Here’s the trap with Lightroom: your edits live in the catalog, and your photos live on disk. Back up only one and you’ve lost half the work. Here’s how to back up Lightroom properly.
The two things you must back up
- The catalog (.lrcat) — every edit, rating, flag and collection.
- The originals — the actual image files your catalog points to.
Step 1: Back up the catalog automatically
Edit → Catalog Settings → Backup. Set Lightroom Classic to back up the catalog every time you close it, or on a schedule. It saves a copy of the .lrcat (and any recent changes).
Optionally, store catalog backups off the machine. Point the backup folder at a cloud-synced or external location so it survives a drive failure.
Step 2: Back up the originals separately
The catalog remembers your edits but not your files. Your RAW/JPEG masters are what the catalog references. Keep those full-resolution originals in a safe, off-machine place too — that’s the part you can’t rebuild from a catalog alone.
Step 3: Tie it together (the smart way)
Once the catalog is backed up and originals are safe, the last step is making them useful — getting finished photos to clients and guests. That’s a separate job from storage, and it’s what a delivery service does. Snaptide lets you publish a branded, private gallery and hand each person only their own photos.
The honest rule: catalog backup + original backup = a complete Lightroom backup. Storage keeps it safe; a delivery layer (like Snaptide) makes your edited work actually reach people. Do all three and you’re covered.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most important thing to back up in Lightroom?
Both: the catalog (your edits) and the originals (your files). Losing either one loses half your work.
Where does Lightroom store the catalog?
By default in your Pictures folder; you can check or change it under Edit → Catalog Settings. A backup copy is made on close if you enable it.
Does Lightroom back up my photos too?
No — the catalog backup contains your edits and structure, not the image files. You need a separate backup for originals.
How do I deliver my Lightroom work to clients safely?
Export finals and publish them to a private gallery. Snaptide lets guests scan a QR and see only their own photos.