To add an image gallery in WordPress, open your page or post, click Add Media and choose Create gallery. Pick your images, set the columns and link options, and click Insert gallery.
What a gallery does
A gallery shows many photos together in one grid on a page or post. It saves space and keeps your pictures in one tidy place.
Galleries work the same way on every WordPress website we build or host.
Create a gallery
Follow these steps in the visual editor.
Open the page or post
Go to Pages > All Pages or Posts > All Posts and open the one you want.
Click Add Media
On the left side you will see the option Create gallery. All of your uploaded images show up here.
Choose your pictures
Click each image you want in the gallery, then click Create a new gallery on the left.
Use the Gallery Editor
Add captions and drag the pictures into a new order.
Set the options
Choose how many columns the gallery uses, the link type and, if you wish, Random order.
Insert the gallery
Click Insert gallery. A preview appears right in the editor. Then click Publish or Update.
Link options and columns
By default, each picture links to an attachment page where visitors can flip through your images.
You can link the gallery to the media file instead. Then each picture opens at full size and ignores your theme settings.
If you want the gallery to show only on the page or post, set the link option to None. Random order changes the picture order each time the page loads.
Tips for a better gallery
Resize large photos before you upload them. Big files slow your page, and slow pages lose visitors.
Write a short caption for each picture. Add descriptive alt text in Media > Library too, so everyone can follow what each picture shows.
Use the preview to check the layout before you publish. To change the gallery later, click it and select the edit icon.
Plan your gallery before you build it
Pick pictures that share a theme, such as one project, one event or one product line. A focused gallery is easier to enjoy than a random pile of photos.
Choose the column count to fit your picture shapes. Three columns suit most photos, while four or five suit small thumbnails.
Keep the file names clear, such as front-porch-remodel.jpg. Clear names help search engines understand what each picture shows.
Fix a gallery that looks wrong
If the pictures look uneven, they probably have different shapes. Crop them to the same shape in Media > Library before you add them.
If the gallery is slow, the files are too large. Replace them with smaller copies and insert the gallery again.
If a click opens an attachment page you do not want, edit the gallery and change the link option to Media File or None.
Want us to set it up?
If you want us to set one up for you, call 402-813-4034 any day from 7 am to 10 pm or contact us. Websnoogie in Omaha builds and hosts WordPress sites.
AboutRod and Tami Atwood
Rod and Tami Atwood and other Websnoogie contributors write the Websnoogie blog. Rod has built websites since 2004 and founded Websnoogie, LLC in Omaha in 2012. Tami is co-owner, content editor and billing expert. Call us at 402-813-4034 or write to staff@websnoogie.com.
