How to import (or sync) Apple Photos to Lightroom?

[Soozee74]

I use both Lightroom CC and Classic. Is one app easier than the other to import my photos from Apple's 'Photos' (past and present photos from my iPhone)?

If syncing is available, that would be even better.

And, how do I do it?

Thanks.

[Jao vdL]

On your phone, if you go into the settings screen (the LR icon in the home screen) and then tap "general", there are two options that are relevant. First is the "auto add photos" and the "auto add videos". Turning those on will copy every single image and video (both old and newly shot ones) in your photos library on your phone into Lightroom CC and upload all the images to the cloud. This can take a long time so think about whether you really want to do this as you can't stop it even by turning off the option and your phone will be uploading lots and lots of data. It can only do this while Lightroom is open on your phone (and the phone doesn't fall asleep) and you are on wifi (by default) so it can take a long time depending on how large your library is. If you want all your phone's images in Lightroom CC, this should do the trick and any future photos you take with the built-in camera app will automatically be added into Lightroom every time you open Lightroom on the phone.

[selondon · Accepted solution]

Jao, in my experiences Auto Add only adds new photos. I think that is what the documentation says also.

As for the direct import from Photos, there are a couple of threads about this and also depends if you use iCloud Photo Library. If so, in my memory, you have to download originals locally from Photos, then import into Lightroom CC. I believe it had to do with Apple Photos Originals Folder.... I‘ll try to find the thread, unless others can help.

[Jao vdL]

It might depend on whether you have iCloud Photo Library enabled or not but

for me (and i’ve tried a few times on both my phone and iPad) it will

slowly start adding every single image in my photo roll making it quite

useless.

[Soozee74]

Thank you for your answer!

Would I be overloading Lightroom by putting all iPhone photos in it?
A few months ago, I expanded my Adobe Creative Cloud storage to 2 TB, so there's a *LOT* of space right now.

I guess my additional question to pros is: "would YOU do it?" IF you wouldn't do it yourself, then I'll find a way to use both Mac Photos and Lightroom.

Thanks!

[Jao vdL]

It depends on what you want to accomplish I think. If you want all your photos in one place. Sure. I tend to try to keep things separate with pro work vs personal snapshots so I shoot with the Lightroom camera app (which allows you to shoot dng by the way) if it might be something I want to work up. I shoot with the iPhone built-in app if it is kids, animals, etc where I will never do more than a cursory edit and mostly just push the image to Facebook for family to enjoy.