3rd party photo management software for MAC desktop

I am looking for software that can be used to organize & manage my 10k photo collection (just personal pictures from multiple years not anything professional). For many years, I have used iPhotos then Photos but I DO NOT want to "curate" my photos within each library. Also, I DO NOT want to store them on the Cloud. I want to load & store my photos onto my Mac's hard drive for easy access anytime. I want to categorize them into folders or albums myself for easy viewing. I want to then be able to access them for transferring to other devices & create my own backups for later retrieval. I am not so interested in editing as much as storage & access. thanks for your recommendations.

Earlier Mac models

Posted on Jun 25, 2024 2:14 PM

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Posted on Jun 26, 2024 6:27 AM

Sure. Quicklook is built into your Finder. Click on an image and tap the spacebar. Move through a folder using the arrow keys.


In terms of apps: Apollo One highly thought of


https://apps.apple.com/ie/app/apolloone-photo-video-viewer/id1044484672?mt=12


as is Adobe's Bridge


The only weakness with that approach is that really you are organising files, not photographs. What do you do with an image that fits two categories, which folder does it go in? Or do you duplicate the file and waste space. One thing about data base app is that they allow multiple categorisations of the same file, and so your photo maybe in lots of categories but you're still only using one file. In other words they allow for organising your photographs, rather than the file.

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Jun 26, 2024 6:27 AM in response to CyberShop

Sure. Quicklook is built into your Finder. Click on an image and tap the spacebar. Move through a folder using the arrow keys.


In terms of apps: Apollo One highly thought of


https://apps.apple.com/ie/app/apolloone-photo-video-viewer/id1044484672?mt=12


as is Adobe's Bridge


The only weakness with that approach is that really you are organising files, not photographs. What do you do with an image that fits two categories, which folder does it go in? Or do you duplicate the file and waste space. One thing about data base app is that they allow multiple categorisations of the same file, and so your photo maybe in lots of categories but you're still only using one file. In other words they allow for organising your photographs, rather than the file.

Jun 25, 2024 3:48 PM in response to CyberShop

I want to load & store my photos onto my Mac's hard drive for easy access anytime. I want to categorize them into folders or albums myself for easy viewing. I want to then be able to access them for transferring to other devices & create my own backups for later retrieval.


From that description, and with a 10k library, check out Mylio:


https://mylio.com/


There's a free and a paid version with extra options.

Jun 26, 2024 6:31 AM in response to CyberShop

maybe all I need is some type of a viewer app (rather than full blown program) since I have all my photos already within folders (exported from libraries) sorted by year, categories, etc. Wondering if I could just download some type of "browser" to see them full screen & scroll through multiple photos in a folder at one time?

I use QuickLook to browse images and movies in Finder folders (select the first one or just the desired files, press Space bar and press down/up arrow keys to browse, optionally switch to full screen mode). Or browse with GraphicConverter (optionally search via Keywords and edit metadata).

Jun 28, 2024 6:44 AM in response to CyberShop

Update - Anyone familiar with Tonfotos? It appears to be a photo management database that allows you to browse & organize photos stored on your computer. Also, consolidate photos from various sources (phone, camera, hard drive). Looks like you can try for free then purchase software for install (which I prefer since old school method). Thoughts?

Jun 26, 2024 9:24 AM in response to CyberShop

You do know that using iCloud Library is strictly optional, right? It's not mandatory.


Photos will do everything you mentioned except for the curating. You can't get away from it. But all of the other things you want to do it will do. Also it you want a photo in more than one folder/album you don't have to duplicate the file thus doubling storage requirements for that photo. It's done by database and pointers to the original photo.


Just some food for thought.




Jun 26, 2024 2:51 PM in response to CyberShop

FO you scroll down on the App Store page you can see that Apollo One has "In App Purchases" and by clicking on the disclosure triangle you can see the details



For details on what each tier represents in capability you can read here:


https://www.apollooneapp.com/faq


I know nothing about Phiewer, I'm afraid. In your position I would google for reviews on both apps and the download trials.

Jun 28, 2024 7:00 AM in response to CyberShop

CyberShop wrote: ... I want to load & store my photos onto my Mac's hard drive for easy access anytime. I want to categorize them into folders or albums myself for easy viewing. I want to then be able to access them for transferring to other devices & create my own backups for later retrieval.

In your case, I would be concerned with "a photo management database that allows you to browse & organize photos stored on your computer." That, after all, is something Apple's Photos can do. But what happens when you "categorize them into folders or albums myself?" We know that keeping track of files can be very tricky when both you and your "photo management database" are both organizing them. We don't normally do that in Photos, because we end up spending more time fixing missing links than working with pictures. But there are some systems that are way better at that-- you'll want to give it a dynamic test before investing a great deal of work...

Jun 26, 2024 4:55 AM in response to Yer_Man

Thanks for responding. I'm just thinking that maybe all I need is some type of a viewer app (rather than full blown program) since I have all my photos already within folders (exported from libraries) sorted by year, categories, etc. Wondering if I could just download some type of "browser" to see them full screen & scroll through multiple photos in a folder at one time?

Jun 26, 2024 8:54 AM in response to Matti Haveri

Quicklook is very powerful-- you can expand to full screen and even mark up the picture.


But Yer_Man's point is sharply made-- a database program like Photos always keeps your original file intact and unmodified, while it saves edits as extra data. You can always change your mind later about the editing and cropping of the pictures. Also, the database can be used to refer to pictures that are organized by several different kinds of parameters.


And perhaps the most powerful advantage of a database like Photos the ability to search. Photos, for instance, lets you use keywords, captions, faces, locations, and titles to help search though your pictures for that one image that you can't remember quite when you took it. Organizing pictures using folders doesn't let you do easy and fast searches, and it doesn't encourage you use if multiple organizing

Jun 26, 2024 11:47 AM in response to Old Toad

Yes, I do know that iCloud is optional but I don't want to share (especially now that PhotoStream is no longer available) or store any of my data on the cloud. I have been a MAC user since 2005 and was pleased with iPhotos but once Apple replaced with Photos I have been a frustrated user because of CURATION. If there was a way to "opt out" then I would continue to use my library.

Jun 26, 2024 12:03 PM in response to Richard.Taylor

I guess I'm old school, I just want to simply import my photos onto my hard drive without curating then be able to sort them into categories (such as albums) myself. I want to be able to maintain my library (add / delete photos) without having to curate again. I want to view my stored photos anytime & retrieve them for export whenever I choose. Also, I want to backup outside of my library so that if I want to transfer to a different program or convert to new/upgraded operating system, they are not limited to existing/old library format.

Jun 26, 2024 12:28 PM in response to Richard.Taylor

Ok, YerMan & Richard,

Looking @ AppStore now, Apollo does appear to be free download, however, is this just a trial period then a charge afterwards? Or an ongoing subscription fee? Or an upgrade to continue with certain features?

Also, noticed Phiewer - how does it compare to Apollo? There is a free version (lite) & a PRO version (just $5) - one time charge? Or again an upgrade to continue with certain features?

Let me know your thoughts?

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3rd party photo management software for MAC desktop

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