iPhoto '11 - Photo Home Sharing (a la iTunes Home Sharing)

It exists since iPhoto 4 or 5. It's called Sharing:

For iPhoto 09 (version 8.0.2) and later:

What you mean by 'share'.

If you want the other user to be able to see the pics, but not add to, change or alter your library, then enable Sharing in your iPhoto (Preferences -> Sharing), leave iPhoto running and use Fast User Switching to open the other account. In that account, enable 'Look For Shared Libraries'. Your Library will appear in the other source pane.

Any user can drag a pic from the Shared Library to their own in the iPhoto Window. Once there they can do anything they want with them - edit, share, upload print etc

Remember iPhoto must be running in both accounts for this to work.

If you want the other user to have the same access to the library as you: to be able to add, edit, organise, keyword etc.

Quit iPhoto in both accounts. Move the Library to the Users / Shared Folder

(You can also use an external HD set to ignore permissions, a Disk Image or even partition your Hard Disk.)

In each account in turn: Double click on the Library to open it. (You may be asked to repair the Library Permissions.) From that point on, this will be the default library location. Both accounts will have full access to the library, in fact, both accounts will 'own' it.

However, there is a catch with this system and it is a significant one. iPhoto is not a multi-user app., it does not have the code to negotiate two users simultaneously writing to the database, and trying will cause db corruption. So only one user at a time, and back up, back up back up.

Regards

TD

Many, many times and successfully every time.

Regards

TD

You can also create an "iPhoto user" and put the library there. You can then use sharing to have access for email, etc.

So, on a related note, is it possible at all to share a library, across multiple machines? I have a server that holds my iPhoto library, has a large external HD, etc.

But it's a bit of a pain to always have to go and sit down at it, to do photo management. It would be great to just be able to sit down with my MacBookPro anywhere in my house, and not only SEE the library, but interact with it, rename photos, add keywords, etc.

Is there any way at all to do this?

is it possible at all to share a library, across multiple machines? I have a server that holds my iPhoto library, has a large external HD, etc.

Yes, in the same way. Mount your server and Hold down the option (or alt) key key and launch iPhoto. From the resulting menu select 'Choose Library'

Some notes: iPhoto needs to have the Library sitting on disk formatted Mac OS Extended (Journaled). Users with the Library sitting on disks otherwise formatted regularly report issues including, but not limited to, importing, saving edits and sharing the photos.

Remember that the server must be mounted when you launch iPhoto or otherwise it will open a new Library on your machine and cause some confusion.

It would be great to just be able to sit down with my MacBookPro anywhere in my house, and not only SEE the library, but interact with it, rename photos, add keywords, etc.

How are connected to the server? A strong warning: If you're trying to edit the Library (that is, make albums, move photos around, keyword, make books or slideshows etc.) or edit individual photos in it via Wireless be very careful. Dropouts are a common fact of wireless networking, and should one occur while the app is writing to the database then your Library will be damaged. Simply, I would not do this with my Libraries.

Regards

TD

Yeah, I was hoping for some more robust sharing than just hoping the wifi doesn't go down. A true 'protocol' if you would.

Plus, again, seems some issues could happen with the multi-user situation. I'm using my macbook, but my wife heads over to the server to check something, and boom.

Sounds like I'd be better off unplugging the drive and plugging into MBP, which I've done before, but that's it's own version of pain.

sigh

Unfortunately it appears the iPhoto 11 broke the ability to share photos on the same machine. When one account has iPhoto open the other account will just spin when iPhoto is launched. Only when the first iPhoto is closed will the other account open. After finally upgrading to an Intel mac (and iPhoto 11 in the processes), talk about a letdown. I don't know what else to do other than look at some other software solutions as all other hacks to share photos seem to be filled with warning about corrupting your photo library.

Indeed, this is a known bug with iPhoto 11. iPhoto menu -> Provide iPhoto Feedback and report it. The more folks the do the better the chance of a timely resolution.

Regards

TD