Photography / migration checklist

Move your photo workflow from Lightroom

Protect originals, preserve useful exports and test a small photo set before moving your whole library.

A photo migration involves both your images and the work around them: edits, metadata, albums and file locations. Treat these as separate things to verify. An alternative being listed for Lightroom does not guarantee that it can import a Lightroom catalog or reproduce its edits.

What to verify before switching

Editing instructions, masks, presets and organizational features may not translate into another application.
Keep the original image files as well as a backup of your current catalog or library. A preview or exported image is not a substitute for an original.
Confirm whether your workflow uses locally stored originals, cloud-only originals or a mixture before cancelling a subscription.

Your goal: A verified sample library, an archive you can restore and a list of the adjustments you will need to recreate.

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1. Map the library you are moving

List the cameras and RAW formats you use, along with required features such as masks, lens corrections and printing.Locate original files and confirm that a separate backup can be opened. Check any cloud-only assets before proceeding.Record how you use albums, ratings, keywords and folder paths so you can test those features explicitly.

2. Keep a portable record of finished work

Back up the catalog or library using the current application’s supported procedure. Keep your existing folder structure with the backup.Export a small selection of finished images in an appropriate widely supported format. Choose your resolution, color space and quality deliberately.Check the current application’s metadata export options. Save metadata separately where supported, without assuming every adjustment will be portable.

3. Try a representative sample

Choose a candidate that explicitly supports your operating system and the specific RAW formats you need. Verify current import documentation.Copy a sample containing different cameras, edited photos, ratings and keywords into a separate test location.Compare color, metadata, exports, file handling and performance. Record any differences instead of overwriting the original library.

4. Move in batches and keep a way back

Document which edits or organizational details must be recreated and decide whether that tradeoff is acceptable.Migrate a small batch, verify the files and test restoring the backup before starting the next batch.Keep the original library and access to required exports until the replacement workflow is working for your actual projects.

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General planning guidance. Import support, export options and subscription access depend on the current versions and plans of the apps involved. No migration or compatibility testing is implied.