topic Re: Editing Pictures While Traveling: Practices and Software Recommendations in Gear Guide

Editing Pictures While Traveling: Practices and Software Recommendations

Cantrell — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 13:28:11 GMT

All,

When you are traveling do you edit or wait until you get back home? What do you use to edit. I got my grandson a 13" MacBook Air for last Christmas. I had an opportunity this weekend to watch him use it. Impressed with my grandson's skill plus the capability of the Air. I probably would like a 15" Air. Anybody else in this group uses a MacBook Air? Suggestions are appreciated.

Reese

Re: Editing Pictures While Traveling

jrhoffman75 — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 11:50:58 GMT

I use Lightroom Classic as my editor.
My home setup is a MacBook Air with a 24 inch external monitor.
I travel with an iPad Pro and have Lightroom app installed on iPad.
Before I leave I create a Collection in LrC which becomes an Album on the iPad.
I download desired images into the Album. When internet connection is available the images are uploaded to my MacBook, including any edits.
When I return home I copy images from Collection to storage folder.

Re: Editing Pictures While Traveling

Cantrell — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 22:56:09 GMT

jrhoffman75,

Thank you for your reply.

Reese

Re: Editing Pictures While Traveling: Practices and Software Recommendations

TomRamsey — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 23:30:49 GMT

Sometimes I will edit when away, I have used an ipad with the Lightroom mobile app, I now have a MacBook, but haven't used it yet, but it can run LR Classic which is better than the mobile app.[ in my opinion. Even if I download the images to the mobile device I still keep them in camera and download to my other Mac at home before formatting the cards, just for backup sake.

Re: Editing Pictures While Traveling: Practices and Software Recommendations

Cantrell — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:29 GMT

Tom,

Thank you for your ideas.

Reese

Re: Editing Pictures While Traveling: Practices and Software Recommendations

JeffXB — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 21:55:28 GMT

I’m using a 15” MacBook Air; primarily using Lightroom Classic for culling and editing with a 27” monitor at home. When traveling I don’t do too much editing if any at all. Maybe if the weather isn’t good and I have time I’ll mess around with it. My philosophy is why waste time editing when I’d rather be enjoying the place I’m visiting. It might be different for some folks who are pro’s and on assignment and have a deadline to meet. I do back up my photos religiously every day. I’ve got one of those multi port adapters for the MacBook which allows me to seamlessly transfer my photos from the SD card to a small 2TB SSD drive; simply drag and drop. And if the WiFi in the hotel is good enough I also back up to the cloud as well.

Re: Editing Pictures While Traveling: Practices and Software Recommendations

Cantrell — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 22:24:01 GMT

JeffXB,

Thank you for your reply. The information you provided was very helpful. I gave my grandchildren MacBook Airs for this past Christmas. Saw one of my grandsons using his and I was impressed with grandson's usage and the hardware. How do you like your MacBook Air?

Re: Editing Pictures While Traveling: Practices and Software Recommendations

JeffXB — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 23:32:16 GMT

You’re most welcome.

I like it a lot. This is my third MacBook. Previously I had Pro versions, but since I’m now retired I don’t need that much processing power any more. I purchased the 15” Air last fall, so it’s with the M4 chip. As I don’t store much on the internal hard drive I simply went with the 512Gb version, but I did upgrade to the 24 core unified memory. It’s more than enough of a machine for my photo and video editing needs as well as web browsing, etc.

Re: Editing Pictures While Traveling: Practices and Software Recommendations

Cantrell — Thu, 02 Apr 2026 00:02:50 GMT

JeffXB,

Thank you for the information on the MacBook Air. My grandchildren were excited about getting their laptops for Christmas. I use a Mac Mini with the M1 chip.

Re: Editing Pictures While Traveling: Practices and Software Recommendations

ebiggs1 — Thu, 02 Apr 2026 16:13:40 GMT

I use a laptop PC with a 16" screen which has Photoshop and Lightroom on it. I almost always therther my camera to Lightroom on a shoot with people in the photos especially if it is portraits.

I love my iPhone and iPad but I shy away from any Mac computer because of the OS and hardware inconsistencies and issues. If you are traveling or even just out on a important shoot and you use a Mac anything make sure you turn off OS updates. Ask me how I learned that one!

Re: Editing Pictures While Traveling: Practices and Software Recommendations

ebiggs1 — Thu, 02 Apr 2026 16:14:12 GMT

Besides PC's are cheaper. 😁

Re: Editing Pictures While Traveling: Practices and Software Recommendations

Cantrell — Fri, 03 Apr 2026 00:08:53 GMT

ebiggs1,

Thank you for reply regarding carry a laptop with you when you travel.

Reese

Re: Editing Pictures While Traveling: Practices and Software Recommendations

shadowsports — Fri, 03 Apr 2026 15:22:20 GMT

Home: DXO Photo Lab Elite

Travel: DPP on 14" ThinkPad W11.

Re: Editing Pictures While Traveling: Practices and Software Recommendations

Cantrell — Sat, 04 Apr 2026 00:54:28 GMT

Rick,

Thank you your reply.

Reese

Re: Editing Pictures While Traveling: Practices and Software Recommendations

justadude — Sun, 05 Apr 2026 20:34:10 GMT

I try my best not to edit anything while traveling, but occasionally deadlines will force me to get a few shots out before I get home.

I use the same software I've been using for years... Photoshop since the mid-1990's, and Lightroom Classic since it first came out in 2006.

If I'm traveling I (grudgingly) work on a 12.9" iPad Pro.

At home it's always my iMac desktop w/24" screen.

If you are considering the MacBook Air, get it. They are wonderful computers. With the large screen on the iPad Pro, the laptop for me would be redundant, but if I didn't have the iPad, I would get the MacBook in a heartbeat for when I'm out visiting clients, or traveling. I'd probably go for the MacBook Pro... but only because I tend to have too many programs running at the same time.

Re: Editing Pictures While Traveling: Practices and Software Recommendations

Cantrell — Sun, 05 Apr 2026 20:58:30 GMT

Gary,

Thank you for this information. I appreciate the MacBook Air mention.

Reese

Re: Editing Pictures While Traveling: Practices and Software Recommendations

ebiggs1 — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 14:23:27 GMT

"I try my best not to edit anything while traveling,..."

I'm with you there it's always best to do it at home. I have a 34" calibrated monitor at home and of course that's not a travel machine. However, certain situations mandate some editing on the road. Senior posters for example. There can be two or three dozen at a time and each must be approved of on the spot as time is limited. That's where LR comes in to play. Some editing makes a good portrait a great portrait. This eliminates surprise and one thing photographers hate is surprises!

Another example was a employee identification book that had 600 photos. There is simply no time to go back and take redo's. Editing on the road is something that's just not avoidable sometimes.

Re: Editing Pictures While Traveling: Practices and Software Recommendations

ebiggs1 — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 14:30:13 GMT

Reese,

When you get DPP4 don't get that deer in the headlights stare. Two main editing actions are very simple and do a ton of good. One and first, very important, is lens correction which is just a mouse click, The second is cropping. Just do what looks good to you again very simple. For the rest watch the informative Canon sponsored YouTube vids.

In addition to editing you can rate, rank and sort your photos so you can always find what you are looking for. Also lets you delete the duds so they don't clutter up the works. 😁

Re: Editing Pictures While Traveling: Practices and Software Recommendations

Cantrell — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 20:46:54 GMT

ebiggs1,

Thank you for the suggestion and "How To" on DPP4.

Reese