photos library sub folders

Hey cruicad,

Thanks for using Apple Support Communities! I understand you have some questions about your photos, and attaching them in Mail or Notes. I am happy to provide some information to help.

You mentioned that you're not about to view all your photos. Have you created albums in your photo library? Check out how to do that here: Group albums in folders in Photos on Mac

You can also find how to attach photos here: Add attachments to emails in Mail on Mac

If you need additional assistance, reach out to the photos experts here: Contact Support

Thanks again, and have a great day!

Is your Photos Library enabled as the System Photo Library? Before you try to attach photos from the Photo Browser in an app or in a file chooser dialog, launch Photos, then check the Photos Preferences > General. Click "Use as System Photo Library", if this field is not grayed out. After clicking "Use as System photo Library" restart Photos and your mail application.

Then try again to attach a photo to a Mail or share it using he photo browser or file chooser dialog. But to access the Photos in your Photos Library do not select the library in the Pictures folder. Scroll down to the Media section in the sidebar and click Photos there. After a while you should be seeing the folders and albums in your Photos Library to select the photos you want to share.

How are you storing your photos on your Mac? By manually copying them from a memory card into a file structure of your choosing or by importing them into the Apple Photos app?

If you are doing it manually, then when attaching it to an email, don't select the PHOTO option, select the attachment option (usually looks like a paperclip). That way Finder will open and you can navigate to the folder you want.

If you are importing through Apple Photos, then the file structure within the Photos library is not intended for users to directly access. You are better off finding the photo you want in the Photos app, click the SHARE button at the top right (looks like a square with an arrow pointing up) and select MAIL or MESSAGE. Or else you can export the photo(s) to the folder of your choice (I have a folder set up called Photos Exports) and then attach them from there.

It "Use as System Photo Library" is grayed out, your library is already the System Photo Library. Then that is not the problem.

But are you scrolling down in the File Chooser Dialog to the Media Section as shown in my screenshot?

When you try to upload or attach photos, you do not go to the Pictures Folder > Photos Library, you scroll down all the way to "Media > Photos". Select the Photos Library and wait. Have a cup of coffee until the folders and albums appear.

Some applications are too old and cannot access the Photos Library from the Media Browser. Then you need to update the app.