iPhoto Considerations and Export Notes

In response to a reader comment, I am sharing the following video which highlights a bit about iPhoto and also shows you the best way to export photos and still retain most of the metadata work you have done.

 

A few considerations to take when looking at iPhoto for photo organization and management. Also how to export your photos with the most of your metadata intact for other organization programs.

Comments

[Linda Davis]

Thank you for this video. I hadn't thought of using Keyword Manager to identify location. You've definitely given me some things to consider before moving to Lightroom.

I know you mentioned that Lightroom has non-destructive editing. I read that iPhoto also has non-destructive editing. However, there have been a few times when the "revert to original" command in iPhoto has not worked. I don't know why. Have you heard of this or do you know why I might not be able to revert a photo to the original, what I might be doing wrong?

Right now I send a photo from iPhoto to PSE8, then duplicate it before editing, especially if I apply an action to the photo. I don't save those edits back into iPhoto. At other times, I correct the original in PSE8, for example the color cast or red eye and save those. I had some photos from Build-a-Bear that were too yellow, but with color cast correction now look great. I saved those edits to the original in iPhoto. When you edit in Lightroom have you ever had difficulty getting a photo back to the original? Any recommendations on deciding whether or not to save an edit?

[Kayla]

You are welcome. Technically you don't have to use keyword manager because iPhoto will export the location information in the metadata, it will just be in a different location than the keywords.

As we move forward in time, there may be a possibility that Lightroom will recognize GPS on a map, but for right now I have found that keywording the places is best for my workflow.

Personally I never had a problem with the "original" command in iPhoto, however, I did not edit my photos extensively in that application. I did find a support thread here - but it may not address what is happening for you - http://support.apple.com/kb/TA22873?viewlocale=en_US

One of the things I am most impressed about is Lightroom's care of my originals and edits - even when photos are edited outside of Lightroom in Photoshop. Just yesterday I edited several images in Lightroom and then exported them to Photoshop to do further editing - textures, etc. When I saved them, I watched in Lightroom as there was a 2nd version of the photo created with all my edits.

I don't know if it is because both products are Adobe and designed to work well together, but I am grateful they do what they do because it has made my workflow so much easier and streamlined.

I save all my edits because my thoughts are that if the photo is improved so much I definitely want to save it. One of the big considerations for me and Lightroom is that I could do most of my editing without exporting to Photoshop. It saves me time and because the editing in Lightroom is all saved with one photo thumbnail, it also saves me visual space in my catalog - i.e. one thumbnail instead of two for all my edited images - unless I do artistic editing... that has been one thing I have LOVED about Lightroom.

So technically you could fix your color cast in Lightroom and everything would still be saved - with one thumbnail.

hth.

[Linda Davis]

Thank you very much! I've downloaded a trial version of Lightroom. I love the editing that you can do and undo. I figured out how to send a photo to PSE8 so that I can insert it into a digital scrapbooking layout. I'm going to do a little more playing before buying, but I can definitely see why you like it:)

[Linda Davis]

One more question: do you have to have a full version of Photoshop for the changes you make there to show up inside Lightroom?

[Linda Davis]

Really, one more question: are you able to enter gps in Lightroom. Photos from iPhoto where I've identified place have gps attached. I can see it in Lightroom metadata, but I don't know how I could add it there where I import.

[Kayla]

I do use Photoshop CS5 but that is only because I teach in both CS and PSE. In my opinion you can do most anything with PSE that can be done in CS - so you don't have to upgrade - the best part is that Lightroom works with PSE too! :)

GPS - that is why I recommend keywording your photos with the different places in iPhoto if you want to the keywords for places. However, since the information is already in the metadata you could search that to find specific locations. The GPS Map is one thing Lightroom doesn't have - and something I miss but not enough to go back. :)

[Linda Davis]

Thank you Kayla, I'm loving this program so much that I've ordered it from Amazon:)

[Nihao, Cupcake! by Margie]

After watching this video it looks like there is no way to get RAW files out of iPhoto with metadata attached, huh? Any suggestions or resources for a way to get them back together in LR without out too much pain in between? I will see what I can find online in the meantime. Thanks so much!!

[Nihao, Cupcake! by Margie]

On one of the Lightroom Blogs I read the suggestion to use the 30 day trial of Aperture to move all photos to Aperture then from there move them to Lightroom. They say this will keep all metadate with RAW files. I am still doing research on all of the details. I'll update you to let you know how things go.

[Kayla Lamoreaux]

This is awesome info Margie!! Thank you so much for sharing here and your kind comments! I cant wait to hear more about your Lightroom photo library. :)

[Nihao, Cupcake! by Margie]

I was able to transfer my ratings and keywords from iPhoto to Lightroom 3 by using a free trial of Aperture 3 as my go between. There are a couple of steps that have to be done to make sure everything processes properly. It was relatively easy.

[Kayla Lamoreaux]

You are a rock star!! Thanks for letting me know :)