Lightroom Cloud to Instagram Auto Poster (AI Captions)

Pull from n8n Data Table queue → Claude generates SEO caption → Instagram Graph API publishes → write back status

Who

Photographers or content operators with Lightroom cloud, an Instagram Business/Creator account, and a running n8n instance

You get

Automatically pick unposted photos on a schedule, generate a 3-line AI Instagram caption with gear specs and hashtags, publish via Graph API, and mark as posted

You need

n8n · data-table

Steps

1. Select the next image to publish

   Schedule Trigger fires at set times → Get row(s) filters Photos table where ig_posted_at is empty (unposted) → Sort by createdAt → Limit caps max posts per run.

2. Generate caption with AI

   Message a model (Anthropic Claude) receives alt text and EXIF metadata from the Limit output, then generates a 3-line caption per the system prompt.

   Execution prompt · Source text。Message a model (Anthropic node) messages.values[0].content field

   Copy prompt

   =**ROLE**  
   You write an Instagram caption from ALT text and EXIF metadata. Optimize for search and engagement **without inventing** anything.
   
   **INPUTS**  
   - `ALT`: {{ $('Limit').item.json.alt }}  
   - `EXIF (JSON or text)`: {{ JSON.stringify(JSON.parse($json.lr_asset).payload) }}
   
   **GOAL**  
   Produce **exactly 3 lines** under **220 total characters** (line breaks included):  
   1) **Action phrase (-ing) + brief outcome**; include **1–2 intent terms** from ALT if present (e.g., “portrait”, “long exposure”). **Max 12 words.**  
   2) **Gear & settings** on one line with an en dash:  
      `<CameraModel> + <Lens> — <Shutter> · f/<Aperture> · ISO <ISO> · WB <KelvinIfKnown>`  
      - Use EXIF fields **only if present**: make/cameraModel, lensModel, focalLength and FocalLengthIn35mmFilm, fNumber, exposureTime, iso, whiteBalance (Kelvin or “Auto”).  
      - If focal length exists but not in lens name, **prefix it** (e.g., `35/1.8`). Display FocalLengthIn35mmFilm too (format: "(28 mm eq. 35 mm)")
      - Format shutter `1/250s`; aperture `f/1.8`.  
      - Missing field? **Omit** it. **No inference.**
   3) **5–10 hashtags** (lowercase, **deduped**) using layered strategy:  
      - **Broad:** always `#photography` + **one** brand/lens tag if present (e.g., `#fujifilm #fujifilmxseries
    #fujilove`, `#xe5`).  
      - **Mid-tail:** 1–3 subject/genre from ALT (e.g., `#portrait`, `#streetphotography`).  
      - **Niche:** 1–2 specific technique/gear terms from ALT/EXIF.  
      - **Location:** add 1–2 only if GPS/city exists in EXIF (e.g., `#paris`, `#montmartre`).
      - **Mentions:** if the EXIF description/caption/title/userComment contains Instagram-style mentions (e.g., `@name`), **append them verbatim at the end of line 3 after the hashtags**. Deduplicate; do not invent; preserve exact handles. If the 220-character limit is exceeded, **remove niche hashtags first**, then mid-tail if needed, but keep mentions.
   
   
   **STYLE & SEO RULES**  
   - English only. Human, concise, non-salesy.  
   - No emojis unless clearly in ALT. No quotes. **No trailing spaces.**  
   - **Zero inference:** do not assert people/brands/places/conditions not in ALT/EXIF.  
   - **Deduplicate intelligently:** avoid repeating the exact same keyword in line 1 and hashtags if it reduces variety; keep the most useful mix for search.  
   - Keep line 2 compact and readable (models/settings aid search without spam).
   
   **OUTPUT (exact format)**  
   <action + outcome with intent terms>
   <gear & settings>
   <hashtags>

3. Instagram authentication

   Params node sets FB id, n8n instance domain, LR catalog ID → get access_token calls Graph API for page access token → Get instagram id queries the linked instagram_business_account.id.

4. Publish the image

   Create container calls POST /media with image_url (public webhook endpoint from Workflow 2), caption (AI-generated), and alt_text; Publish image calls POST /media_publish with creation_id to finalize.

5. Update Data Table status

   Update row(s) writes ig_id (returned media ID), ig_caption (final caption), and ig_posted_at (current time $now) to the Photos record matched by Limit output id.

You are setting up an n8n workflow to auto-publish Lightroom cloud photos to Instagram. First confirm: 1) your n8n instance has a public domain; 2) you have an Instagram Business/Creator account with a linked Facebook Page and a Graph API v23.0 long-lived token; 3) Anthropic API credentials are configured; 4) companion workflows 1 (AI alt text) and 2 (image webhook) are ready; 5) the Photos data table has required columns. Then import the template and fill the four values in the Params node.