Where does iPhoto store imported photos?

Assuming that you are *copying* the files and not *moving* them. Again, we are dealing with noobies here!

Once you've retrieved your files, you don't need your iPhoto library any longer and you can trash it.

You're making assumptions there that are not necessarily the case. We see this kind of query from folks who just want to upload or email their photos. For instance, the person you responded to simply wanted to share. S/He makes no mention of not needing iPhoto any longer...

Much as I like iPhoto in terms of functionality, I am worried about committing my photos to be managed by iPhoto in the long term. I feel much more confortable knowing that I can get at my photos via a plain file structure that I can move to and use on pretty much any file system that understands nested folders.

As I said, I just started using iPhoto with photos from our latest vacation. But I have a massive archive of photos that I collected over years. Those I have in a simple file organization (like several mentionned in this thread) - typically folder names reflect albums and events (in iPhoto parlance). I am very reluctant to commit all of those to iPhoto.

I have looked at other photo management systems (e.g Picasa) but they, like iPhoto, are too much of a black box. I have zero trust in Apple (or Google for that matter) to keep iPhoto over future versions, retaining full backwards compatibility and not breaking something that would make my old photos inaccessible. This is why I much prefer relying on my own organisation logic.

Don't get me wrong: I like the way iPhoto lets me organize my photos in events, albums, locations and people (via the face recognition mechanism). From what I understand, iPhoto provides a way that lets me use the best of both worlds, i.e. retain the originals of the photos in my own folder structure, and still record them in its own catalog with all the logical classifications in events, albums, etc.

I will try and explore that approach.

Albert

I understand your reservations but the thing to check for in any of these apps is the ability to export from the App - as that's how you migrate to other options.

iPhoto will allow you to export from the app into a Folder tree matching your Events and Albums set up.

If that's not granular enough then apps like iPhoto2Disk or PhotoShare will help you export to a Folder tree matching your Events.

At heart though, if you're going to enjoy iPhoto (and similar apps, like Picasa, Aperture, Lightroom etc) you have to make a distinction in your head between your Photos and the Files that contain them.

The illustration I use is as follows: In my iTunes Library I have a file called 'Let_it_Be_The_Beatles.mp3'. So what is that, exactly? It's not the song. The Beatles never wrote an mp3. They wrote a tune and lyrics. They recorded it and a copy of that recording is stored in the mp3 file. So the file is just a container for the recording. That container is designed in a specific way attuned to the characteristics and requirements of the data. Hence, mp3.

Similarly, that Jpeg is not your photo, it's a container designed to hold that kind of data. iPhoto is all about the data and not about the container. So, regardless of where you choose to store the file, iPhoto will manage the photo, edit the photo, add metadata to the Photo but never touch the file. If you choose to export - unless you specifically choose to export the original - iPhoto will export the Photo into a new container - a new file containing the photo.

Before you try this

From what I understand, iPhoto provides a way that lets me use the best of both worlds, i.e. retain the originals of the photos in my own folder structure, and still record them in its own catalog with all the logical classifications in events, albums, etc

.

which is called a Referenced Library, you might want to consider somethings:

You can use iPhoto in two modes: Managed (which is the default) and Referenced. The difference is that with the Managed mode iPhoto is responsible for the file management: importing, storing, deleting and so on, are all done via the iPhoto window. When you do this your files are stored in the iPhoto Library in your Pictures Folder.

With a Referenced Library you do the file management. You move the files from the camera, you put them where you want them, you then import them to iPhoto. iPhoto won't copy them into the Library. For deletions you first delete the file from iPhoto, then find it in your fling system and delete it there.

Some people reflexivley want to run a Referenced Library. They want to know where the files are, they want to be able to access them and so on.

Simply, there is no good reason to run a Referenced Library in iPhoto. Here's why.

1. It's more work. With a managed Library importing is a one-step operation, with a Referenced it's several. Ditto with deletions.

2. It bestows no extra capability whatever. No added features. Nothing. Everything you do with your Photos you still do via the iPhoto Window - accessing files, editing, sharing, whatever, you do either with or via iPhoto. This is just dumb storage. Simply, you never access your files via the Finder if you use iPhoto. It replaces the Finder for anything to do with your Photos - think iTunes for music, Contacts for Addresses. It's the go-to app for your photos.

3. It can cause big problems in some circumstances: If your library grows and you want to move it to an external disk, you will have problems. If you have the library on one disk and the photos stored on another you may also have significant problems. Even migrating to a new Mac can cause problems. Why? If the path to the files changes then iPhoto has no tools to repair that. So, your disk fills up and you move your filing system... iPhoto can't find the files. And it tells you. For every file in your Library. All of them. Every one. You rename a disk, you change your account name when you move to a new machine etc., you will have problems.

None of these issues exist with a Managed Library. Moving it to an external, migrating it and so on are simple and painless.

Remember too, that with a Referenced Library there is still no way to access your edited photos except through iPhoto.

The best advice I can give you is to create a Library, import 100 pics and explore. iPhoto is not for everyone, and there is a (small) learning curve involved. Even if you decide to use iPhoto, I would still maintain my current system in parallel for a while, until I was sure that iPhoto was the app for me.

I would also recommend that approach for using any other app too.

Regards

TD

@agodfrin, @Terence Devlin. The basic issue here is that both iPhoto and iTunes, if left to go the Apple way, will clutter the HDD of your computer filling it up to the rim. Though there is an enormous difference here between iPhoto and iTunes.

iTunes does NOT hide your mp3 files in a library package that you have to control-click to access. With iTunes, you can't change where iTunes puts stuff, but you can move the stuff and tell iTunes to find it there. Typically, I keep my mp3 files on an external 4TB (hard to fill up). Even though I don't store my files in the recommended place (the Apple way), iTunes is a rather satisfying READING tool to read my files when I want to without cluttering the HDD of my MacBook Pro.

My jpg files, typically, are stored either on my external 4TB, on memory sticks or on the camera's original memory card. To access my data on these different locations, iPhoto is a very LOUSY reading device as it clutteres my internal HDD in whatever mode I use it.

Remember, the basic issue here is MEMORY. A person I know that does everything the Apple way just bought a new MacBook because her old one was filled up to rim. As one might have expected, after moving all her files, the HDD of the new MacBook was just as full as the one of the old one.

The basic issue here is that both iPhoto and iTunes, if left to go the Apple way, will clutter the HDD of your computer filling it up to the rim

Actually no, the basic issue here is that you have given information with no warning of the possible consequences of using it. That's all. The information is also unnecessary as the File -> Export option makes it moot.

As for your comments about iTunes and iPhoto. You might want to learn a little about both, and certainly about iPhoto. Perhaps iPhoto is "a very LOUSY reading device" because that's not what it is, nor what it is designed to do.

Just as a little hint: you can run a Managed Library from an external disk.

Remember, the basic issue here is MEMORY.

Uh, I thought the basic issue was iPhoto using Disk Space? Surely you're not confusing MEMORY with Hard Drive space. (And I love the occasional use of BLOCK capitals. Pretty cute.)

A person I know that does everything the Apple way just bought a new MacBook because her old one was filled up to rim. As one might have expected, after moving all her files, the HDD of the new MacBook was just as full as the one of the old one.

So, the shocking news is that she had a Mac with what - a full 500 gig drive? Then she bought a new one with a 500 gig drive? And discovered that the data uses the same amount of space? Couldn't she see that coming? Is that really some kind of argument for... well what? Teaching Arithmetic? Could have saved some money and just bought an external disk...

Regards

TD

Bottom line. You have no idea how to use iPhoto and would rather argue than learn. If you like the power and usefulness of a SQL database manager organizating your photos then iPhoto is an excellent choice. If you prefer a much inferior method of manually placing photos in a file structure the do not use iPhoto. You make the choice

BUT your continuing to argue helps no one especially since you just have no comprehension of the concept

And your giving potentially destructive advice is inexcusable

LN

As long as you have backups there are no issues. I have run iPhoto on four computers now (about 10 years of use) and never had an issue that required me to even use the backup.

@Terrence Devlin ~ I'm admittedly a new and very frustrated (dummie) iMac user. I've read through so much of this one question trying to find the same answer as the original poster. I'm not trying to debate what's better Windows vs. iMac....I'm just frustrated trying to learn and figure out how to do things I used to do on my Windows PC which seemed much easier than on my iMac. These forum debates take sooo long to read through for each question I have, that it takes FOREVER to find a simple answer. I do appreciate any and all help I find here though. With that said, could you PLEASE tell me how to make my Finder screen look just like your Finder photo with the addition of a Music icon under Places. And, if I have those icons on the left of Finder, will my photos be in the Pictures folder when I click on it, and will my music be in my music folder when I click on it? If not, how do I get everything in the correct folder (icon) without going through a very long & tedious process of having to move everything into them?? Help from you or anyone else on this Forum on how to do this will be greatly appreciated! 😉

If you want a direct answer to *your* question, start a new topic. That way you don't have to wade through pages and pages of debate.

The answer as repeated many, many, many times in this thread is you can not do what you want with iPhoto because that is not the way it works. You never access your photos via the finder. You use the media browser in every upload/attach/open window under media ==> photos ==> iPhoto or you export to a desktop folder and use the photos from there.

LN