How to import Photos album to iMovie.

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Level 1

11 points

How to import Photos album to iMovie.

I used to be able to import a Photos album to iMovie. I would edit my pictures, put them in order in an album, and then imported them into iMovie. It worked great! It kept the order too. Something changed with when they upgraded to Photos and the new iMovie. Now that easy process seems to be broken. Mac is known for it just works. What happened and is there a work around? So far it looks like it have to export to the desktop and import, losing all the work ordering the pictures in photos app. 😟 (I already tried it to see how it works) I make the graduation slideshow for the seniors commencement for our school. Moving pictures is not as easy in iMovie, making sure you can see the images and keep pictures of student spread so one student does not appear too many time close together is easy in Photos. Will this be changed?

Posted on Apr 25, 2016 8:16 AM

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Answer 1

Phamtom Author

Level 1

11 points

Apr 25, 2016 12:07 PM in response to Phamtom

Correction: The first sentence should be - I used to be able to import an iPhoto album to iMovie. I don't think I've been able to import from Photos app.

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Answer 2

Apr 25, 2016 3:16 PM in response to Phamtom

In the library window on the left in iMovie select Photos Library. Then above the media window in a popup menu you can select my Albums and it will show you the albums you have in Photos. Then double click on the album you want and you will see your photos in the order you placed them in the album in Photos.

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Answer 3

Phamtom Author

Level 1

11 points

Apr 26, 2016 6:30 AM in response to Jim Wanamaker

I have the Library left side window, but there isn't a Photos Library there. See image. I am using the latest version of iMovie on El Capitan. How did you get Photos Library there? I would love to have it.

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Answer 4

Apr 27, 2016 7:45 AM in response to Phamtom

Open the Photos app before you open iMovie. Usually you can just open and close it then go to iMovie. Interestingly sometimes it works without this trick but not always.

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Answer 5

Apr 26, 2016 2:23 PM in response to Jim Wanamaker

I'm in the same boat as Phamtom. I do not have Photos library in the iMovies menu. I tried starting Photos before opening iMovie and that din't work either. How do I get pictures from Photos to iMovie?

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Answer 6

Apr 27, 2016 7:45 AM in response to davidfromcasper

Check in Photos preferences and make sure your library is the system library. If it is then "Use as System Photo Library' will be grayed out.

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Answer 7

Apr 26, 2016 3:58 PM in response to Jim Wanamaker

Thank you Jim!!! That worked and was exactly what I was looking for!🙂

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Answer 8

Apr 26, 2016 6:09 PM in response to davidfromcasper

Great I'm glad it worked/

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Answer 9

Phamtom Author

Level 1

11 points

Apr 27, 2016 6:27 AM in response to Jim Wanamaker

It worked. Thank you. 🙂 Photos Library shows when it is a system library and by starting Photos first.

Wish I could get the Photos albums now. That would be the icing on the cake.

Thank you.

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Answer 10

Apr 27, 2016 3:30 PM in response to Phamtom

Not sure what you mean by Get Photos Albums. When you select the Photos Library there is a pop up menu above the media window that allows you to select albums, my albums, faces etc.

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