Where does iPhoto store your photos?

Question

Where does iPhoto store your photos?

Hi,

I have just come from Windows (bought my first ever Mac) so slightly overwhelmed at the moment.

I have managed to manually move my iTunes (& all my music files) from my PC to my MBP.

I am cautious as to how I transfer my photo collection from Windows.

I have copied my 'My Pictures' folder onto an external hard drive. It is all nicely organised with individual folders (representing albums). It's important to point out that these folders also contain video files etc to go along with that photo album.

How do I get all of these photos organised into albums on iPhoto, and also the videos into 'Movies' in finder (in organised album folders)?

Also, where does iPhoto actually store the photos? Does it keep an individual physical copy of each photo so (if in future) I needed to copy them to an external hard-drive and onto a PC I would be able to?

Very confused so would appreciate any clarification!

Thanks,

Jamie

MacBook Pro (13-inch Mid 2012), iOS 6.1.4, 2.9ghz i7 8GB 750GB

Posted on Aug 24, 2013 12:02 PM

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Answer 1

Kappy

Level 10

361,995 points

Aug 24, 2013 12:09 PM in response to Jamie.long951

iPhoto uses its own data file, iPhoto Library, located in the /Home/Pictures/ folder on the Mac. It does keep its own copy of each item internally within the data file. I would preserve your own separate copy of your collection in the Pictures folder. And, be sure to backup the computer so all your photos are on the backup drive.

As for how to use iPhoto you can begin here: Apple - iPhoto - New full-screen views, emailing photos, and more.

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Answer 2

nbar

Level 5

7,037 points

Aug 24, 2013 12:11 PM in response to Jamie.long951

You will need to import the media into iPhoto. From iPhoto, File > Import to Library...

iPhoto stores the photos in its own location (iPhoto Library). By default, it's located in Users/youruseraccount/Pictures/iPhoto Library. It copies all imported photos into this library, and keeps a copy of both the original media and the modified media if you edit it. If you need to copy the photos back onto an external drive, it is best to export the photos from iPhoto. You can keep your iPhoto library on an external drive, but the drive must be formatted as HFS+, GUID partition table, which is not universally compatible and would not suit your purposes.

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Answer 3

Aug 24, 2013 3:53 PM in response to nbar

Thanks for the info, very informative!

If I understood you... you can export your entire iPhoto library to an external Hard Drive? I could only see import option...

I guess I'm thinking of future computers and how I would go about transferring my growing photo collection to a new computer (with windows it was easy - just copy the 'my pictures' folder).

You said your drive has to be specially formatted - is that for if you want to export your photos to that drive? Or do you mean if you wanted the iPhoto library to be located primarily on the hard drive?

To the first poster - the idea of keeping 2 copies of all my photos (one on iPhoto, one in Pictures) doesn't seem ideal, for size issues.

Thanks again 🙂

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Answer 4

Kappy

Level 10

361,995 points

Aug 24, 2013 3:56 PM in response to Jamie.long951

But having multiple copies should appeal. It makes little difference where. You do whatever you want. It's your data to lose.

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Answer 5

Aug 24, 2013 4:01 PM in response to Kappy

It does - I always keep a backup of my music & photos on 2 seperate external hard drives I have. I meant about keeping 2 copies on the mac, twice the space used up. Thanks for the help 🙂

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Answer 6

nbar

Level 5

7,037 points

Aug 24, 2013 4:05 PM in response to Jamie.long951

If I understood you... you can export your entire iPhoto library to an external Hard Drive? I could only see import option...

You're welcome. Yes, that is correct. In iPhoto, File > Export... > Select external drive.

You said your drive has to be specially formatted - is that for if you want to export your photos to that drive? Or do you mean if you wanted the iPhoto library to be located primarily on the hard drive?

I meant the latter > specifically, your external drive would need to be formatted in this manner if you wanted your primary iPhoto library to reside on an external drive and function correctly. This format is the format of your MBP's internal drive.

Format the drive as FAT32 using disk utility to make the drive universally compatible between OSX/windows. Place the JPEG images on the drive. Transfer between machines with no problem.

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