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Lightroom Classic MCP

An MCP server linking an agent to a Lightroom Classic catalog: photo search, ratings, develop settings, collections, export.

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  • MIT
MCP server

Extended access

Why this level

  • The agent changes ratings, metadata, develop settings and masks in a live catalog.
  • Export writes files to disk.
All reasons and checks

automaat/lightroom-mcpAuthor:automaat

Install

Manual install

claude mcp add lightroom -- npx -y @mskalski/lightroom-mcp

The Claude Code option from the README. Claude Desktop has a `.mcpb` file install, and Codex uses `codex mcp add lightroom -- npx -y @mskalski/lightroom-mcp`.

Access and checks

How we review

Extended accessThe tool runs code or makes network calls and only reads external data.

  • The agent changes ratings, metadata, develop settings and masks in a live catalog.
  • Export writes files to disk.

This is third-party code. Review the repository files before installing.

What it does

Lightroom Classic MCP links an agent to the catalog open in the application through a Lightroom plug-in. The agent searches photos by conditions, sets ratings and keywords, changes develop settings and masks, manages collections and imports and exports pictures. There are first-pass culling and iterative preset workflows: preset versions can be compared and checkpoints saved. Only core catalog and metadata tools are on by default. The `LIGHTROOM_MCP_TOOLSETS` variable (`develop`, `masks`, `all`) adds the rest, and `LIGHTROOM_MCP_READ_ONLY=true` hides and blocks write tools. A Claude Code plugin ships the `raw-photo-lightroom-preset` skill.

Who it is for. Photographers who keep a catalog in Lightroom Classic and want to hand culling, tagging and preset tuning to an agent.

Good fit when

  • After a shoot, frames must be culled by rating and selected photos tagged with keywords.
  • One preset is compared across several pictures and its versions tracked.
  • Selected frames are exported to JPEG at a given size.
  • The catalog must only be read: read-only mode is on.

Not a fit when

  • Lightroom Classic is not installed: the server works only with it.
  • You need operations missing from the plug-in SDK: HDR and panorama merges, Super Resolution, folder creation.
  • The catalog is valuable and has no backup.

Example request

Find my five-star photos from last summer, add the keyword "portfolio" to the selected ones and export them to the Desktop as JPEG 2000 px wide.

MCP

Transport
stdio
Authentication
not required

Environment variables

`LIGHTROOM_MCP_TOOLSETS`
Tool sets: `core` by default, `develop`, `masks` or `all`.
`LIGHTROOM_MCP_READ_ONLY`
A value of `true` or `1` hides and blocks write tools.

Limitations

Lightroom Classic on macOS or Windows is required, open and with the plug-in running (Plug-in Manager, Start Server button). The npm server needs Node.js 20 or newer. Adobe's SDK does not expose raw histograms, pixel data, HDR and panorama merges, Super Resolution or folder creation in the catalog. AI-based edits cannot be moved by copying a settings table, because the data lives in `.acr` files. Masks are written in an undocumented format, so before editing the server checks the version and tries to restore previous masks on a mismatch.

How to disable. Remove the `lightroom` entry from the MCP configuration and disable the plug-in in Plug-in Manager. The local access token sits in `~/.config/lightroom-mcp/token`.

FAQ

How do I limit writes?

Set `LIGHTROOM_MCP_READ_ONLY=true`: write tools are hidden and calls to them are refused before reaching Lightroom.

How do I enable develop and masks?

The `LIGHTROOM_MCP_TOOLSETS` variable accepts `develop`, `masks`, `develop,masks` or `all`. The core set stays on.

Does deleting a collection delete photos?

No. `delete_collection` removes the collection and the pictures stay in the catalog.

Is there an easy install for Claude Desktop?

Yes. Download the `.mcpb` file from the latest release, open it by double-click and confirm, then enable the plug-in in Lightroom.

Is it reachable from the network?

No. The connection is local and needs a 256-bit token the plug-in creates when the server starts.

Discussion

No questions or reviews yet.

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README in short

A Lightroom plug-in creates a local token and the npm server connects to it over SDK sockets. The core tool set does not change develop settings.

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