iPhoto does not sync to devices unless I close and then reopen.

I recently have experienced a syncing issue running iPhoto 9.5.1. If I drag a photo to an album and then try to sync to my device it will not sync and include the new photo in the album unless I close iPhoto and then reopen it. It does not recognize that the new photo is in the album until after I close and reopen. Is this normal? One person at the local Genius Bar said he had never seen this issue. Another said that I had to always close and then reopen iPhoto. I do not remember it being this way ever! Am I losing my mind?