Transfer photos from Iphone to mac to usb

that will not work since if the photo is not in Photos then it is considered new

I see no reason to use Photos at all - Use Image capture in your applications folder to import new photos form the phone directly to the USB - you will have to look at the photos on the USB to see the dates and then import the later ones using image capture

LN

StellaPenniman wrote:

For Mac user, you can use iPhoto to do that. It's easy to operate. Connect your iPhone to your computer. iPhoto should automatically open its import window and show your device's images and videos. If iPhoto doesn't open, you might need to turn the option on. Click Import All. Or if you want to import specific items, select those images and videos, then click Import Selected. After your photos import, a dialog will ask you if you want to delete the original photos from your Camera Roll. Choose Keep Photos to transfer photos from iPhone to Mac. If you delete photos after you import them, you can reduce the size of your Camera Roll and improve backup and restore times.

That is a good way to operate with either iphoto or Photos - same exact workflow

BUT

It has no bearing on the question

Also it doesn't matter which is on the EHD I just want to import new photos each time I back up my phone rather than saving the pictures on my macbook

The answer to that is as posted

Use Image capture in your applications folder to import new photos from the phone directly to the USB - you will have to look at the photos on the USB to see the dates and then import the later ones using image capture

LN

You can try following ways:

1.Use cloud drive like Dropbox, One Drive. Upload your photos from iPhone to cloud and download on your Mac.

2.Use iTunes to transfer photos from iPhone to Mac. Open iTunes > Connect your iPhone > Select your phone's icon in the Devices list on the left. Click the Photos tab. If you want to sync all your photos, enable the option for "All photos, albums, events, and faces."

Import photos and videos from your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to your computer - Apple Support

For Mac user, you can use iPhoto to do that. It's easy to operate. Connect your iPhone to your computer. iPhoto should automatically open its import window and show your device's images and videos. If iPhoto doesn't open, you might need to turn the option on. Click Import All. Or if you want to import specific items, select those images and videos, then click Import Selected. After your photos import, a dialog will ask you if you want to delete the original photos from your Camera Roll. Choose Keep Photos to transfer photos from iPhone to Mac. If you delete photos after you import them, you can reduce the size of your Camera Roll and improve backup and restore times.

For a Mac user, you can transfer photos on iPhone 6 to Macbook Air using iPhoto.

1. Connect the device to your computer. iPhoto should automatically open its import window and show your device's images and videos.

If iPhoto doesn't open, you might need to turn the option on.

2. Click Import All. Or if you want to import specific items, select those images and videos, then click Import Selected. After your photos import, a dialog will ask you if you want to delete the original photos from your Camera Roll.

3. Choose Delete Photos or Keep Photos.

If you delete photos after you import them, you can reduce the size of your Camera Roll and improve backup and restore times.

If you want to import the photos to additional computers, keep your photos.

Does this involve Photos for Mac?

If so how are you transferring the photos to Photos? iCoud Photo Library? MyPhotoStream? Shared PhotoStream? USB connection and import? iTune sync?

and how are you getting the photos from Photos to the External hard Drive?

On the EHD do just want the photos or do yu want your Photos library?

LN

A backup is only usable for doing a full restore to the phone. It doesn't result in viewable photos on the computer.

You can transfer photos to a computer in a number of ways:

via USB cable: Import photos and videos from your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to your Mac or Windows PC - Apple Support

via 3rd party apps such as: http://www.photosync-app.com

via Photo Stream: My Photo Stream FAQ - Apple Support

via iCloud Photo Library which will result in a copy of all photos being on iCloud, on your Mac in the Photos app if you turn it on, and on your phone. You can turn on Optimize Storage to reduce the storage space required on the phone: iCloud Photo Library FAQ - Apple Support

That's a little complicated. Why not use the Airdrop or iCloud to transfer the photos from iPhone to Mac?

About the step 3, I suggest you can use some software like Wondershare or FonePaw iOS Transfer this kind of transfer which are using USB and they won't place the deleted files back to your Mac.

They all have trial version I remember. You can have a try.