When working with weddings, events, or travel shoots, you may need to export hundreds—or even thousands—of photos at once. Lightroom can handle large batch exports, but without the right settings, the process can slow down your workflow. Here’s how to export efficiently.
1. Use Export Presets
Instead of re-entering settings, create export presets for common outputs (Instagram, web, print).
- Go to File → Export → Set your parameters → Click Add under Presets.
- Apply presets to entire batches for consistent results.
2. Enable Parallel Exports
Lightroom can export using multiple CPU cores.
- Go to Preferences → Performance → Enable Use GPU and allow Parallel Processing.
- This speeds up exports on modern computers.
3. Export in Smaller Batches
If exporting thousands of RAW files, break them into sets of 200–500. Smaller groups prevent crashes and keep Lightroom responsive.
4. Use Smart Previews
If you don’t need full-resolution exports, Lightroom can use Smart Previews (smaller DNGs). They’re faster to process and still high quality for web use.
5. Optimize File Naming
Use tokens like {Date} – {Filename} – {Custom Text} for automated naming. This saves time when organizing large exports.
6. Export in the Background
Lightroom allows you to continue editing while exports run. Start exporting, then switch back to the Develop Module to keep working.
Final Thoughts
By using presets, smaller batches, and parallel processing, you’ll save hours on large exports. Lightroom is built for professional workflows—these tricks will keep it running smoothly, even on massive projects.
✅ Want to speed up your Lightroom workflow?
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