WebDAV for Photographers: Sync, Mount, or Just Use the Web UI?

Description and use

Photographers with large RAW libraries benefit most from mounting WebDAV with a local cache, enabling native editing without consuming local disk space. Sync clients suit smaller libraries and single machines, while the web UI is best for backup and sharing.

Problem

Photographers need to store large RAW libraries in the cloud without exhausting local disk space or suffering sync conflicts.

Outcome

Using a WebDAV mount with local cache on a fast SSD allows photographers to edit RAW files natively without consuming local disk space, while sync clients are suitable for smaller libraries and single machines, and web UI serves as a backup or sharing tool.

Workflow

• Identify library size and editing machine count.
• Choose sync client if library <1 TB and single machine; install Dropbox/Nextcloud/OneDrive and select folder.
• Choose WebDAV mount if library >1 TB or multiple machines; install ScsDriver/RaiDrive/Mountain Duck/NetDrive, mount endpoint as drive letter, enable local cache on fast SSD.
• Choose web UI for pure sharing or backup; log into Nextcloud and download files via browser.
• Combine WebDAV mount and web UI for hybrid workflows (editing locally, sharing online).

Evidence

If you shoot in RAW, you know the problem: a wedding is 80GB, a portrait session is 4GB, a stock-photography outing is 30GB. Local disks fill up.

Source

ScsDriver's local cache layer is the killer feature here. With cache on a fast SSD, opening a RAW in Lightroom is fast — the cache is hit, and the read returns in milliseconds.

Source

For photographers with a moderate library (under 1TB) and a single editing machine, sync is fine. For more than that, or if you work from multiple machines, sync falls apart.

Source

Web UI is best as a backup / share / quick-look tool, not as a primary editing workflow.

Source