[Feature] Preserve edit history and portrait mode / depth metadata when uploading from iOS

[m-stefanski]

I have searched the existing feature requests, both open and closed, to make sure this is not a duplicate request.

• Yes

The feature

Describe the problem

When uploading photos from iOS to Immich using the iOS app, the upload appears to contain only the final rendered/exported asset rather than the full original Apple photo bundle and its associated metadata.
This causes loss of important Apple-specific photo data, including:

• Non-destructive edit history
• Portrait Mode / depth metadata

Would this be possible to at least preserve (if not make use of inside of Immich itself)?

Platform

• Server
• Web
• Mobile

[andsar15]

I'm currently using an intricate manual workaround via Mac/NAS to preserve metadata, but an automated solution in the iOS app is much needed for a full migration from iCloud. Currently, Immich cannot interpret Apple's non-destructive sidecar data, making it difficult to use as a primary editor/manager for those of us coming from the Apple ecosystem. Here is the link to the Reddit discussion for more details:

https://www.reddit.com/r/immich/comments/1rw46so/icloud_to_immich_how_to_automatically_preserve/

[gregorne]

The issue also affects videos recorded in Cinematic Mode. Once such a video has been backed up via Immich, the focus can no longer be adjusted. This behavior occurs both when viewing the video in Immich and after downloading it back to the device.