Q: how long should the update and subsequent uploading take (to start)?

I am trying to upload my photos to photo (icloud) from my old macbook pro (2010) and it has been over 24 hours since i started and it is still showing 'updating...'?

How long should this take? I have tried the usual - restart photo; restart mac; turn off and on icloud upload.

the file is about 9000 iphone photos and 100 short videos.

Thanks for any help.

J