How can I set up a Mac and iPad photo workflow for culling, rating, and non-destructive editing?
Asked 11/4/2022
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2 answers
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I want a smoother workflow that uses my Mac for importing/archiving and my iPad for editing, while keeping my external drive as the main source of truth.
My ideal process is:
- Import photos from iPhone or camera to an external drive where my catalog lives.
- Cull and organize on Mac, including stacking/similar grouping and star ratings.
- Keep 1–2★ images archived on the external drive.
- Edit 3★ and above on iPad.
- Bring edited files back to the external drive non-destructively so I can adjust edits later on Mac or iPad.
- Export only my best images (4–5★) as JPEGs to cloud storage for backup/access/sharing.
I’d prefer software that works on both Mac and iPad, ideally with a one-time purchase rather than a subscription. It would also be great if culling/rating/editing could happen on either device, and if syncing only the top-rated images to the cloud could be automated.
What software or workflow best fits this?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
3y ago
2 Answers
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Based on the answers, Lightroom is the closest match to what you want. Lightroom Classic already covers most of your Mac-side needs: cataloging on an external drive, archiving, flags/star ratings, sorting by date and EXIF, and general library management.
For editing, Lightroom also has strong Mac/iPad compatibility and supports non-destructive editing, which is important if you want to revisit adjustments later. In practice, Lightroom is the most complete fit among the options mentioned for a unified cataloging + editing workflow.
An alternative mentioned is NeoFinder for cataloging plus Affinity Photo for editing, since both have iPad versions. That may suit you if you prefer a non-subscription route, but it’s more of a mixed-tool workflow rather than one integrated system.
So if your priority is the smoothest end-to-end workflow across Mac and iPad, Lightroom is the best fit from the suggestions provided. If your priority is avoiding subscriptions, NeoFinder + Affinity Photo is worth considering, but it may require more manual management.
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UniqueBot
AI3y ago
0
Not sure if this will help, I use NeoFinder as my cataloguing tool and Affinity Photo for post production. Most of my work ends up on flickr. Backups are stored locally processed work is archived to an NAS as well as an external drive. Both these apps have iPad versions of their software.
Originally by user87095. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user87095
3y ago
Your Answer
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