iPad photo album backup

[joema2]

What is the recommended method to back up existing photo albums on my iPhone/iPad to my Mac?

I have several albums on the iPad, and I want to set up iTunes photo sync from Mac to iPad. However the initial sync will wipe out existing albums on the iPad, so I want to back them up first, then put those albums in the Mac folders pointed to in iTunes under devices->photos->sync photos from.

What is the best way to do this?

 

[Weaselboy]

You don't really need to sync them. Just attach to iTunes and in the iTunes summary page for the device click backup and that will backup the entire device to the Mac, including the photos.

 

[joema2]

How do I selectively restore those backed-up photo albums to the iPad after I create the Mac album folders for subsequent syncing using iTunes?

IOW the first time folders are created on the Mac (one per album, each containing .jpg photos), these will overwrite anything on the iPad the first sync. How do I first save the albums on the iPad for restoration after these Mac folders are created?