Develop your eye.
De Loupe is a private photography critique platform. Here's exactly how it works.
Submitting your work
Upload a photograph from your camera roll. De Loupe reads the EXIF data automatically — shutter speed, aperture, ISO, camera, and lens — so critics can evaluate your technical choices.
Write a brief artist note. Tell the critics what you were going for. This is your only chance to speak before they respond.
Choose between 3 and 6 prompts. Prompts are questions that guide the critique — both technical and creative. You choose which angles you want feedback on.
Set a time limit. Choose from 24 hours, 48 hours, 5 days, or 10 days. After that window your photograph is developed and removed from the platform.
How critics find your work
Your photo appears on the Explore page for all De Loupe members. Critics swipe through available photographs and choose which ones to respond to.
They see your photograph, your artist note, your EXIF data, and your selected prompts. They do not see what other critics have written. Each critique is written independently.
A maximum of 5 critiques will be collected. If your photo receives 5 critiques before your time limit, it develops early.
Reading your letters
Each critique arrives as a letter in your Letters page. Letters are private — only you can see them.
De Loupe runs on reciprocity. To unlock a letter, you need to have given critiques yourself. One critique given unlocks two letters to read.
You can rate each critic's response — this helps the community identify the most thoughtful critics over time.
Development records
When your photograph's time expires — or when it receives its fifth critique — it is developed. This means it leaves the Explore page permanently.
Before it disappears, De Loupe compiles everything into a development record PDF: your photograph, your artist note, and every critique written. That PDF is emailed to you.
Your photograph is then removed from our servers within 5 days. The critiques are yours to keep forever.
The critique system
Critiques are structured around the prompts you selected. Critics respond to each prompt in writing — no star ratings, no scores.
Critics also have the option to write an overall impression beyond the prompts. This is optional but often the most valuable part.
You cannot critique your own photograph. You cannot critique the same photograph twice.
Community rules
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Be specific. Vague feedback helps no one.
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Be honest. Diplomacy without honesty is just politeness.
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Be respectful. Critique the work, not the person.
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No spam, harassment, or inappropriate content.
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Photographs must be your own original work.
Frequently asked questions
Is De Loupe free?
Yes. Joining and using De Loupe is free during the beta period.
Can I submit multiple photographs at once?
Yes. Each photograph goes through its own development arc independently.
What happens if I don't receive any critiques?
If no one critiques your photograph before your time limit expires, you still receive a development record — with zero critiques. Your photo is still removed.
Can critics see each other's critiques?
No. Each critic writes without seeing what others have said. This prevents groupthink and produces more honest feedback.
What file types are accepted?
JPEG and JPG. We recommend uploading the highest quality version of your image.
Can I delete my photograph before the time limit?
Not currently. Once submitted, your photograph goes through its full development arc.
Who can see my photograph?
All De Loupe members can see photographs on the Explore page. The platform is not public — you must have an account.