Unfortunately, Lightroom does not allow you publish your photos directly to Instagram. Luckily, there is an easy work around which I will describe below.

The method I will outline is of course not the only way to do this. There are of course at least a half dozen ways to move your photos from Lightroom to Instagram. I have tried most of the various methods but I think the one described below is the simplest.

As an example, I am going to Export the Photo Below from Lightroom to Instagram.

Step 1 Exporting Your Photo from Instagram

Once you have finished post-processing your photo in Lightroom go to FILE >>EXPORT

STEP 2-- THE EXPORT DIALOG

Once you Click on Export it will bring you to the following Export Dialog. I have a Preset already set up so I do not have to remember these settings each time. For Social Media I have a specific Export Dialog described below. Under Export Location I Export to the Desktop. I do not check File Naming or Video. Under File Settings JPEG, sRGP, Quality 80 and I leave Limit Unchecked as shown below.

There are a few more settings but you can save all these settings as a User Preset. For Image Sizing Check it and the Long Edge should be 1080 pixels and Resolution 240 (some people go down to 72). I also sharpen for Screen and Include my Copyright and Contact Info and finally add my Watermark (optional).

STEP 3 Share & AIRDROP (FOR A MAC)

Once you Click on the BLUE EXPORT button the JPEG file will be saved on your Desktop or you can assign a folder for example (Photos for Instagram). If you decide to use a Folder in the First Panel (EXPORT PANEL) above you would click on Put in Subfolder and Click on Photos for Instagram.

Now it’s easy to move the photo to Instagram. Option 1 if you are on a Mac is to Right Click on the Photo you just exported and go down to Airdrop and Airdrop it to your iPhone This will add the photo to your camera roll where you can directly add it to Instagram.

STEP 3B (OPTION B on an IPHONE)

1. The second option on an iPhone (sorry I do not have an Android) Go to Files as shown below

2. Below you will see the photo I Exported. Click on the Photo and Open It.

3. Then once you open the photo —Click on the Arrow at the Bottom Left Corner as shown below.

4. Then I SAVE IMAGE as shown below. This will put the photo in the Camera Roll of your iPhone. Now you can go to Instagram and you will see the photo you just exported.

I hope you found this helpful. Let me know if you have any questions.