User profile for user: CynicChick
CynicChick Author
User level: Level 1
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Using Apple Photos to organize also storing raw and jpeg pictures help

Getting into novice photography with my Canon DSLR. I am wanting to use the Photos application on my iMac to organize and store my photos. I will be at least for now importing both raw and jpeg image formats for use with Photoshop Elements 2020. (On a side note, I will also be importing a second copy of my pics/videos to a separate hard drive for safe keeping.)

I would like to be able to easily find the 'masters' or 'original' photos I imported. When searching for this, articles online tell me to:


"In Finder, locate the Photos Library file, which has the Photos logo on it.

Right-click (or control-click) on the Photos Library file, then select “Show Package Contents” from the menu. 

Look for the "Masters" folder."


There is no masters folder. Has it been renamed to Originals?


Am I better to use the Organizer that came with my Photoshop Elements 2020? Or does it even work on a mac properly?


What are the pros and cons to both the Photos app and PS Elements Organizer for organizing and storing photos?


Also, can I use more than one photo storage library with Photos? Meaning that every time I opened up Photos I would be asked which photo library location to use?


Thanks in advance for any help. I've been trying to figure this out for a while and online searches still leave me puzzled.

iMac, OS X 10.11

Posted on Nov 29, 2019 7:22 AM

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User profile for user: Yer_Man
Yer_Man
User level: Level 10
165,918 points

Posted on Nov 29, 2019 7:43 AM

  1. Begin at the beginning. Shoot Raw, don't shoot raw plus jpeg. All you're doing is wasting disk space. If you shoot raw it's because you prefer to make your own jpegs from the sensor data. So, why also shoot Jpegs. This feature was interned for news and sports photographers who needed fast versions and who would not have time to process the raws. if you're worried about not being able to make good quality jpegs from your raws, then the preview that Photos makes will be good enough. See the problem? If you shoot raw+Jpeg in Photos you'll actually have raw+Jpeg+Jpeg.
  2. There is no user accessible parts inside the Photos Library package. Mucking around in there will cause database corruption and dataloss.
  3. If you want a copy of your original then simply export it: File -> Export -> Export unmodified original
  4. Only you can decide which app best fists your usage scenario. My usual advice would be... Photos is free and there. Use it until you get to a point where it no longer meets your needs.
  5. Yes you can have multiple Libraries. No it won't ask you which one, but you can choose simply: Hold down the option (or alt) key and launch Photos. From the resulting menu select 'Create Library' or 'Choose Library' as you need. I would caution you that multiple libraries can be a pain - are you sure you need them? especially at this point when you're only starting out? Keep it simple until you're sure you need complexity. Your primary goal should be to use the camera as much as possible.
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User profile for user: Yer_Man
Yer_Man
User level: Level 10
165,918 points

Nov 29, 2019 7:43 AM in response to CynicChick

  1. Begin at the beginning. Shoot Raw, don't shoot raw plus jpeg. All you're doing is wasting disk space. If you shoot raw it's because you prefer to make your own jpegs from the sensor data. So, why also shoot Jpegs. This feature was interned for news and sports photographers who needed fast versions and who would not have time to process the raws. if you're worried about not being able to make good quality jpegs from your raws, then the preview that Photos makes will be good enough. See the problem? If you shoot raw+Jpeg in Photos you'll actually have raw+Jpeg+Jpeg.
  2. There is no user accessible parts inside the Photos Library package. Mucking around in there will cause database corruption and dataloss.
  3. If you want a copy of your original then simply export it: File -> Export -> Export unmodified original
  4. Only you can decide which app best fists your usage scenario. My usual advice would be... Photos is free and there. Use it until you get to a point where it no longer meets your needs.
  5. Yes you can have multiple Libraries. No it won't ask you which one, but you can choose simply: Hold down the option (or alt) key and launch Photos. From the resulting menu select 'Create Library' or 'Choose Library' as you need. I would caution you that multiple libraries can be a pain - are you sure you need them? especially at this point when you're only starting out? Keep it simple until you're sure you need complexity. Your primary goal should be to use the camera as much as possible.
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Using Apple Photos to organize also storing raw and jpeg pictures help

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