Frayud Loc: Bethesda,MD

I like the iMac Photos filing system (Library + assorted albums). Is it possible to keep this and move individual pictures or albums into Lr/Ps, process them then move them BACK into the original Photos library? Ideally I'd like to duplicate the original picture, process it and move it back so I could compare it to the original and then delete the one I do not want.
When I got Lightroom I imported my picture file (39,000 photos) into it and ended up with a file of 101,000 photos! I have since deleted this file. I suspect that Lr considered each retouched version of my originals a separately.

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

No. Lightroom is a cataloging machine, and when you start using it, it is all or nothing. Copying back and forth with the iOS File Finder will just confuse LR and you'll get annoyed. And yes, if LR finds the original photo and multiple version, it will import them all. BUT, and its a big one, all LR does is create a catalog of the original image and the successive edits.

That all being said, what is the downside with a 100,000 image catalog?

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

You can leave your images exactly where they are - Library and albums, and just let LR know where you have them. In time, you may find that the Photos way of doing things is considerably less efficient.

You don't MOVE things into Lightroom. You just let LR know where they are by importing using the ADD option which leaves the files in their current locations and just adds them to the catalog. I use a filing system that I devised in 1998, and it has survived several raw converters, and I use it currently with Lightroom. It is virtually unchanged from when I decided on it 19 yrs ago.

Here's the way I use LR - I import raw files, make changes, I have LR write the changes to xmp. When I have an image that is worthy of finish editing, then I open Photoshop, do the finishing on a psd file that is 16 bit and ProPhoto color space (similar to LR's develop module), and that's it. If I need a jpeg to send to a printer - I have a present for that. If I am sending an email, adding it to my website, posting it on social media, sending it to a client - I have a specific preset for each one of those destinations, because each has it's own unique parameters for file size, file resolution, color space, bit depth, rendering intent, export sharpening, etc etc etc. What I never do is save and keep jpegs.

cthahn

Stick to one program and you will be much happier. I just switched to LR and enjoy the automatic saving,

Linckinn Loc: Okatie, SC and Edgartown, MA

I do pretty much what you propose, and it works very well. I import my RAW pictures (Capture One instead of Lightroom, but same difference), process them, and then export as JPEG's. I put about 1/3 of the JPEG's into Photos and thus I have all the organization, search capabilities, albums, location, etc, and most important, it syncs across all my and my wife's iPhones and iPads. That way, at any time, I can access to show someone or see myself any picture.