How to Show EXIF Data in the Lightbox

The EXIF panel inside the lightbox shows camera metadata for images that carry it. WP Social Media Gallery lets you pick which EXIF fields appear and where the panel sits relative to the image. EXIF display is included with the free version; no Pro license is required.

Before You Start

Open the gallery you want to edit in the Gallery Builder and go to the Lightbox step.

• A saved gallery open in the Gallery Builder.
• Images with EXIF data uploaded to the media library. Images taken on phones or stripped of metadata may carry no EXIF.

Open the EXIF Sub-menu

The Lightbox step has six side menus: Settings, Navigation, Thumbnails, Effects, EXIF, and Comments. EXIF and Comments are the last two. Click EXIF to open the EXIF panel configuration.

1. Go to WP Social Media Gallery > Gallery Builder.
2. Open the gallery you want to edit.
3. Click Lightbox in the builder stepper.
4. Click EXIF in the lightbox side menu.

The EXIF sub-menu shows a list of checkboxes for each EXIF field and a position selector. Only fields with data for the current image appear in the front-end lightbox.

Choose EXIF Fields

Check the fields you want to display. The plugin reads EXIF from the image file itself, not from the WordPress media library metadata. If an image does not contain a particular field, that field does not appear in the lightbox.

• Camera Make: The manufacturer of the camera, such as Canon or Nikon.
• Camera Model: The specific camera model.
• Aperture: The f-stop value, such as f/2.8.
• Shutter Speed: The exposure time, such as 1/250s.
• Focal Length: The lens focal length in millimeters.
• ISO: The sensor sensitivity setting.
• Lens: The lens model if recorded.
• Capture Time: The date and time the photo was taken.

Leave all fields unchecked to hide the EXIF panel entirely.

Set Position

Choose where the EXIF panel sits relative to the image in the lightbox. The position selector offers four options: top, left, right, and bottom. The panel floats over the image with a semi-transparent background so it does not fully block the view.

1. Open the Position dropdown in the EXIF sub-menu.
2. Pick Top, Left, Right, or Bottom.
3. Preview the lightbox to confirm the panel does not obscure important parts of the image.

If you choose left or right, the panel runs vertically along the side of the image. Top and bottom run horizontally. Pick the position that leaves the most of the image visible for your typical aspect ratio.

What to Check

Confirm the EXIF panel works correctly after enabling it.

• The EXIF panel appears when you open the lightbox on an image with metadata.
• The fields you checked are the ones that appear.
• The panel sits in the chosen position without overlapping the image content.
• Images without EXIF data do not show an empty panel.

Troubleshooting

If the EXIF panel does not appear, check the following.

• No EXIF data: The image file must contain EXIF metadata. Images downloaded from some social platforms or edited in apps that strip metadata carry no EXIF.
• Panel is empty: Confirm you checked at least one field in the EXIF sub-menu. An unchecked field does not appear in the panel.
• Panel overlaps image: Try a different position. Left and right positions work best for portrait images; top and bottom work best for landscape.

Next Steps

With EXIF enabled, add thumbnails and comments for a richer lightbox experience. Learn how to enable lightbox thumbnails and comments — included with Pro.