Moving and Merging iPhoto Libraries From 2008 Macs to 2013 MacBook Pro

I have a late 2008 MacBook and an early 2008 iMac. Both are running Lion and iPhoto '08. I will be getting a new MacBook Pro Retina very shortly to replace my MacBook. I would like to move the iMac's iPhoto library to the new MacBook Pro and merge it with the MacBook's iPhoto library once that library is also on the MacBook Pro. I obviously need to get all iPhoto libraries up to date prior to doing this. I think I have a plan to achieve this, as follows, but I would appreciate your help:
1) Upgrade iMac to Mavericks (App store said that I need to do this prior to upgrading to iPhoto 9.5)
2) Upgrade iMac's iPhoto to 9.5
3) Use set-up assistant to migrate old MacBook to new MacBook Pro. This should upgrade the old MacBook's iPhoto library to the current iPhoto version on the MacBook Pro???
4) Move the iMac's iPhoto library to the MacBook Pro (6,604 photos, approximately 27 gb)
5) Merge the two iPhoto libraries using iPhoto Library Manager or Aperture (I have not decided which one yet)
Is this a plan that will work?
MacBook just has Ethernet and USB. iMac has USB, Ethernet and FireWire. MacBook Pro has Thunderbolt and USB.
I already need to buy a Thunderbolt-to-Ethernet adapter to transfer between the MacBook and the MacBook Pro. I'd rather not have too buy another adapter just to transfer the iPhoto library from the iMac to the MacBook Pro.
Is there a way to do 4) on my wifi network using file sharing or some other method I may not be aware of just to transfer the 27 gb iPhoto library?
Thank you.

More simple.
Wait until you get the new machine. Copy the two libraries to the new machine. Open them, this will upgrade them to the same version. Then merge them.
Obviously, don't move them to the same folder, or rename one, so they don't overwrite each other.
To move an iPhoto Library to a new machine:
Link the two Macs together: there are several ways to do this: Wireless Network,Firewire Target Disk Mode, Ethernet, or even just copy the Library to an external HD and then on to the new machine...
But however you do choose to link the two machines...
Simply copy the iPhoto Library from the Pictures Folder on the old Machine to the Pictures Folder on the new Machine.
Then launch iPhoto. That's it.
This moves photos, events, albums, books, keywords, slideshows and everything else.
I would strongly caution you that Migration Assistant is not very reliable with iPhoto Libraries.

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Merging iPhoto Libraries from two Macs

Does anyone have a way of physically combining (not just sharing) iPhoto libraries from two macs? I'm hoping there's an easier, smarter way of doing it than just exporting all of the photos from one and importing them into the other and then just doing the reverse. Is there software that does this smarter? Can get rid of duplicates, etc.?

Merge?
Do you mean 'sync' libraries
The general term means when two Libraries (A and B) are compared and files in Library A are copied to Library B, while files in Library B are also copied to Library A so that both Libraries are identical.
This is bi-directional copying and you cannot do this with automatically with iPhoto. No Syncing software is capable of parsing the iPhoto Library in this manner. One or both of your Libraries will be damaged if you try this.
The nearest you can get to syncing is to use iPhoto Library Manager to move files/Albums/Events plus assoicated metadata between Libraries. This process cannot be automated.
The Export/Import route will not get your versions.
Regards
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silly question but how do you merge iphoto libraries from three macs in the one home to one machine only?

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Now ... next thing I want to do is merge this Library / import into the one I have on my 2.53 mini (1000 or so images)
iPhoto cannot merge libraries.
You can just switch between the libraries and view them in turn.
If you try to import one library into the other you will create a mess of duplicates - thumbnails, previews, etc. You should be glad, that iPhoto did not let you do this. It would have wrecked your iPhoto library.
To merge iPhoto libraries you can use the full, paid version of iPhoto Library Manager: Fat Cat Software – iPhoto Library Manager
It s a very useful addition to iPhoto and has rescued many libraries.
The other option is to export the photos from library 1 and import the exported photos into library 2.
I select one of the iPhoto Library and then iPhoto says needs to repair but not enough disk space ...
If you are short of storage do all merging and preparing your libraries on the external drive. It is risky to update or work with iPhoto libraries, if you are in danger of running out of storage and having iPhoto crash. That may corrupt your iPhoto library beyond repair.
If you want to use an external drive, if only temporary, make sure the drive has the correct file system. The drive needs to be formatted MacOS Extended (Journaled). See: iPhoto: Issues with FAT32-formatted drives
Format external drives to Mac OS Extended before using with Aperture
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It is a large step from Snow to Yosemite. I loved SnowLeopard to. It is well designed and stable, but yosemite has many things to offer.
To see what changed between versions:
OSX Tips Some Changes in Lion
OSX Tips Mountain Lion Changes

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M

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OT

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Hey there-
In pickle here and could use some help.
1) My old MBP was running out of HD space so I put my iPhoto library on to an external hard drive.
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Can I blend together two iPhoto libraries? I have a library on another MAC and would love to move it to my laptop merging with the existing iPhoto. How I can do that? I just afraid to overwrite the original library.

marinamcdonagh\
Welcome to the Apple user to user assistance forums
Can I blend together two iPhoto libraries? I have a library on another MAC and would love to move it to my laptop merging with the existing iPhoto. How I can do that? I just afraid to overwrite the original library.
You need iPhoto Library Manager - http://www.fatcatsoftware.com/iplm/ - to merge iPhoto libraries
I recommend merging both libraries into a new library so if some problem occurs you do not mess up either original library - this of course requires adequate disk space for all three libraries
LN

Moving and Merging iPhoto Libraries From 2008 Macs to 2013 MacBook Pro

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