I'd like to see direct integration of MacOS Lightroom (desktop) with the system/Apple iCloud Photos library in the same way that it's accessible on the iOS/iPadOS versions. Those allow for direct import from, and direct saving back to, the library.
Currently, I operate a mixed Photos/Lightroom workflow. I don't automatically import everything into Lightroom for a variety of reasons. I take plenty of snapshots that aren't really worth any time in Lightroom or worth taking up space in the LR cloud; there's also a huge value in easy access to the integrated iCloud Photos library across the Apple ecosystem; etc.
However, there are often sets of photos that I'd like to manage for a while and edit in Lightroom, then likely later export back out to the iCloud Photos library for general use/sharing/etc. The process is messy on desktop but a dream on iOS/iPadOS. Currently I end up using a mixed workflow where I am handling Lightroom import from iCloud Photos on iPad/iPhone, waiting for the CC sync to desktop, and editing on desktop. Then, to get a version back into Photos, I switch back over to my iPad/iPhone, and use the "export to device" feature in Lightroom mobile to get it back into iCloud Photos.
The stronger integration in iOS/iPadOS that I'd like to see on the Mac:
- Direct browsing and import from Photos library into Lightroom in original format with full metadata. This is doable on the desktop, but requires a few extra export steps (export unmodified originals onto the hard drive > import into Lightroom desktop > delete the ones I exported onto the HDD). It's smooth and easy to import and add to specific albums on the mobile app. (There is an ability to choose "edit with Lightroom" in Photos on desktop that appears to be a direct import, but it turns the original photo into a TIFF and strips a bunch of metadata before sending it to Lightroom for separate import. Not helpful in 99% of cases.)
- Direct saving back into Photos library using "Save copy to device." Most of this can also be replicated on desktop, but there's no actual integration (again, have to export to finder > import to photos > delete exported batch).
- Crucially, saving directly to the device ("camera roll") on iOS/iPadOS also makes Photos add an extra tag to the image as being saved from Lightroom. The tag is viewable in Photos. It's some sort of system metadata—not a keyword. This is very useful when trying to find edited versions of photos, a batch of edited photos out of Lightroom that didn't get put into a Photos album properly, or to just understand the provenance of items within the Photos library.
- Less useful, but sometimes helpful: In some cases when browsing device photos, Lightroom on mobile/iPad will even automatically identify which photos I've already imported into Lightroom before I select additional ones to import. It's not perfect, and isn't a critical feature, but can be nice.
So, I'd love to be able to not switch devices back and forth or add cumbersome steps whenever interacting with the iCloud Photos library. The fact that Lightroom desktop now can directly access/edit/import files on the local filesystem brings me hope that the team is looking beyond just the Adobe cloud on desktop, and I hope that reaches the iCloud Photos library as well.