IPhoto Library not backed up by Time Machine

I recently reformatted my hard drive and restored everything from my Time Machine Backup. Everything came back except for my iPhoto Library. I have searched and searched through my Time Machine backups (which go back about 6 Months) and there is no iPhoto library at all. What did I do to exclude iPhoto from being backed up by Time Machine? What can I do to prevent this from happening again?

Welcome to the Apple Discussions. I don't know what might have unadvertantly excluded the iPhoto Library from the backup but you might try the following:
1 - open the TM preference pane
2 - in the Options section add the Pictures folder to be excluded.
3 - close the TM preference pane.
4 - open the TM pref pane and take the Pictures folder out of the excluded status.
5 - start a TM backup and check to see if the library is included when it's done.
TIP: For insurance against the iPhoto database corruption that many users have experienced I recommend making a backup copy of the Library6.iPhoto (iPhoto.Library for iPhoto 5 and earlier) database file and keep it current. If problems crop up where iPhoto suddenly can't see any photos or thinks there are no photos in the library, replacing the working Library6.iPhoto file with the backup will often get the library back. By keeping it current I mean backup after each import and/or any serious editing or work on books, slideshows, calendars, cards, etc. That insures that if a problem pops up and you do need to replace the database file, you'll retain all those efforts. It doesn't take long to make the backup and it's good insurance.
I've created an Automator workflow application (requires Tiger or later), iPhoto dB File Backup, that will copy the selected Library6.iPhoto file from your iPhoto Library folder to the Pictures folder, replacing any previous version of it. It's compatible with iPhoto 6 and 7 libraries and Tiger and Leopard. Just put the application in the Dock and click on it whenever you want to backup the dB file. iPhoto does not have to be closed to run the application, just idle. You can download it at Toad's Cellar. Be sure to read the Read Me pdf file.
Note: There's now an Automator backup application for iPhoto 5 that will work with Tiger or Leopard.

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