Two computer workflow

[rickboden]

Hi all, looking for suggestions for a particular workflow. I have two Macs in separate rooms, on the same WiFi but probably not convenient to connect via Gigabit cable.

All my photos are on the main computer but I would like to offload collections of images to the other computer to have another person do some editing and keywording and then bring the edits back to my main machine.

I understand that I would not have to actually transfer the images back, just merge the catalog file. My workflow as I see it is to put the images on a drive, import them into the second computer, make the edits and bring back the catalog file on a flash drive to merge with the original catalog file. I haven't tried this but don't see it as difficult but perhaps there is a more efficient way. Thanks for any suggestions.

 

[clee01l]

This is probably the most efficient way. You can do the "Import from another catalog" function across the WiFi Network. However you will be limited to WiFi speeds. A Portable Drive with the catalog on it is faster, even at USB2 speeds. My solution for my travel catalog has been to use a TB2 connected EHD. It is blazingly fast. Much faster that USB3,

FWIW, I tried the WiFi transfer before I settled on the EHD. My first EHD was USB2, I have since moved to a TB2 EHD.

 

[rob211]

The details matter. If that second person were to write keywords into the image files (using Lr, or any other compatible application) then a simple use of the "Synchronize..." command would bring in the changes without a need to pass around a catalog at all. Ditto for most other metadata. And you can use smart previews on a portable drive in order to view and edit on the other machine.

 

[tspear]

If just keywords, consider using the web interface. Then it can sync all day and never have issues.

 

[rickboden]

Thanks for the replies! There would be cropping and general editing in addition to keywording.