How can I move my pictures to an external hard drive without changing the date the picture was created?

The EXIF Capture Date is embedded into the image file and does not change when the file is copied to another location. However, the file created date will change but it's not related to the image, only the file.

Try viewing the file in the Finder's column mode on the EHD and see what the Content created date indicates there:

Note: this is with Catalina 10.15.4 and Photos 5

I get a similar situation now and then. Don't know why one file will keep the original file metadata and others new file metadata when they ar copied to another volume.

This may be like closing the barn door after the horses are gone but may work for future files.

I download each day's shoot to a folder on the hard drive with Image Capture. I name the folder for the data and a brief description of photos' contents, like this:

Using a file renamer app like Name Mangler I rename each file with the date, brief description and sequential number:

That way I never have to wonder about when the photo was taken and what it's about A little effort up front saves a lot of time and worry later on.

You can do that for existing photos in the library by renaming the Titles with this AppleScript: Batch Change Title to Capture Date-Description-Padded Sequential Numbers.

You can download a compiled version of the script as an application from this tutorial site:  P01 - Applescripts from Photos User Tips Compiled as Applications. The first time you run the app Control (right) - click on it and select Open from the contextual menu.

Then when you export the file for use outside the library use the Title as the new file name.

Just some food for thought.

Old Toad - I am having a similar problem. I understand what you're saying re content created and yes mine do have the original date for content created, even if they say created/modified today as well. However what I don't understand is I imported all of the photo's I am trying to transfer to ext hard drive, onto my laptop, at the same time on the same day, and and some of them (in dates ranging from the oldest on my phone to the most recent) have pulled through the original date created wherever I move them to (hard drive/folders etc) however lots have not, and just have the date transferred (today) So about 5k of 15k have the original created date and will hold that date no matter where I transfer it too(which is what I would like to happen for all of them!). Hope this make sense. Thanks!

Thanks for your reply! I thought you might be interested to know I’ve had some success today. Instead of using the Photos app to import photos onto the laptop, I imported them directly onto the computer hard drive (using image capture) and then transferred them onto the external hard drive with all the original dates! It didn’t change any of them to today’s date. Very happy!

Post a screenshot similar to the one I posted.