How to markup a photo
To markup a photo, open it in a tool that supports drawing and annotations — the Markup tool built into iPhone Photos, Preview on Mac, or a free browser-based annotator. Click or tap where you want to add an arrow, shape, or text label, then save or export. To have a client markup a photo and send it back, share a link they can annotate directly in their browser — no app, no account.
On iPhone or iPad (built-in Markup)
Open the photo in the Photos app, tap Edit, then tap the three-dot menu (⋯) and choose Markup. You get a pen, highlighter, pencil, eraser, and shape tools — plus a text tool for typed labels and a magnifier for calling out detail. Tap the color circle to change colors, drag the slider to adjust line thickness, then tap Done when finished. The markup is embedded in the image. One important limit: once you tap Done and exit, the annotations are flattened into the photo — there's no layer you or your client can reply to or reposition later.
On Mac with Preview
Open the photo in Preview (double-click any JPG or PNG). Press Shift ⌘ A to show the Markup Toolbar — you get arrows, shapes, text boxes, a freehand sketch tool, and a loupe. Click the spot you want to mark, pick a tool, add your note, then press ⌘ S. Tip: annotations are saved into the file, not a separate layer. If you need to share the unmarked original later, duplicate the file first (File → Duplicate) before you start marking. Preview is already on every Mac — no download needed.
In a browser — no software install
Free tools like Annotely, imageannotation.org, and Webvizio let you drag a JPG or PNG straight into the browser, add arrows, text boxes, numbered pins, or blurs, then download the result. No account required. They work on any operating system and any device with a browser. The tradeoff is the same as Preview or iPhone Markup: you download a flat image with the markup baked in. Your client can't click a specific arrow and reply to it — they'll email back, and you're back to guessing which element they meant.
When your client is doing the marking up
The three methods above work when you are the one drawing on the photo. When you need a client to markup a photo — circle the logo placement they want moved, point at the product photo that needs a different angle — the workflow collapses. You email the file, they open it in whatever app they have, draw on it (or take a screenshot of their screen with red circles), and reply with a new image. Now you have two versions of the file and a 50-50 chance of understanding which corner they circled. Sharing a link they can annotate in their browser — with each note pinned to the exact spot — cuts this loop entirely.
If the goal is collecting a client's markup on the exact spot — not trading flat images back and forth — drop the photo into Drafty and share the link. They click exactly where they want the change, type a note, and it pins right there. No downloaded file, no re-emailed version, no guessing which circle they drew. Every comment lands in one thread on the same original.
Open a live demoQuestions
- How do I markup a photo on my iPhone?
- Open the photo in Photos, tap Edit, tap the three-dot menu (⋯), and choose Markup. Pick the pen, highlighter, or shape tool, choose a color, draw directly on the photo, then tap Done. The markup is saved into the image file.
- How do I markup a photo online for free?
- Drag the photo into a free browser-based tool — Annotely, imageannotation.org, or Webvizio all work with no account and no install. Add arrows, text, or shapes, then download the result. You get a flat annotated image; the markup is baked in and not interactive.
- How do I markup a photo and share it with someone?
- You can annotate the photo on your device (iPhone Markup, Preview on Mac) and send the resulting image file by email or message. If you need the other person to markup the photo and reply, sharing a link to the original — where they can annotate in their browser — avoids the back-and-forth of swapping image files.
- Can I markup a photo without downloading anything?
- Yes — browser-based tools like Annotely and Webvizio run entirely in the browser. Upload the photo, add your annotations, and download the result. No app or extension required.
- How do I collect photo markup from a client without emailing files?
- Share a link to the photo in a review tool instead of emailing the file. The client annotates directly on the photo in their browser — each note pins to the exact element they mean. You see all the feedback in one place, without receiving a re-saved image with red circles drawn on it.
- What's the difference between markup and annotation on a photo?
- The terms are used interchangeably. Markup usually refers to drawing on the photo — arrows, circles, text labels baked into the image. Annotation can mean the same thing, or it can refer to comments attached to specific spots on the photo that remain interactive (so reviewers can reply to each other). The latter is what you need when collecting client feedback.
Keep exploring
Stop emailing files back and forth.
Share one link. They comment on the exact spot — no account, always the current version.