What is EXIF Data?

The value of EXIF data goes beyond remembering what you did and how your camera settings made the shot or didn’t make the shot.

You can use EXIF data to organize your photos as well as search for photos based on certain EXIF data. It’s simply a handy tool to have when you want to organize or search your images based on information like shutter speed, aperture, ISO, or white balance. EXIF data also includes details regarding the type of lens used, the focal length, the make and model of the camera, the image color space, image dimensions, and a host of other things.

EXIF data is automatically embedded in a JPEG or TIFF image file, and though it isn’t viewable as you’re surfing the web, you can use tools to read EXIF data and glean a better understanding of how an image was captured. As a side note, EXIF data is not included in RAW files, though most camera manufacturers have bespoke EXIF data equivalents that support RAW format. 

Let’s look at a few ways you can view EXIF data.

How to View EXIF Data in Chrome

Likewise, you can remove EXIF data (much of it, anyway) if you wish.

In Lightroom, simply click on the metadata field you want to alter or delete. The same basic procedure is true of the other EXIF viewing options outlined above.

Note that while you can remove things like your name and contact information, other details, like the camera and lens used, cannot be edited or removed.

Other Tools for Viewing EXIF Data

Photo by bobakphoto via iStock

In other words, EXIF data isn’t there for the sake of being there, nor is it something that just professional photographers can benefit from using.

If you’re a beginner photographer, check out the EXIF data of photos as often as you can, as it will help familiarize you with common camera settings and how they’re used to capture images.

If you’re an enthusiast photographer, use EXIF data to organize your photos and aid in searching for specific photos in your library.

In the end, the more information we have as photographers, the more capable we are of making the decisions that lead to better photos.