How do I move iPhoto pics to external HD to free up hard drive space, then how to back up external HD

I currently have 2 iPhoto Libraries on my 2010 MacBook Pro. Photo count is in tens of thousands, and hard drive needs them to go away so it can work faster. Nervous about moving photos to external HD. I currently back up entire computer to 1 external HD via Time Machine. Just purchased another bigger external HD for purpose of moving iPhoto libraries to it.
However, Genius Bar told me to drag and drop folders to folders I create on new HD and NOT move iPhoto Library file itself because those were only "copies" of the images. If I want to keep the real images, I should move folder by folder and group by year.
I'm just totally confused. I still want to be able to use iPhoto to organize and edit my photos. I THINK I can do that by moving the entire iPhoto library folder from my Pictures folder to the external and then launching iPhoto by holding down Option key. But, how do I back up the back up?

However, Genius Bar told me to drag and drop folders to folders I create on new HD and NOT move iPhoto Library file itself because those were only "copies" of the images. If I want to keep the real images, I should move folder by folder and group by year.
Genius bar is not very genius in this case.
Make sure the drive is formatted Mac OS Extended (Journaled)
1. Quit iPhoto
2. Copy the iPhoto Library from your Pictures Folder to the External Disk.
3. Hold down the option (or alt) key while launching iPhoto. From the resulting menu select 'Choose Library' and navigate to the new location. From that point on this will be the default location of your library.
4. Test the library and when you're sure all is well, trash the one on your internal HD to free up space.
Backing Up.
Remember a back up is a copy on another disk (at least). So, you'll need one disk to hold your Library and another to back that up to. You can use Time Machine if you want to. Chronosync or SuperDuper are also excellent alternatives.
Regards
TD

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*1. Permissions in the Library* : Back Up and try rebuild the library: hold down the command and option (or alt) keys while launching iPhoto. Use the resulting dialogue to rebuild. Include the option to check and repair permissions.
*2. Minor Database corruption*: Back Up and try rebuild the library: hold down the command and option (or alt) keys while launching iPhoto. Use the resulting dialogue to rebuild.
*3. A Damaged Photo*: Select one of the affected photos in the iPhoto Window and right click on it. From the resulting menu select 'Show File (or 'Show Original File' if that's available). Will the file open in Preview? If not then the file is damaged. Time to restore from your back up.
*4. A corrupted iPhoto Cache*: Trash the com.apple.iPhoto folder from HD/Users/Your Name/Library/ Caches...
*5. A corrupted preference file*: Trash the com.apple.iPhoto.plist file from the HD/Users/ Your Name / library / preferences folder. (Remember you'll need to reset your User options afterwards. These include minor settings like the window colour and so on. Note: If you've moved your library you'll need to point iPhoto at it again.)
If none of these help:
As a Test:
Hold down the option (or alt) key key and launch iPhoto. From the resulting menu select 'Create Library'
Import a few pics into this new, blank library. Is the Problem repeated there?
Regards
TD

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Using iPhoto Library Manager to Rebuild Your iPhoto Library
1 - download iPhoto Library Manager and launch.>Click on the Add Library button,
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Note 2: Your current library will be left untouched for further attempts at a fix if so desired.
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5 - empty the iPhoto Trash bin via the iPhoto ➙ Empty iPhoto Trash Bin menu option.
6 - empty the Trash bin in the Dock to remove the files from your hard drive completely.
Be sure to read Note 1 above. You can use the new library without your books, slideshow, etc. and it will not contain those errant files. Of course delete the original library if the new one is satisfactory.

How do I move iPhoto pics to external HD to free up hard drive space, then how to back up external HD

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