You can still iPhoto (you may have to manually update versions from the Apple website because your Mac is 3 OS X generations behind to OS X 10.10 Yosemite) to get to the Yosemite compatible version of iPhoto.
Do a search on the Apple website. Use the search terms
iPhoto downloads
If you want to explore the new Photos app, I am just suggesting you manually make another copy of your iPhoto library folder for the new Photos app to use, so you are not stuck using it if you feel you may not like.
I have years of images saved and organised in iPhoto based on how iPhoto works.
The Photos app destroys a good chunk of the organisation.
There are other issues with the Photos app that I , also, do not like nor appreciate about it.
I think that Photos as an Apple Photo app has been really "dumbed down" from the way iPhoto has worked for years and years.
Also, Apple ended support for Aperture, which I also use, and there is no longer any integration with Aperture with the new Photos App and, as usual. Apple has not designed an alternative for Aperture.
Once again, leaving pro and semi-pro users out in the cold.
Here is a complete description of the recent Apple Photos app for OS X Sierra.
http://www.apple.com/macos/photos/
See what you think of it. Everyone is different. I don't like it. You may!
While cloning will make a copy of everything, it is only one copy.
Make another backup copy of the iPhoto library folder, you'll end up with two copies and put in elsewhere.
If you find you like the new Photos app in Yosemite, you can delete the copy later on.
I only mention my own circumstances and decisions for example.
I'm sticking with older OS X versions for other reasons of my own, as well as, for software compatibility as I am no longer a full-time professional an can no longer afford to upgrade/update my critical software, any longer.
SuperDuper will work fine for creating a bootable backup of your entire system.
Good Luck!