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Why Apple’s iPad Pro is Perfect for a DSLR or Mirrorless Photographer’s Mobile Lightroom Workflow

I talk with so many people who really want to move to a mobile workflow using an iPad, but they struggle with the importing process, which I have to admit has been the speed bump; the stumbling point (i.e. the pain in the butt), but some changes in Lightroom, and a feature of the iPad Pro finally make it all quick and easy.

Above: Lightroom’s Edit module on an iPad Pro

Here are the two things that made all the difference in this mobile workflow:

Now you can import from your camera’s memory card, directly into Lightroom

No more doing that dance of first importing your images to the Camera Roll, and then having to reimport them into Lightroom. Now you can go straight into Lightroom sidestepping whole Camera Roll business.

The iPad Pro has a USB-C port, so you can use your regular card reader

That means you’re not just restricted to Apple’s card reader, so you’re not just restricted to importing SD cards. You can use the same card reader you do in your desktop workflow (provided of course, your card reader is on the new USB-C standard), so you can bring in Compact Flash Cards, and XQD or whatever cards you use in your regular workflow.

Lightroom on Mobile has really matured as a product over these past few years, and it just keeps getting better. It’s really great on any mobile device, but it’s stunning on an iPad Pro. So, if you’ve been waiting for that smooth, easy workflow for editing your images on the go, the planets have finally aligned for you in a few quick, easy, and hiccup-free way.

Photoshop is on the iPad now, too!

It’s gotten much better, and got some badly needed features, since it was first introduced last year. So now you have access to your Lightroom and Photoshop workflow all on mobile as well. High-five Adobe!

Want to see the Whole Workflow Start to Finish?

Terry White’s weekly ‘Photography Master Class’ last Friday was all on how to do the whole Mobile Workflow. You can watch it (it’s really informative) for free, right below (thank you, Terry!).

Hope you found that helpful. Here’s wishing you a great weekend; stay safe and sane, and I hope we’ll see you back here next week.

-Scott

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8 comments

  1. David Howard 17 August, 2020 at 17:34 Reply

    That was on odd video…various false starts and then ended abruptly. I thought some content was good (moving from Lightroom->Photoshop) but that was not the title of the video. Overall, probably worth the 52 minutes, but a bit of labor.

  2. Mike Worley 11 August, 2020 at 09:47 Reply

    Terry / Scott, is there any movement to allow Lightroom mobile to work as a tethered platform? I understand it may work with Tethertools Case Air, but I’m wondering about a cable connect option. That’s the main reason I don’t give up my MacBook and switch to the iPad

  3. George 10 August, 2020 at 20:58 Reply

    So essentially only two reasons, the ability to import directly to Lightroom and the ability to take advantage of the USB C port.

    I’ve never used Lightroom on iPad, but I imagine that software enhancements within the Lightroom app would make more compelling reasons to switch.

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