How do I turn off the autoimport feauture on my mac?

Launch iPhoto.

iPhoto > Preferences > General > Connecting camera opens:

Click inside the box and select "No application".

Best.

do you mean iphoto or image capture? if image capture, look at the arrow icon in the lower left hand corner (the next time it pops up) and select something like no application or do nothing, i forgot exactly what it reads