Why are my JPEG files so big?

[Sage Collective]

I export my images from lightroom at full quality and they end up anywhere from 8-24mb files. Mostly ranging 11-24mb per image. I've been told that my files are huge and they especially have issues with facebook's compression. I've tried reducing the quality or size of my images through lightroom export settings according to recommendations from google searches. However, the images end up looking pixelated or blurry. I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong but whenever I trade headshots with another photographer, their files are much smaller and the quality is still great. I'm not sure if the issue is with my camera or my export settings. I was recommended jpeg mini to reduce my file sizes but I feel like I shouldn't have to go through the extra hoops to get them smaller when other photographers dont have the same issues as I do. Any ideas or suggestions? I shoot on a Fujifilm XT-3 which is a crop sensor and most of the photographers I trade with have full frame, which I would think would have bigger file sizes than mine. 

[Rikk Flohr: Photography]

If you have AI-generated content (Masking or Content-Aware Remove) you may be seeing: this: https://community.adobe.com/t5/lightroom-ecosystem-cloud-based-ideas/p-exported-jpegs-have-pixel-bas...

[Sage Collective]

If I save with all metadata off, does that get rid of my masks? Also, my files were big before AI-masking was a thing in Lightroom. They've been big since I started my business is 2020.

[Rikk Flohr: Photography]

"If I save with all metadata off, does that get rid of my masks?"
Yes. 

If the files are the equivalent size after turning Metadata off, then I will turn you over to the Community Experts to diagnose your settings. 

[GoldingD]

 I've tried reducing the quality or size of my images through lightroom export settings according to recommendations from google searches

Did those instructions include any mention of image crop dimensions (typically on the long edge)? Their are some specific dimensions to use where Facebook will not foul your image up and run the compressions/resizing.

note, I may have entered the wrong value in my example, that is from memory as to what I normally use without issue, 2024. ( ahh, apparently 2048 is the largest Facebook will allow without FB running its compression)

• https://www.facebook.com/business/help/469767027114079?id=271710926837064
• https://www.plannthat.com/all-the-social-media-dimension-sizes-you-need-to-know-in-2022/
• https://www.adobe.com/express/discover/sizes/facebook

[Sage Collective]

Yes, I will try this when I get home and post the before and after!

[Rob_Cullen]

It is worth understanding that with large raw files (eg. your 26 megapixel images) it may be very necessary to Resize the exported file as circled in the screen-clip from @GoldingD  so as to get the smaller MegaByte files.

Otherwise, if eggs were pixels, it would be like packing (JPG Compressing) 24 eggs into a 12-egg box- it cannot be done. Reduce your eggs to 12 and no problems.