Photos: will it recognize iPhotos 8 library

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Photos: will it recognize iPhotos 8 library

I am currently running OS X 10.9.5 and was looking to finally upgrade to Yosemite. I have mostly migrated to Lightroom but have some older photos in iPhoto 8. However, I can't import them to Lightroom because the import app will not recognize the older iPhoto library.

I doubt I will need to do any heavy editing on these photos, so I would be fine if they went in the new Photos app. However, if I upgrade to Yosemite, will Photos recognize that older library? I am unsure whether iPhotos 8 will continue to run on that OS, and I don't want to lose the first 7 years of pictures of my child.

Do I need to do a manual workaround and export all my iPhoto photos and import them into LR?

iPhoto '08, OS X Mavericks (10.9.5)

Posted on Jul 12, 2015 11:43 AM

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Answer 1

léonie

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Jul 12, 2015 11:49 AM in response to PStu

iPhoto 8

Do you mean iPhoto '08, version 7.x.x or iPhoto '09, version 8.x.x?

If the version os older than iPhoto version 7.x.x., run iphoto Library upgrader, then Photos will be able to open the library.

See this link: iPhoto '11: About the Library Upgrader

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Answer 2

PStu Author

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Jul 12, 2015 11:59 AM in response to léonie

Oops. I thought I had iPhoto '08, but I have iPhoto '09, version 8.1.2.

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Answer 3

léonie

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194,755 points

Jul 12, 2015 12:03 PM in response to PStu

Then Photos should be able to migrate the library without problems Apple's version naming is a challenge.

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Answer 4

PStu Author

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Jul 12, 2015 12:02 PM in response to PStu

BTW, Lightroom keeps telling me it needs to see version 9.5.1 or higher to import the iPhoto library.

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Answer 5

léonie

Level 10

194,755 points

Jul 12, 2015 12:08 PM in response to PStu

BTW, Lightroom keeps telling me it needs to see version 9.5.1 or higher to import the iPhoto library.

That is a problem.

To upgrade to iPhoto'11, version 9.5.1 or later from iPhoto '09 requires a purchase from the App Store, because it is a major upgrade and not a free update. And Apple stopped selling iPhoto. Even if you buy iPhoto '11 from Amazon or eBay, you will not be able to update it to version 9.5.1,, because this update is not available from the downloads page.

You will have to sweet-talk the App Store Support into selling you a redeem code for iPhoto '11, and I do not know if it is possible.

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Answer 6

PStu Author

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Jul 12, 2015 12:28 PM in response to léonie

Like I said, I will probably just go with Photos for the older catalog, since that was before I got into serious photography.

Thanks for all your help.

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