How to Access and Manage Photo Metadata

A photographer's guide

23. June 2025 by Bianca Palmer

Photo metadata is the hidden information embedded in your digital images, revealing details about how, when, and where a photo was taken, as well as who owns it. From camera settings to copyright information, metadata is a powerful tool for learning, organizing, and protecting your work.

In this article, we'll walk you through the various ways to access and manage metadata using popular software, file explorers, and a free online tool, Metadata2Go, which offers robust features for viewing, editing, and removing metadata.

What Is Photo Metadata?

Metadata is data about data, and in photography, it refers to information stored within an image file.

Image Metadata Classification

Metadata can be organized into four main categories, each serving a unique purpose:

  • Camera Information: Technical details like exposure time, shutter speed, ISO, aperture, and whether a flash was used. This helps you analyze how a photo was created.
  • Descriptive Data: Added details such as image descriptions, keywords, or names of people in the photo, making images easier to search and categorize.
  • Contact/Ownership Information: Copyright details, the photographer’s name, website URL, or phone number, crucial for proving ownership and protecting intellectual property.
  • Image Status/Preferences: Editorial notes, color tags, star ratings, or instructions for editors, aiding in workflow organization and image management.

These categories allow digital images to carry a wealth of information, making metadata a powerful tool for both creative and professional purposes.

Why Manage Photo Metadata?

Metadata serves multiple purposes:

  • Learn photography: Analyze settings like shutter speed or aperture to understand how a photo was created.
  • Protect your work: Embed copyright information to prove ownership in cases of unauthorized use.
  • Organize images: Filter and sort photos by metadata fields like focal length or date.
  • Ensure privacy: Remove sensitive data, such as GPS coordinates, before sharing images online.

Now, let's explore how to get metadata from photo and manage metadata using various tools!

Tools to Access and Manage Metadata

Here are the most effective ways to view, edit, and remove metadata, including desktop software, file explorers, and the free online tool Metadata2Go.

1. Adobe Photoshop

How to Access:

  1. Open an image in Photoshop.
  2. Go to File > File Info to open the metadata panel.
  3. View details like camera model, lens, aperture, shutter speed, ISO, and copyright information.

How to Manage:

  1. Edit fields like copyright or description directly in the File Info panel.
  2. To remove metadata, go to File > Export > Save for Web and uncheck "Include Metadata" to strip all metadata, or selectively edit fields to retain specific data.
  3. Save the image to apply changes.

Best For: Photographers already using Photoshop for editing who need precise control over metadata.

2. Capture One

How to Access:

  1. Open an image in Capture One.
  2. Click the metadata icon (a circle with an “i”) in the toolbar.
  3. View camera settings, lens info, and other metadata, organized slightly differently from Photoshop or Lightroom.

How to Manage:

  1. Edit fields like keywords or copyright in the metadata panel.
  2. To remove metadata, go to File > Export and select an option to exclude metadata or specific fields like GPS coordinates.
  3. Save the exported image.

Best For: Professionals using Capture One for high-end RAW processing.

3. Adobe Lightroom Classic

How to Access:

  1. In the Library module, select an image.
  2. Open the Metadata panel on the right-hand side.
  3. Use the dropdown menu to switch between views (e.g., EXIF, IPTC) for details like exposure, camera model, or keywords.

How to Manage:

  1. Edit fields like copyright, keywords, or captions directly in the panel.
  2. To add copyright in bulk, select multiple images, go to Metadata > Edit Metadata Presets, and create a preset with your copyright info.
  3. To remove metadata, go to File > Export, and in the Metadata section, choose "Remove All Metadata" or "Remove Location Info" for GPS data.
  4. Export the images to save changes.

Best For: Photographers managing large image collections who need batch processing.

4. Finder (macOS)

How to Access:

  1. Right-click an image file in Finder.
  2. Select Get Info and expand the "More Info" section.
  3. View basic metadata like date, camera model, and resolution (less detailed than editing software).

How to Manage:

  1. Finder doesn't allow direct metadata editing.
  2. To remove metadata, open the image in Preview (File > Open), go to Tools > Show Inspector > Exif, and select "Remove Location Info" or other fields.
  3. Save the image to apply changes.

Best For: Casual users needing quick access to basic metadata without specialized software.

5. Metadata2Go - Free Online EXIF Viewer

How to Access:

  1. Visit metadata2go.com.
  2. Select the tool to view, edit, or remove metadata.
  3. Upload or drag and drop an image file. You can also provide a URL to an online image.
  4. Click "START" to extract and display all available metadata.

Available tools:

  • View metadata: The system analyzes the uploaded file and displays a detailed metadata table. It shows all available EXIF data and metadata extracted using this the free online metadata and EXIF viewer. Optionally, the data can be saved as a PDF file.

    Note: Data is automatically extracted and may be incomplete or inaccurate if the file was previously altered. Metadata is shown without liability.

  • Edit metadata: The tool analyzes the file and presents a user-friendly table with editable fields like file name, file size, file type, width, height, and more. Make changes, then click "Continue" to process. Download the updated file with new metadata from the result page.
  • Remove metadata from photo: Use the metadata remover tool to wipe all hidden metadata from your file, ensuring no sensitive data remains before uploading, emailing, or publishing online.

Best For: Photographers and casual users who need a free, browser-based tool to quickly view, edit, and remove metadata or check for sensitive data before sharing online.

GPS Image Metadata

Metadata can include GPS coordinates, especially in images from smartphones or cameras with geotagging enabled. While this can be useful for mapping where a photo was taken, it poses a significant privacy risk. If you share an image online with embedded GPS data, anyone can extract the coordinates to pinpoint your location—or even your home address.

Solution: Most editing software, like Photoshop, Lightroom, or even Metadata2Go, allows you to scrub GPS data before exporting images. You can also disable geotagging in your device's settings to prevent location data from being recorded. Always check metadata before sharing to protect your privacy.

Copyright and Image Metadata

Embedding copyright information in your images is one of the most critical uses of metadata. By including your name, contact details, and copyright status, you create a digital record that proves ownership. It is essential if your work is misused in any way.

Recommendation: Always add your copyright to every image. This simple step can protect your portfolio and ensure you're credited for your work.

Common Image Metadata Standardizations

Metadata follows standardized formats to ensure consistency across platforms. The most common for photographers are:

  • EXIF (Exchangeable Image File Format): Stores technical data like camera settings, date, time, and lens info.
  • IPTC (International Press Telecommunications Council): Holds descriptive and ownership data, such as captions, keywords, and copyright.
  • XMP (Extensible Metadata Platform): A flexible format for editable metadata, often used for adjustments like ratings or keywords.

These standards, regulated by various organizations, are supported by software like Photoshop, Lightroom, and Capture One, ensuring metadata is accessible and consistent. Understanding these formats helps you navigate metadata tools effectively.

RAW and XMP Files

When shooting in RAW format, metadata edits (like ratings, keywords, or copyright) are often stored in separate XMP sidecar files rather than the RAW file itself. These files, named similarly to your images, appear in your image folders after you make metadata adjustments, such as adding a one-star rating.

Key Tip: If you transfer RAW images to a new location, always copy the XMP files alongside them. Failing to do so will result in losing your metadata adjustments, as the RAW file remains unchanged. This is especially important for photographers who rely on metadata for organization and workflow efficiency.

In Conclusion

Photo metadata is a powerful, yet often overlooked, aspect of digital photography. By understanding the risks, organizing metadata into categories, learning from real-world applications, and embedding copyright, you can protect your work, enhance your workflow, and ensure privacy.

Tools like Metadata2Go, Lightroom, or Photoshop make it easy to view, edit, and remove metadata, so take the time to integrate these practices into your routine. Your images—and your peace of mind—will thank you.