Creating a LR Classic CC workflow using Cloud Storage

[tomk1304]

I am taking a trip where I will not be taking all of my computer gear and I just downsized laptop to a Microsoft Surface Pro.  I plan on using LR Classic CC - and I want to make sure that the RAW images that I capture while traveling end up on my 1TB of cloud storage.  I do not see a clear path do this. Further, I really don't want to keep all of the RAW images on the Surface if I don't need to.  Any suggestions on workflow or methods to do this?

Thank you,

TK

[JP Hess]

Using Lightroom Classic CC? I don't think there is a path to download the full-sized images to the cloud. But I'm willing to be corrected.

[Just Shoot Me]

Buy one of the small SSD external USB 3 or C drives to put all the images on while traveling.

To use cloud storage you will need a good internet connection everywhere you go. Also as far as I know you have to retain a copy of the files on your computer along with in the clouds.

[tomk1304]

That is my concern actually.  I really want to take only a very minimum amount of gear and I really do not want to bring an extra USB drive - I will be in hotels with Wifi - I figure that I can upload what I shoot on a nightly basis.  Worse case scenario - I don't believe that I will have enough storage on the surface to keep everything that I shoot on the raw on the machine - but most importantly,  I want to make sure that I backup the raw to the cloud. 

[Karl-Petter_Åkesson]

Did you find out a process? I’m really interested in a similar setup.

[JP Hess]

Or, if the end goal is to have the images in Lightroom Classic CC, you could still use Lightroom CC and NOT migrate the catalog but configure Lightroom CC to store the images locally. Then you could import the images to Lightroom CC while you are on your trip, and when you return home and begin using Lightroom Classic CC with the synchronized (but not migrated) catalog, the images from the cloud would be downloaded to the computer. Just a thought.

[JohanElzenga]

This workflow will be fine with or without that local storage setting. You can't configure Lightroom CC to 'store the images locally'. What you can do is configure it to store a local copy of the images. Lightroom CC will always store the images online (unless there is no internet connection, then they will be cached until there is).

[JP Hess]

I apologize, that's what I meant to say.  Maybe if I was more of a user of Lightroom CC. But this is one of the main uses that I personally would have for using it. I normally don't use a laptop (won't go into the details as to why). However, I can see that if I were to take a trip I could import images using Lightroom CC using the "Store a copy locally" option selected, and those images would be available on my main computer when I get home and then allow time for them to download. That is the main way that I would use Lightroom Classic CC. I have no intentions at this point of migrating my entire catalog.

[JohanElzenga]

JimHess  wrote

I apologize, that's what I meant to say.  Maybe if I was more of a user of Lightroom CC. But this is one of the main uses that I personally would have for using it. I normally don't use a laptop (won't go into the details as to why). However, I can see that if I were to take a trip I could import images using Lightroom CC using the "Store a copy locally" option selected, and those images would be available on my main computer when I get home and then allow time for them to download. That is the main way that I would use Lightroom Classic CC. I have no intentions at this point of migrating my entire catalog.

Yes, that is indeed an interesting workflow for when you're on the road. But again: you don't really have to use the 'store locally' option in that case. As soon as your images are safe and sound in the cloud, there is little reason to also save a local copy on your laptop.

[JP Hess]

Okay then, here is where I have the Problem that I don't understand. My understanding is that the store the local copy is what will "automatically" store a copy in Lightroom Classic CC. If I don't choose that option, is there still going to be a copy sent to Lightroom Classic CC on the main computer? Remember, the catalog has NOT been migrated.

[JohanElzenga]

JimHess  wrote

Okay then, here is where I have the Problem that I don't understand. My understanding is that the store the local copy is what will "automatically" store a copy in Lightroom Classic CC. If I don't choose that option, is there still going to be a copy sent to Lightroom Classic CC on the main computer? Remember, the catalog has NOT been migrated.

No, like I said earlier, Lightroom CC knows nothing about Lightroom Classic and Lightroom Classic knows nothing about Lightroom CC. When you sync its catalog, Lightroom Classic will download any images that are in the cloud, whether they are smart previews left over from another synced catalog or originals uploaded from Lightroom CC on the same computer, Lightroom CC on another computer, or Lightroom CC on a mobile device. Lightroom CC's option to store a copy locally has nothing to do with this.

[JohanElzenga]

Maybe the following question is interesting: Why does Lightroom CC have the option to store a local copy at all? When do you need this?

My answer is: the only time you would need this is when you want to export a full size JPG, or edit a copy in Photoshop, while your internet connection is down. Apart from that, I don't think you ever need it.

Update: By the way, you may have noticed another option as well: the 'photo cache' setting. Lightroom CC will always store your latest images locally, to speed up editing. That is this cache setting. If you set this to zero, any image you want to edit has to be downloaded first. The option to save a copy of all your original images locally is separate from this cache.

[JohanElzenga]

tomk1304  wrote

I am taking a trip where I will not be taking all of my computer gear and I just downsized laptop to a Microsoft Surface Pro.  I plan on using LR Classic CC - and I want to make sure that the RAW images that I capture while traveling end up on my 1TB of cloud storage.  I do not see a clear path do this. Further, I really don't want to keep all of the RAW images on the Surface if I don't need to.  Any suggestions on workflow or methods to do this?

There is no path to do this, especially not if you don't want to keep all the raw images on the Surface Pro. Lightroom Classic requires local storage of the images. The best (and only) option is to use Lightroom CC on the Surface Pro. Lr CC will upload the originals to the cloud, and it won't keep all the originals on your local machine unless you want it to. When you get home, you could run Lightroom Classic on a PC, sync the catalog to the cloud and then all the originals will download to Lightroom Classic.