iPhoto/Photos metadata transfer

Question

Level 1

5 points

iPhoto/Photos metadata transfer

I need to move pictures from iPhoto on an old computer to Photos on a new computer. My plan is to:

1) export the events from iPhoto onto a hard drive

2) import the files into Photos on the new computer

Will metadata be retained throughout this two-step process, particularly dates and locations? I want to be sure I'll be able to sort the pictures properly by date.

And will the pictures still be organized/grouped together as they are currently arranged, i.e. by "event", or will that be lost?

If there's a better way to do this I'm open to suggestions. I've read about using iCloud to move/manage photos, but I've got wwaaayyyy too many photos for that.

Thanks!

Posted on Jan 6, 2018 6:14 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

léonie

Level 10

200,897 points

Jan 8, 2018 3:13 AM in response to jbjones83

I would copy the iPhoto Library to the new computer and open it in Photos for Mac. This will give you a second Photos Library an you can switch between libraries.

The only good, lossless way to merge the libraries is with iCloud Photo Library. See: Notes on Merging Photos Libraries | Apple Support Communities

Consider to upgrade your paid iCloud storage just for one month to be able to merge your libraries.

Exporting and reimposing has the severe draw-back, that you cannot keep the originals and edited versions paired. You will have to export the originals and the edited versions, and then you will have all photos twice in your library. Or sacrifice either the originals or the edited versions.

In Photos you can export the originals with an XMP sidecar file containing the metadata. When you import them again with the sidecar file present in the same folder, the metadata will be restored.

Reply

Answer 2

LarryHN

Level 10

106,142 points

Jan 7, 2018 9:10 AM in response to jbjones83

Exporting includes the option of including metadata - if you export the metadata then when you import it will be there

and of course events will not be maintained as there is no metadata to identify events and Photos does not have events - in Photos you can export using the subfolder format event name to created finders folders for each event then you can organize then in Photos into albums marching the iPhoto events - adn there is a user script to import folders of photos as an album you could use - : Import Folders of Image Files into Library as Albums

LN

Reply