This is related to a question to the community in March of 2022. Has the fact that in 2022 you couldn't do it, changed? Can this now be done - Move a photo from the Photos Library to an album, NOT JUST COPY IT, but move it out of the Library into an album?
Mac mini, Sonoma 14.6.1
'
Mac mini, macOS 14.6
It is still the same. Albums do not store the photos. The albums are just an index with links to the photos in your library. The only place, where all your photos are residing is the Library. The photos in the albums are no duplicates, just links.
When you delete a photo from the library, it will vanish from all albums as well. This is the same for Photos on a Mac as on an iPad or iPhone.
As work-around: If you are using iCloud Photos and do not need the Shared iCloud Photos Library for sharing, you could use the Shared iCloud Photos Library to separate your organized photos in the albums from the other items, that still need organizing.
Move the photos in the albums to the Shared Library and you will no lobnger see them when you switch to the personal library, see this user tip: Using the Shared iCloud Photos Library to have two separate libraries on all devices - Apple Community
Things to consider when setting up the Shared iCloud Photos Library in Photo 8 on Ventura
On Sonoma there is one very nice improvement to help us to organize the albums: when you ctrl-click a photo to see the contextual menu, you can see, if a photo is already in an album. If it is in an album, the command "Show in album" will be available and show a list of all albums, the photo has been added to.
It is still the same. Albums do not store the photos. The albums are just an index with links to the photos in your library. The only place, where all your photos are residing is the Library. The photos in the albums are no duplicates, just links.
When you delete a photo from the library, it will vanish from all albums as well. This is the same for Photos on a Mac as on an iPad or iPhone.
As work-around: If you are using iCloud Photos and do not need the Shared iCloud Photos Library for sharing, you could use the Shared iCloud Photos Library to separate your organized photos in the albums from the other items, that still need organizing.
Move the photos in the albums to the Shared Library and you will no lobnger see them when you switch to the personal library, see this user tip: Using the Shared iCloud Photos Library to have two separate libraries on all devices - Apple Community
Things to consider when setting up the Shared iCloud Photos Library in Photo 8 on Ventura
On Sonoma there is one very nice improvement to help us to organize the albums: when you ctrl-click a photo to see the contextual menu, you can see, if a photo is already in an album. If it is in an album, the command "Show in album" will be available and show a list of all albums, the photo has been added to.
How to move a photo from the Library to an album without having to delete it.
