Suggestions on Workflow w/ External HD

i'm trying find best way plan workflow while i'm on road. while i'm away home, uploading , editing photos laptop in lr , when i'm home, store files on external harddrive, don't eat space on computer. need make 2 libraries this? 1 temporarily holding images, , main 1 on external harddrive? how go copying metadate or edits make each photo external drive? thanks, much!

your lightroom catalog same things regardless image file stored. provided image remains accessible, , in same place last seen, lr not mind or care whether internal or external. lightroom not mind catalog stored - still work equally well.

 

it's idea first select fixed permanent drive reference external drive used kind of job, rather allowing drive reference assigned accidentally ad-hoc each time. don't want vary, iow.

 

so might have catalog on drive c (internal), refers images on drive c (internal), , subsequently further images on drive j (external) too. if move catalog drive j, still operate fine , still refer same images on both drives c , j.

 

if move remaining images on drive c, j in way lr keeps track of - (either doing inside lr's folders panel, or else moving them bodily outside lr , re-addressing lr tell formerly drive c images have gone) - fine too.

 

if take drive j , plug laptop, same catalog can used there also. when opened, lr looking lot of image files knows ought on drive j. if external drive appears laptop accidentally drive e, lr fail see working location these images. if external drive appears drive j did on other computer, happy .

 

you may not want work on entire image library when travelling. perhaps don't want carry precious external drive on road, intend work off laptop. in case, can create entirely separate new catalog in lr on laptop trip. can import images location inside laptop's hard disk , edit them normally. when return, can connect external drive laptop (as drive j). can use copy of lr on laptop move whole lot of images laptop's drive c, drive j. close lr , temporarily copy laptop "this trip" catalog onto drive j somewhere also.

 

then connect drive j main computer, , start main lr catalog. in file, select "import catalog" , find "this trip" catalog have copied it. contents - information images imported lr during trip, keywording / editing / etc have done, merged main catalog. addressing of images concerned remain equally valid - since matter of images being consistently seen "on drive j".

 

then - once rolled main working setup - separate "this trip" catalogs on laptop , on drive j can removed.

 

don't forget urgently put in place backup routine drive j (or whatever is) - in same way computer. think of external drive suitable backup medium, in case primary data , computer not storing other copy. external drive needs replicated on regular basis, imo @ least 2 separately-stored and, ideally, different forms. options include different external drive or nas, cloud storage, or computer's internal drive somewhere.

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