:
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  • Verify Export Resize and Quality settings. For web viewing, 2048–3000 px long edge at quality 80–95 is typical.

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• Plugin not visible in Export dialog:
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  • Reinstall the plugin, restart Lightroom, and check Plug-in Manager for status.

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10. Alternatives & additional tools

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• Use SmugMug’s web uploader for occasional manual uploads.

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• Third-party tools or scripts can sync folders to SmugMug for automated workflows.

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• If you use cloud-based editors (Lightroom CC), check for built-in SmugMug integration or use synced exports.

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11. Example export settings for typical scenarios

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• Client proof gallery:
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  • Format: JPEG, Quality 85

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  • Resize: Long Edge 2048 px

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  • Sharpening: Standard for Screen

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  • Metadata: Copyright + Contact info

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  • Privacy: Password protected

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• Portfolio/high-resolution online display:
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  • Format: JPEG, Quality 95

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  • Resize: Long Edge 3000 px (or Original)

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  • Metadata: All (if desired)

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  • Privacy: Public

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12. Final notes

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Using the SmugMug Export Plugin streamlines publishing from your editing environment to a professional online gallery. Spend time setting up consistent export presets (format, resize, metadata) so exporting becomes a single-click step in your delivery workflow.

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