Organizing photos from an external drive.

I am currently organizing my iphoto library vers 6.0.6 (322) and want to start on the stuff on my ext drive. Does anyone know a way to put files from the ext drive into albums without actually importing them onto your computer hard drive?

Yes, you can relocate your iPhoto library to an external drive and it will function exactly the same way it does on the boot drive as long as the external is mounted.
It's easy to do. Simply use the Finder to copy the whole iPhoto library folder to the external. Do not open the folder or tamper with its contents. When copied, hold down the Option key while launching iPhoto. In the dialog box, click to choose an existing library, navigate to its new location. iPhoto will now use this as its default location until you tell it otherwise.
P.S. How do you like this snow? Isn't it crazy?

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How do I get photos from backup external drive on to my new hard drive?

How do I get photos from backup external drive on to my new hard drive on my MacBook

How did you use this backup drive? Was this a Time Machine backup, or just an external drive to which you copied files?
I assume your photos were in iPhoto. If you're just talking a bunch of JPEG files you can just drag them wherever you like, otherwise:
iPhoto: How to move the Library folder to a new location - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1229

I'm using LR5.7 on a Mac Mini running Mavericks and when I attempt to import a folder of new RAW photos from my external drive into my catalog instead of seeing a preview of each thumbnail photo I see the following message displayed: "Preview Unavailable

I'm using LR5.7 on a Mac Mini running Mavericks and when I attempt to import a folder of new RAW photos from my external drive into my catalog instead of seeing a preview of each thumbnail photo I see the following message displayed: "Preview Unavailable for this file." If I highlight any other folder of photos the previews are all there. What is the likely reason for these previews being unavailable? JohnnyCam

What camera took these RAW photos?
Did you use any Nikon software to transfer the photos to your computer's hard disk?

How do I move back photos from an external drive (but iPhoto library on Mac hd) to the Mac HD without reimporting all images again in iPhoto?

The following scenario:
Mac HD: iPhoto Libary
External HD: all photos which are shown in iPhoto
now I want to copy back the photos from the external HD to the mac hd and I want iPhoto to know the new location of all these photos (couple of 10 thounsands)
How do I do that without reimporting all images again into iPhoto
Thanks

do you have a default "managed" library (the iPhoto preference to "copy imported items to the iPhoto library is in its checked state) or referenced library (you have unchecked that option)
What version of iPhoto?
Do you have Aperature 3.3?
LN

How do I transfer photos from an external drive, taken from a defunct computer with Snow Leopard, to one operating with Mountain Lion?

My late 2007 MacBook Pro, with a replacement 500 GB drive and updated to Snow Leopard, died. The extracted drive works in an external drive case, so all the files are there. Most of the files were transferred from a time machine backup to a new MacBook Pro with Mountain Lion. However, about a week's worth of files were missing from the Time Machine backup, due to traveling. I would like to copy just those files, mostly pictures, from the original drive to the new system. However, when I try to use iPhoto to get to the image files on the external drive, the system says the iPhoto information must be updated to the new system and, once done, they cannot be accessed with an old one. One concern is that updating the iPhoto information on the external drive might go wrong and make the files inaccessible. If there were some way to just have the underlying image files identified and copied, that would be most comfortable for me. .Any advice?

1 - updating your iPhoto library does not make photos inaccessible - it does update the iPhoto database so that you have to have the current version of iPhoto to open the library - however the photos are in the database and can be accessed via the finder anytime
2 - you do not memtion what version of iPhoto you had - the original photos are in the masters (or original) folder which can be accessed by right clicking on the iPhoto library and showing package contents - Be sure NOT to make any changes to the library)
LN

I can't restore photos from my external drive

I can't get my files (e.g. iphoto library) from my WD external hard drive onto my macbook pro. I wanted to transfer some of the files from my old imac (because I think the hard drive is about to die and I took it in to get it fixed) to my relatively new macbook. I disconnected the external hard drive from the old mac and connected it to the macbook and used the migration assistant. It didn't work. I then tried to import photos, but this didn't work..."preparing to import" never changed over many hours. I did find the individual file location on the external hard drive, but I don't have "permission" to open the folder and it does not give me the option of giving the password. Please help!

To move and iPhoto Library from the external, simply drag it to your disk.
Never try import one Library to another. It's a mess.
Regards
TD

Using photos from a external drive in iphoto

I have 300+ gigs of pictures on an external drive (attached to my Airport Extreme) and I want to use iphoto to edit and sort these pics without moving them to my Macbook.
Is this possible?
Thanks,
Scott

Scott:
Yes it is. You can do it one of two ways:
1 - create a new library on the external HD and import the folders into the library. As you import each folder and confirm that the files are safely copied into iPhoto, you can delete the original folder. Be sure to set up the Events preferences as seen here. This will insure that each folder will be imported as a single event and maintain your folder organization. This is the preferable way. The library would not be available when the external HD is not mounted.
2 - create an alias based library (don't check the checkbox to copy the files on import) on your boot drive, set the Event preferences as before and import the folders from the external HD. This will put alias files in the originals folder of the library instead of copying the actual files. There are caveats to this method. If the HD is not mounted only the thumbnails and edited files will be viewable. You cannot have any movie files in the library as iPhoto insists on verifying their link before you can use the library. Not like the stills. Any photo you delete from the library will not be deleted from the source files on the external HD. That must be done via the Finder. If, while using the library, the HD gets dismounted the library's database file could be damaged and you'd lose all of your organizational effort. That could be averted by following the tip at the end of my signature. (It applies to normal libraries also). You cannot move or rename any of the source files once they've been added into the library. That's a big NO-NO.
Do you Twango?
TIP: For insurance against the iPhoto database corruption that many users have experienced I recommend making a backup copy of the Library6.iPhoto 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 written an Automator workflow application (requires Tiger), 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 08 libraries. You can download it at Toad's Cellar. Be sure to read the Read Me pdf file.

Backup photos from 1 external drive to another

New to Lightroom. Currently backing up total Mac system with Time Machine onto 500GB external drive, but my internal 250GB HDD space is shrinking due to large Lightroom files. Response time getting pretty bad too. I read on forum that I should not use TimeMachine to backup Lightroom photos, so I'll stop doing that.
I only have 2000 photos on Lightroom so far (mostly DNG), but plan to import 17,000 from iPhoto ASAP, and another 10,000 from other files, with another 2000 annually.
I bought two 1TB external drives (firewire 800), planning to move all photos onto one and backup the photos on the other. (still plan to use 500GB external drive as TimeMachine backup for the rest of the iMac data and system). I plan to daisy chain all 3 HDD drives, but what steps in LIghtroom should I take to move and setup the new Lightroom backup scheme? And then, what cyclical procedures should I follow?
I have read lots of helpful Q&As on the forums on specific problems, but what "I the novice" needs, is step by step instructions on how to set this all up in Lightroom.
iMac24 Mac OS X (10.5.7) 2.16 GHz, INtel Core 2 Duo, 2 GB RAM, 250GB internal HDD, Canon 9950 scanner, Canon IP3400 printer

Thanks to both you guys. For performance reasons, I decided to keep catalog and previews on internal drive, and move photos to the external HDD. I installed new external drives, and using LR "new folder" technique John suggested, I created a "2009" folder and subfolder, but when I chose photos to move to new subfolder folder, I get this warning:
"MOVING FILES ON DISK
This will cause corresponding files on disk to be moved. If you proceed, neither this move nor any changes you've made prior to this can be undone."
I have previously modified (using Develop tab functions) many of the photos that I am moving. When I move, will the non-destructive capability be lost? In other words, will I lose the ability to change back to original state of the photos? If so, how can I maintain this ability? I've made changes on hundreds of these 2,000 photos, but worst case, I can go back and recreate the original status of the photos if I have to, but it would be more work, so is there is a way around this?

How to copy referenced photos from dodgy external drive to new drive when whole file will not copy due to error 36.

My external WD portable passport drive must be dodgy because I can't back it up or clone it or copy 3 of my 22 photo files to a new portable drive. I get error 36 as I attempt all 3 processes. I have copied my iPhoto library, iMovie events and most of my aperture referenced photos to the new drive. But cannot copy 3 files that contain the corrupted files showing just a grey triangle. I cannot delete or move to trash the corrupted raw photos.
How can I copy to the new drive any photos that aren't corrupted (grey triangle instead of photo or a photo that's just coloured horizontal broken lines) so I can then reconnect the referenced photos after copying them?
I am on late 2008 MacBook Pro with lion,
Many thanks
Bw

I've worked out how to copy and reconnect individual photos.
But can see that what's happening is that heavily edited raw photos are taking ages to load. Or not loading at all. And if opened go to the spinning wheel for 5-10 minutes. I am wondering whether to compress these or take them back to the originals or any other ideas would be very welcome.
Thank you
BW

In LR3, can I import photos from an external drive without copying them?

When I try to do this, the 'Add' button is greyed out so I'm assuming I can't. The only options are 'Copy as DNG' and 'Copy'.
I want to leave them in their original location. Does anyone know of a way to do this?
Thanks

Yes, you can relocate your iPhoto library to an external drive and it will function exactly the same way it does on the boot drive as long as the external is mounted.
It's easy to do. Simply use the Finder to copy the whole iPhoto library folder to the external. Do not open the folder or tamper with its contents. When copied, hold down the Option key while launching iPhoto. In the dialog box, click to choose an existing library, navigate to its new location. iPhoto will now use this as its default location until you tell it otherwise.
P.S. How do you like this snow? Isn't it crazy?

Importing photos from an external hard drive

Here's the situtation: Copied all photo files from C drive
to an external drive...deleted photo files from C drive...needed to free up space on C drive.
want elements to read the files now on the external drive...we uninstalled elements and reinstalled
elements shows the C drive files with pics as if they are still there but they were deleted...(these files show as gray not as active yellow files)???
only some of the photos from the external drive are there???
and the "generating thumnails" hourglass continues to circle round and round but no new thumbnails appear???

adding to the above comment to try the PSE Organizer Reconnect command--
I suggest that you read the following hints about using the Reconnect function
http://www.johnrellis.com/psedbtool/photoshop-elements-faq.htm#_Quickly_reconnecting_large

Any recommendations for a recovery software for my lost photos on my external drive?

Would like recommendations for a reputable recovery software for my lost photos from my external drive that I used with my MacBook Pro.

General File Recovery
If you stop using the drive it's possible to recover deleted files that have not been overwritten by using recovery software such as Data Rescue II, File Salvage or TechTool Pro. Each of the preceding come on bootable CDs to enable usage without risk of writing more data to the hard drive. Two free alternatives are Disk Drill and TestDisk. Look for them and demos at MacUpdate or CNET Downloads.
The longer the hard drive remains in use and data are written to it, the greater the risk your deleted files will be overwritten.
Also visit The XLab FAQs and read the FAQ on Data Recovery.

Everytime I open my laptop, Lightroom tries to import photos from my hard drive. Does anyone know how to stop this?Is there a default I need to change?

Everytime I open my laptop, Lightroom opens and tries to import photos from my external drive. Is there a default I need to change?
Thanks in advance for any help.

Error -36 is, as X423424X says, a generic I/O error. It doesn't say anything about what caused the error, or indeed where it occurred (source or target).
You have to describe exactly your action when the error occurs. Is the ext'l drive you mentioned formatted as NTFS (Win default file system)? Without additional software, Mac OS X cannot write to NTFS, it can only read from it.

When I imported my photos to iphoto 11 from an external drive they were no longer chronologically organized in folders by year & month. In fact, it changed the dates & years of the files so I can't even manually organize them.

When I imported my photos to iphoto 11 from an external drive they were no longer chronologically organized in folders by year & month. Instead, they all went into one folder within a 2011 folder. In fact, it randomly changed the dates & years of all the files so I can't even manually organize them now.

Are you sure that iPhoto is the app for you?
iPhoto is designed to help you organise your Photos, but you seemed focussed on organising files.
The idea is simple: organise them as you want in the iPhoto Window. As I said above, as you never access the files on the HD then how iPhoto stores them is of no relevance. (It's by date of import BTW).
Where are you seeing these changed dates? In the iPhoto Window ? Somewhere else?
Regards
TD

How can I create an iPhoto Library from photos on an external drive?

Here's my issue:
I have a MacBook Pro running OS X Mavericks, and I am just about out of hard drive space.
I also have about 20 GB worth of photos on an external drive. The photos are not organized at all, just got dumped into a folder there during a hasty backup a couple years ago.
I'd like to use iPhoto to get these photos organized, but don't have the space to import them into the library on my laptop.
How can I create and manage an iPhoto library with these photos while keeping them on the external drive? They are on a terabyte drive, so I have a feeling I'd like to make that my main library moving forward.

Check that the drive's formatted as Mac OS Extended, drag the iPhoto library to it, launch iPhoto with the Option key held down, and choose that library.
(114618)

Organizing photos from an external drive.

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