Problem Solving: How to Migrate Your Photo Library from Apple Photos and Lightroom to Open Source

Today, we get the chance to help a reader with a problem many of you will recognize. So first, let’s look at the question- and then we’ll work our way toward a real solution. This will be our main focus for now, but keep in mind: there are a few extra steps you can add later to perfect your workflow. But for now, let’s stick to the basics.

Here’s the reader’s question:

Reader Question:

Hello. I just discovered this blog article and had a question… I moved from iPhone photography using Apple Photos to mirrorless photography using Lightroom after the start of COVID in 2020. I had previously used albums to organize my images in Apple Photos and the migration process turned them into Collections within LRC. I have continued using collections to organize my images, while storing the RAW files on my NAS in folders organized by year/month/day of when the image was taken. I’d love to switch from LRC and get out of the Adobe hamster wheel but while I see alternatives (free and traditional licensed) for the editing functions of LRC, I am missing the ability to manage things from the organization standpoint. Can you (or anyone) offer a suggestion that would not destroy decades of image management using albums/collections? Thanks.

This article is updated on 12-07-2025

Switching from one photo system to another always feels a bit scary – especially when you’ve spent years building up a system that just works for you. Things might look different at first, and it’s normal to feel a bit lost or hesitant. But with the right approach, you can keep your photo collection organized – and even try it out on a small scale before fully committing.

Understanding the Problem: Folders vs. Collections

Let’s break down the situation many photographers face:

• In Lightroom (and before that, Apple Photos), you likely used Collections or Albums to group your photos. These are virtual groupings – one image can belong to multiple collections without actually moving the file.
• Meanwhile, your original photos are stored on your NAS in a folder structure by year, month, and day (e.g. 2023/07/11).

This dual setup is super flexible, but it can make migration tricky. Most open-source editors (like RawTherapee and darktable) focus mainly on your folders – what’s on disk – without native “Collections”.

That’s where digiKam shines:

• It recognizes your folder structure as “Albums,” so nothing changes there.
• You can use Tags in digiKam to recreate your virtual groupings (just like Collections). One image, many tags – no file duplication, just easy organization.
• On top of that, digiKam includes face recognition. This means you can automatically tag people in your photos and easily find all images of a certain person – something even some commercial apps still struggle with.
• Search, filter, and manage your images by tags, dates, ratings, and even faces – very much like the Collections approach you’re used to.

So, with digiKam, you keep both your physical folder organization and get back your virtual collections (plus powerful face recognition) via tags – all future-proof and open.

Here’s the simple, practical way forward:

1. Use digiKam for Photo Management

digiKam is an open-source photo manager that can organize your photos using folders, albums, and powerful tagging – similar to Collections in Lightroom.

• Albums: These mirror your existing folder structure (your year/month/day setup stays safe and untouched).
• Tags: You can add tags to images – these work a lot like Collections or Albums. One photo can have multiple tags, so you can recreate your favorite groupings.
• Searching and Filtering: Find any photo instantly using tags, dates, or ratings.

2. Choose Your Editor: Darktable or RawTherapee

Both are open-source RAW editors. Pick the one that feels best for you – or try both.

2a. Darktable

Your open-source darkroom, handling RAW editing and adjustments with pro-level controls.

• Reads your folder structure and XMP sidecar files, so tags and ratings stay in sync with digiKam.

2b. RawTherapee

A fast, powerful RAW editor, great for high-quality processing and a clean workflow.

• Reads your folders directly—no need to import.
• Supports metadata via sidecars (PP3 files) and reads basic tags/ratings from XMP (when enabled).

3. How It Works Together

• Organize, tag, and find your photos in digiKam.
• Edit your RAW files in Darktable or RawTherapee.
• Your organization (tags, albums) remains intact, as both editors read your existing folder structure, and metadata can be kept in XMP/sidecar files.
• Your original files on the NAS stay exactly as they are—no risk, no chaos.

4. Start Small – No Need to Jump In

Don’t feel pressured to migrate your entire archive at once.

• Pick a single folder or a small batch of images.
• Try organizing and editing those in digiKam and your editor of choice.
• Test your workflow, get comfortable, and expand when you’re ready.

5. The Honest Truth

Moving to a new system takes a little getting used to. The first days might feel different – sometimes even frustrating. That’s normal. But once you’re set up, you gain full control over your images, no more subscriptions, and your years of careful organization are preserved for the future.

In short:

• Use DigiKam to organize and find your images, just as you did with Collections.
• Edit in Darktable or RawTherapee – or even both – whatever works for you.
• Start with a test batch – nothing is lost, and you can always step back if it’s not for you.

⚠️ Important: What will and won’t transfer to digiKam (update 12-07-2025)

• Tags, ratings, and some metadata from Lightroom:
  Will be transferred if written to XMP sidecar files or embedded in the files.
• Albums/Collections from Lightroom or Apple Photos:
  Will NOT transfer automatically—they are database-only.
  You’ll need to export lists or convert these to tags using plugins or manual batch work.

Always enable “Write metadata to XMP” in Lightroom before migrating. For Apple Photos, export images with metadata if possible. Be prepared to rebuild your virtual albums/collections as tags in digiKam.

If you ever get stuck, the open-source community (and this blog!) is always ready to help out. Change is scary, but Freedom is worth a little discomfort at the start.

And hey, keep us posted on how it goes!

Marc, OSP.