Contributor Photo Gallery 2.6.1: Just Use Your Username
I just shipped a new version of my free WordPress plugin, and I am happy to share it here. Contributor Photo Gallery 2.6.1 makes setup much easier. You no longer need to dig for a hidden ID number. You can now showcase your WordPress.org photos with just your username.
This release also adds a proper Docker setup for developers, plus some quiet security and stability fixes.
You can test 2.6.1 right now from the GitHub repository. The update will also roll out to the WordPress.org plugin directory within the next 24 hours, so you can update straight from your dashboard very soon.
About the plugin
If this is your first time here, this is a free WordPress plugin I build and maintain. It takes the photos you have shared on WordPress.org/photos and shows them on your own site as a clean, responsive gallery. It is made for photographers, agencies, speakers, and community members who want to show their work with almost no setup.
You pick a card style, drop in one shortcode, and your gallery is live.
The big change: add photos by your username in Contributor Photo Gallery 2.6.1
Here is the update most people will love.
Before this release, you had to enter a numeric User ID. To find it, you had to open your photos page, view the page source, and search through the code for a long number. It worked, but it was not fun. A lot of people got stuck on this one step.
Now you can skip all of that.
How it works
- Go to Settings > Contributor Photo Gallery.
- Type your WordPress.org username, for example
hellosatya. - Click save.
That is it. When you save, the plugin looks up your username and turns it into the correct User ID for you. It also remembers the result, so your site stays fast. If you already know your numeric ID, you can still type that instead. Both work.
Why this matters
- Faster setup. New users can go from install to live gallery in under a minute.
- Fewer mistakes. No more copying the wrong number by hand.
- Nothing breaks. Your saved settings are kept, so current galleries keep working as they are.
One small note for power users. Inside the shortcode, the user_id value still needs to be a number, like
New for developers: a one-command Docker setup
This is the part I am most proud of on the engineering side.
Contributing to a WordPress plugin used to mean setting up a local site by hand. You needed PHP, a database, a web server, and a fresh WordPress install, all wired together correctly. That is a lot of work before you can even write a single line of code.
Version 2.6.1 fixes that. The project now ships with a full Docker development environment. You clone the repo, run one command, and you get a clean WordPress site with the plugin already installed and ready to edit.
docker compose up -d
Once the containers start, you have everything you need:
- WordPress at
http://localhost:8000 - phpMyAdmin at
http://localhost:8080
Why this is a big deal:
- A lower barrier to help. Anyone can start testing or fixing the plugin in minutes, even on a brand new machine.
- Everyone tests the same way. The setup is the same for every contributor, so bugs are easier to reproduce and fix.
- A cleaner workflow. I also added a GitHub Actions workflow that builds the release package automatically, plus tidier rules for what goes into each release.
If you want to try it or contribute, the GitHub repository is open and ready.
A safer and more stable plugin
Version 2.6.1 also brings a round of fixes you do not see, but that keep your site safe and your gallery looking right.
- Stronger security. I added direct-access protection to the plugin’s internal files. In simple terms, key parts of the plugin can no longer be opened straight from the web. They only run inside WordPress, the way they should.
- Cleaner, safer output. I improved how the gallery grid prints its styles. This follows WordPress coding rules more closely and helps your cards line up neatly across browsers and devices.
- Better code quality. I fixed a set of PHP and coding-standard issues flagged by WordPress Plugin Check. This keeps the plugin healthy and ready for future WordPress versions.
How to try Contributor Photo Gallery 2.6.1
There are two easy ways to get the new version.
Test it now from GitHub. If you want to try 2.6.1 today, head to the GitHub repository, download the latest code, and install it on a test site. This is the fastest way to see the new features right away.
Update the easy way, very soon. The 2.6.1 release will land on the WordPress.org plugin directory within 24 hours. After that, just open Plugins in your WordPress admin, find Contributor Photo Gallery, and click Update now.
New here? Once it is live on WordPress.org, search for “Contributor Photo Gallery” under Plugins > Add New, install it, and activate it. Then add your gallery with a single shortcode:
[cp_gallery]Want more control? Try these:
Full portfolio page
Inside a blog post
In a sidebar
Frequently asked questions
Do I still need my numeric User ID?
No. You can now type your WordPress.org username in the settings, and the plugin finds the right ID for you. The numeric ID still works if you prefer it.
Where can I get 2.6.1 right now?
You can test it today from the GitHub repository. It will also reach the WordPress.org plugin directory within 24 hours, so you can update from your dashboard soon after.
Will my current gallery still work after the update?
Yes. Your settings are saved and carried over. Nothing on your live pages changes unless you want it to.
Do I need to know Docker to use the plugin?
No. Docker is only for developers who want to help build or test the plugin. If you just want a gallery on your site, you never have to touch it.
Is the plugin free?
Yes. Contributor Photo Gallery is free and open source.
Thanks to the people who helped ship this
Open source is a team effort, and 2.6.1 would not exist without the community around it.
A big thank you to Makarand Mane, who built the new username support and set up the Docker development environment and the automated release workflow. These changes make the plugin easier to use and much easier to contribute to.
Thank you as well to Bhargav Bhandari for the PHP and coding-standards fixes that keep the plugin clean and reliable.
And thank you to everyone who raised an issue, reported a bug, tested a change, suggested an idea, or helped in any other way. Every issue and pull request makes this plugin better for the whole WordPress community. I am grateful for all of it.
Ready to try it?
Contributor Photo Gallery 2.6.1 makes it easier than ever to show your WordPress.org photos on your own site, and it gives developers a clean, one-command way to jump in and help.
Here is how you can support the project:
- Test the new release now on GitHub.
- Leave a review on WordPress.org once 2.6.1 is live there.
- Star the project on GitHub.
- Share more of your work on WordPress.org/photos.
Thanks for reading, and happy sharing.
