Photo management question

hi
being new to the Mac environment, I thought I'd better ask this question before importing large number of photos.
I'd like to know how iPhotos manages files. During the course of my family history research, I've created an hierarchy of folders and subfolders on my PC, all organized by various criteria. I'd like to re-create this folder structure in iPhoto, and one of the questions I have is: can I organize my files that contain those images (ie JPG files) into folders on my Mac and then point iPhoto to those folders and import them? Does iPhoto physically move those files I have or does it just create its own internal link to them, without moving the files?
I've done a small test importing a few photos in iPhoto and when I navigate the Finder I don't see those photos appearing as files under the Pictures folder, which makes me think that iPhoto only creates its own link to the files.
I'm also trying to figure out how to delete "untitled events" that iPhoto automatically creates, and cateories such as, "Last 12 months" etc.
Sorry for the long winded question, but I'm sure expert users will provide some direction
thanks
nick

I'd like to know how iPhotos manages files.
That is a basic understanding that you need to come to understand - iPhoto is not in any way about managing files - it is all about managing photos - You should only import photos into the iPhoto library (not reference them in other o=lcations) and you never access the actual files - you access the photos using iPhoto or the media browser in every open/attach/upload window - see this user tip for more details
I've created an hierarchy of folders and subfolders on my PC, all organized by various criteria. I'd like to re-create this folder structure in iPhoto,
You can easily reproduce this in iPhoto using albums and folders (albums hold photos - folders hold albums or other folders) - start at the bottom of a treee structure and drag the foder to photos to the album section of the open iPhoto window - this will create an album matching that folder of photos - repeat for the floders at that level and the create a folder in iPhoto (file menu ==> create folder), name it and drag the jsut created albums to it - repeat as needed to complete your structure
can I organize my files that contain those images (ie JPG files) into folders on my Mac and then point iPhoto to those folders and import them?
You can but if yu are talking about referencing your photos it is very strongly not recommended - if youo are talking aobut importing and copying to the iPhtoo library (defaut and strongly recommended) it will take more effort than the automatic album creating noted above
Does iPhoto physically move those files I have or does it just create its own internal link to them, without moving the files?
It never "moves" the file - it can (and by default does) copy the file to the iPhoto library - you can change it to reference the photo but as noted above that is very strongly not recommended
I've done a small test importing a few photos in iPhoto and when I navigate the Finder I don't see those photos appearing as files under the Pictures folder, which makes me think that iPhoto only creates its own link to the files.
Again by default iPhoto copies the photos to its library - and you NEVER directly access the files - they and in the iPhoto library - a special kind of folder called a package - you can look in it by right clicking on it and showing package contents - but this is not a good idea - you do not access your photos that way and a small user error could destroy your iPhoto library
I'm also trying to figure out how to delete "untitled events" that iPhoto automatically creates, and cateories such as, "Last 12 months" etc.
You can not - thoses are not events - they are smart albums and are part of iPhoto - if you are not interested ignor them - although I think once you learn to use iPhoto you will appriciate them
And it would be a good idea to run thorugh the iPhoto tutorials - they will save you a lot of time and frustration
LN

Similar Messages

  • IWeb photo manager question

    Hi, when using iWeb and the photo-manager option in the inspector palate, I click on the slideshow tab but the palate presents itself greyed out, am I doing something wrong?
    How do I control the slideshows?

    Robert:
    You are in a photo page when you go to the Inspector/Photos/Slideshow pane right?
    OT

  • TS1702 Photo manager pro question

    I have photo manager pro. Once I have the transferred from the original photo folder, can you delete them as I'm guessing it takes up twice the memory to have both?

    The best place to get help with that app is from the developers website:
    http://www.linkusnow.com/photomanager/support/index.php

  • How can I access my parents iCloud account remotely to assist with photo management and printing?

    How can I access my parents iCloud account remotely to assist with photo management and printing?

    I tried that without any luck. I was hoping I could get Apple to reset it for me or delete the account so I could recreate it or at least tell me what is listed as my birth date, the security question answer.

  • Photo Management for old (import) & new pictures

    Below is a proposal for organising my photo management system.
    I'm a hobbiest photographer with over 30 years of pictures to file. I have read extensively, including this forum and sort best practice to developed a plan to do achieve an organised scalable system.
    I would appreciate sharing of experience by providing comments on my suggested plan of action and questions I raise below.
    My Objective:
    Organise and manage existing legacy photos and provide a system for future photos that is not tied into specific system or vendor. For example where possible Metadata free from vendor specific format or database.
    Background:
    My collection consists of many photos in over 50 folders, these are:
    a) Scanned picture that are now JPGs,
    b) Shot JPG,
    c) Raw (new and existing).
    I files my pictures on my PC & external back up copy.
    I file: /my pictures/<YYYY>_<MM>_<Location_Event>  for example: /my pictures/2013_04_Yorkshire_Family_Weekend.
    On some of my digital pictures I have included the Metadata using Google Picasa v3. Most of my scanned pictures have no Metadata as yet.
    I own and aim to use Lightroom 4 to do Post Production and photo filing and management whilst also continuing to use Google Picasa for viewing &amp; Face Recognition (at least until I feel fully confident in Lr).
    Suggested plan of attack:
    Stage 1)
    Add "My Picture" folder, including sub folders to Lightroom Library, Standard View.
    Stage 2)
    Continue with /my pictures/<YYYY>_<MM>_<Location_Event> 
    For example: /my pictures/2013_04_Yorkshire_Family_Weekend.
    Stage 3)
    Use Lr to apply to both existing and new photos file name format as follows: <My Initials>_<YYYYMMDD>_<Key_Words Inc_Location_Event_Description>_<sequence xxxx>
    For example:RB_20130420_Peru_Cusco_Holiday_Shots_0001
    NB: Regarding Version Control for RAW I will use Lr inc use of "Virtual Copies", for Jpeg I will use additional field for Developed JPEGs of <vX>
    For example:RB_20130420_Peru_Cusco_Holiday_Shots_0001_v01.jpg
    Stage 4)
    Manually use Lr to add Metadata &amp; Ratings to all pictures to date.
    Metatdata: Include "My Name" to all pictures, "Date" by Windows folder, "Keyword" by folder, "Additional Keyword" to 3* and above.
    Rating: 1&amp;2* no action required, 3*+ maybe further editing if time permits.
    Stage 5)
    Run "Save Metadata to file" in Lr. This will run Metadata to file for JPG and to XMP side car for RAW files.
    Stage 6)
    Import new shots to new folder using "/my pictures/<year><month number><event>" structure. As they are in sub folder they will be included automatically to Lr library.
    Stage 7)
    Create JPG in same folders as RAWs for Developed Photos.
    Stage 8)
    Back up "My Photos" and Lr dbase on regular basis as per Lr best practice.
    Questions:
    1) Is Lr more powerful than Google Picasa for Renaming File &amp; Adding Metadata? 
    2) Once I "Save Meta Data to Photo" in Lr will I be able to access it in Google Picasa?
    3) Can I automate the Importing of new shots to Lr and have it maintain / build upon my existing file structure?
    4) Any recommendations for Keyword Schema to include in Metadata?
    5) Does my approach above seem sensible?

    Honestly, if your goal is to have metadata that is not tied into a specific system or vendor, then here's what I would do:
    I would not put any effort at all into organizing your folders (or improving the organization of the folders), or renaming files, as I think your time is better spent on keywords. In my opinion, the benefits of keyword organizing are many; in addition, without you putting any effort into reorganizing your folders, you can also search for you photos by date inside Lightroom using Lightroom tools regardless of the folder structure (and you can search this way inside of any other photographic management software I have used as well, regardless of the folder structure).
    In Lightroom assign whatever keywords and metadata are appropriate, and then instruct Lightroom to write the metadata to the files. There are two ways to do this, one is Ctrl-S, and the second is to turn on the option in Preferences that does this automatically (Edit->Catalog Settings->Metadata) Once the metadata has been written by Lightroom, you now have metadata that can be read by any photographic software (and even all major operating systems) that I know of.  Having keywords in the file name is redundant, it doesn't help you find photos and faster but it does require extra work; and there is a limit to the number of characters you can have in a path\filename.
    Another point ... don't use Lightroom collections or pick flags as part of this "metadata that is system and vendor independent", as Lightroom does not write this information to the files.
    You ask for Keyword schema, but without knowing what your photo's subject matter is, there's no way I could give any advice.

  • Photo Management Quandry

    I have gone round and round trying to figure out what would be best for our family photos, and I have come to the conclusion that I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. Here are the facts:
    COMPUTER
    iMac (circa 2006, white body)
    1GB RAM
    160GB HDD
    Snow Leopard
    CAMERA
    Canon T2i (18MP stills + 1080p video)
    USES
    Personal use only
    Family and friends
    Family Events
    Kids
    My two basic questions are:
    1) Which photo management/editing software should we use
    2) Where to store photos
    About question 1 - I think I would like to stick with iPhoto for most of the work and then use Photoshop Elements for maybe 10% of the editing. I assume this is OK and a tried and true method.
    About question 2 - Right now I have all of our pictures stored on the computer's hard drive, which needless to say is filling up rapidly. I have tried to move the library to an external HD connected via USB, but the performance is pretty slow and frustrating. Should I try FireWire? Would it help that much? Is part of the issue my "old" computer? Should I plan on getting a new updated model in the next year?
    Any input on this would be very much appreciated. I am getting frustrated.

    lets start with the version of iPhoto that you have - you posted in the iPhoto '09 forum - is that what you have?
    1) Which photo management/editing software should we use
    the answer you will get here is going to be iPhoto since that is why users are here - it is IMHO by far the best and most cost effective for home photo management
    About question 1 - I think I would like to stick with iPhoto for most of the work and then use Photoshop Elements for maybe 10% of the editing. I assume this is OK and a tried and true method.
    PSE works just fine as the external editor for iPhoto '09
    2) Where to store photos
    in the iPhoto library
    About question 2 - Right now I have all of our pictures stored on the computer's hard drive, which needless to say is filling up rapidly. I have tried to move the library to an external HD connected via USB, but the performance is pretty slow and frustrating. Should I try FireWire?
    USB should be ok but firewire would be much faster
    Would it help that much? Is part of the issue my "old" computer?
    Probably
    Should I plan on getting a new updated model in the next year?
    Probably - it wil have been five years
    LN

  • Photo Manager Pro

    Not sure if this is the right place to ask these questions, but hopefully someone can help. 
    I just installed the app Photo Manager Pro and love it ! 
    When I sync my phone with my imac, where will the photos be synced to ?
    Can I now delete the albums and photos in the normal "photo" app as  I have imported all photos into Photo Manager Pro.
    Thanks for any help !

    The best place to get help with that app is from the developers website:
    http://www.linkusnow.com/photomanager/support/index.php

  • Photo management software?

    Another question...
    On the PC, I had (well, still do - in my Boot Camp partition) is a photo management program called CompuPic. With that program, I was able to arrange all my photos into a hierarchical folder arrangement and which helps me zero in on the desired photo - from there I could bring up the picture and do simple photo editing when needed.
    I have seen iPhoto, but its insistence on organizing by 'events' is kind of a turn-off - having to add an 'event' for each folder looks to be more work than I have time for.
    Any other good photo management programs out there?

    *as I move the mouse over each 'event', the thumbnail has an annoying tendency to change to different photos within that folder*
    This isn't an annoyance, it is a mini-slideshow. An event's thumbnail is the first photo in that event and as you slowly moving your cursor over the thumbnail you get to see the rest of the pictures inside that event. It is a convenience since you don't have to open the event (double-click it) to see what's inside. If you aren't sure what event the picture you're looking for from, or if you've forgotten what pictures are in the event this is nice.
    For me, an event is a convenient chronological organizer. I know the picture I want was taken at Betty's wedding, or maybe the day before at the rehearsal dinner. Okay, that gives me two events to look in. But is isn't the only way to organize.
    Tagging: I am becoming a huge fan of tagging files - pictures and otherwise. iPhoto originally came with only rudimentary tagging ability but it has gotten better with each new release. As time has gone on my tagging has become more extensive so that I'm using permanent albums less and less.
    Albums: You can create an album and drag any group of pictures into it. Want to put all Granny Smith's pictures together? No problem and it doesn't matter if they are in different events. Just start looking through your library of pictures and start dragging them into your Album.
    *Smart Albums:* This is even better - and why I like tagging my photos. A Smart Album is created like a smart playlist in iTunes. Create one using a set of criteria and let iPhoto do the work for you.
    Folders: Here's where you start building your hierarchy. Don't want to put all the family vacations into a single album but want to be able to find all the family vacation pictures? No problem. Use an album for each individual vacation and then stuff all the albums into a Folder.
    --+-+-
    You are facing three problems: First, you don't know how to use iPhoto and don't understand its methodology or power while you do know CompuPic. Second, CompuPic's methodology is totally different from iPhoto's and you are trying to enforce its methods onto iPhoto. Doesn't work - it's like trying to teach a dog to ride a bike. Third, you are coming into iPhoto with a whole lot of pictures and importing them in and organizing them with events is not fun - believe me. I know.
    My wife probably had the best idea and it came from seeing and hearing me struggle. She upgraded to the newest version of iPhoto and combined all her old pictures into one event she called 'Old Stuff' and began using it. In the course of a couple months she settled into the new version and then took a weekend to organize the 'Old Stuff' into separate Events. By this time she knew how the program worked and had developed a good strategy for working with it.

  • Another color management question

    Hi folks,
    Apologies for yet another color management question, but Im getting very confused and could do with some help. I use a Canon 10D and Canon 30D. Ive come to LightRoom from Pixmantec Raw Shooter.
    As Ive gotten more serious about producing high quality images for both the web and as prints, I thought Id invest in the Colorvision Spyder2 calibration product. So my monitor is now calibrated (quite a difference from what I was seeing!) and I have a calibration profile applied.
    My needs are pretty obvious I want my images to look the same wherever theyre viewed including exported files (such as JPEGs) whether this be on my monitor (in LightRoom, a web browser, Paint Shop Pro, whatever) and on a printer.
    Perhaps Im getting confused because Im trying to compare what LightRoom does with what RawShooter does.
    In RawShooter, when exporting from RAW to JPEG, I can specify the RGB Working Space Im using and then select my monitor profile. I think that what happens is that the export mechanism takes this profile into account and, low and behold, the JPEG looks fine when viewed in any web browser - the colours are exactly the same as in RawShooter. In Paint Shop Pro they look fine too unless I enable Color Management in which case (Im guessing) the monitor profile is, essentially, applied twice! But the upshot is I seem to get the results I want.
    What I cant figure out is how I do this in LightRoom. I can make the same adjustments to the RAW image as I did in RawShooter, but there doesnt seem an option for me to select my profile on export to JPEG only the standard 3 color spaces. Anyway the result is a JPEG that looks somewhat different when viewed in a web browser, or Paint Shop Pro with Color Management turned off. However, if I turn Color Management on in Paint Shop Pro, then it looks fine. So Im assuming that my profile isnt accounted for when exporting JPEGs from LightRoom.
    So any pointers or explanations would be really appreciated. I also acknowledge that this is my first foray into color management, and feel free to tell me to go and read some introductory article (link please!) and then come back with a sensible question if thats whats needed!
    Thanks in advance.
    - Pete

    Lightroom color management.
    a.) Monitor profile used: The profile set as the default in your operating system (e.g. Windows xp). (your monitor profile software usually does this when you calibrate/profile your monitor).
    b.) Working space: ProPhotoRGB
    c.) Export color space: You can choose one of the following sRGB; Adobe RGB or Pro Photo RGB.
    There is no option (afaik) to change a.) or b.) the option you choose in c.) will affect how the exported image will be displayed in color managed applications or non-color managed applications.
    Non-color managed applications are not able to display Adobe RGB or Pro Photo RGB correctly. I guess if you wish a consistent display of your images in color managed and non-color managed applications then the only common factor is sRGB and you should export your images in sRGB color space.
    The benefits of the other expanded color spaces are in printing and you also would have to get this end of your color management correct. Printing profiles to match your printer and each paper being used etc.
    Until you can get this all sorted out you will get better results from sRGB, this is also applicable when using most commercial printing services.

  • I try to open iphoto and it comes up with You have made changes to your photo library using a newer version of iPhoto. Please quit and use the latest version of iPhoto. I have downloaded photo manager and it's telling me to update but it wont update...

    I try to open iphoto and it comes up with You have made changes to your photo library using a newer version of iPhoto. Please quit and use the latest version of iPhoto. I have downloaded photo manager and it's telling me to update but it wont update...

    iPhoto is Apple's included program to manage your photo's and pictures.
    It receives updates over time with Software updates and new machine or iLife purchases.
    When iPhoto gets updated or a newer version is used, it may alter iPhoto support files, but newer iPhoto versions usually always compatible with older files which it then updates.
    If you used a newer iPhoto on your iPhoto support files, then they got altered to the newer format, older iPhoto versions can't read the older format.
    Somewhere along the line you somehow got a older version of iPhoto on your computer, you need to fine the newer version of iPhoto (not this photo manager, sounds like another program)
    Or somewhere along the line you used a newer iPhoto version (like on another Mac) and it altered the iPhoto support files on your older version of iPhoto.
    So the key here is to find the newest version of iPhoto and use that to access your iPhoto support files.
    If you didn't access your iPhoto support files from another Mac, then you should have the newer iPhoto version on your computer.
    Once you find it, and get it in the Dock, you should remove the older iPhoto version from your computer to prevent this from happening again.
    Lastly, if the newer version of iPhoto is somehow gone off your computer, you should be able to get a copy off the latest OS X install disk or iLife using a free program called Pacifist.
    http://www.charlessoft.com/
    Then you need to check for updates for iPhoto in the program itself, the current version is 9.1.2

  • My wife and I share an iCloud account for photo library and iCloud drive mainly for our family photo management, but we use different accounts for iMessage/facetime/calendar/etc. With Yosemite, I can't use continuity/handoff without dumping the photo

    my wife and I share an iCloud account for photo library and iCloud drive mainly for our family photo management, but we use different accounts for iMessage/facetime/calendar/etc. With Yosemite, I can't use continuity/handoff without dumping the primary photo iCloud account and thus our shared photo system. We are running yosemite OS X 10.10 and iOS 8.0.2... Is there any way to do this?

    my wife and I share an iCloud account for photo library and iCloud drive mainly for our family photo management, but we use different accounts for iMessage/facetime/calendar/etc. With Yosemite, I can't use continuity/handoff without dumping the primary photo iCloud account and thus our shared photo system. We are running yosemite OS X 10.10 and iOS 8.0.2... Is there any way to do this?

  • Photo Storage Question

    Hi:  When I take a photo with my C3 and designate it be stored on the microSD Disk is the photo also stored temporarily on the phone's internal memory?
    Thanks, Chato
    Solved!
    Go to Solution.

    Hi Farby:
    Thanks for you input. The photos in question were taken 4 months ago but the phone has only been used for a couple of hours since then. What I'm looking for is secure eraesure of photos before upgrading phone!
    Cheers, Chato

  • Photo stream questions, sharing, etc.

    Shared photo stream questions
    Camera Roll (CR), Photo Stream (PS)
    If I create a shared PS and share it with a friend, is this temporary like the main PS (most recent 1000 images)?
    For example, if I put one photo in a shared PS and then take 1000 new photos (but I don't add it to the shared PS), presumably it will disappear from my main PS, but will the original photo disappear from the shared PS, too?
    I noticed that each month I have a new monthly event titled, for example, "August photo stream", etc. Are these temporary, too? If I take 1000 photos in September, will the August PS event start to lose images, or will this only occur in the main PS section?
    Apple's web site says "iCloud stores new photos for 30 days, so you have plenty of time to connect your iOS device to Wi-Fi and make sure you always have your most recent shots handy." What does this mean? If I take a photo on iPhone it's permanently in CR (until I sync with iTunes on OS X and then iPhoto offers to remove them from CR), but they're also in PS, which is temporary, right? If so, as long as CR is permanent, how big an issue is the 30 day rule?
    Here's where I'm (further) confused...
    On iPad, my PS section (the tab on bottom) only has 30, relatively recent photos. Each photo was taken with iPhone.
    However, on iPhone, my PS section has 547 images. Some of these were taken as screen shots from iPad (even though they're not on iPad's PS??) Some of the images were "Save As... "  image files from OS X, some were photos imported to desktop iPhoto from a camera. Many of the images were taken years ago. On desktop iPhoto, I have over 3000 images, but the images on iPhone's PS do not appear to be the most recent 1000 images imported to iPhoto.
    So why did iPad's screen shots disappear from iPads PS yet appear on iPhone's PS?
    Why aren't the two iOS device's PS sections the same?
    Is this confusing to everyone, or am I just dense?
    Thanks!

    You are most likely using the same apple id under settings>iCloud. If you just want to stop the photo sharing you can open settings>iCloud and turn off photostream. If you want to keep using photostream and still not share you need to set up an alternate apple id to use under settings>icloud

  • Project Management Question - timelines for Production system deployment

    Hi
    I need an expert advice on setting up timelines for establishing an Oracle Apps Production environment. We are implementing Oracle HR & Payroll at an organization.
    Our system architecture is a 2-node application tier and 2-node DB tier (RAC). RAC is configured by another party and we only have to prepare the application tier (2 nodes)
    We would be installing Oracle Apps R11i (11.5.10) with jserv load balancing on the 2-nodes
    Can anyone suggest how much time this should take to install/configure & patching of the application tier (on 2 nodes)?
    Regards
    Saira

    Duplicate post (check your other thread):
    Project Management Question - timelines for Production system deployment
    Re: Project Management Question - timelines for Production system deployment

  • Updating photo management strategy with add'l laptop?

    Hello -
    I have added a new MacBook Air to a set of computers - old MacBook, older iMac.  The iMac hard drive bit the dust earlier this year so it has a brand new 750 GB hard drive with Mavericks installed.  That's the background to wanting to updating my photo management / storage strategy now that I have an additional computer.
    I keep my iPhoto library on an external drive connected to my desktop (the iMac) and have since the beginning - that baby is about 350 GB and isn't updated b/c now I've had photos on the Macbook and don't want to get into the same habit with the new MB Air.  I take a lot of photos, decent amount of video but it's all personal, not my profession.  My camera shoots with 10 - 15 MB size per photo though, so it adds up.  I use SmugMug to share my photos (and online backup strategy) - the process on a good day is to pull the photos off my camera, do any editing, upload the ones I want to share to Smugmug, then save/store the originals.
    I'd like to consolidate now that I've got a new computer in the mix - and storage drives keep keep getting bigger and less expensive. ;-)
    My current thinking is to get a NEW big external storage drive and set it up to be ONLY a repository for photos and video.  I'd likely use that storage drive with a main iPhoto library (or whatever software I use) on the desktop, especially since it's now on an updated OS.
    What I'm debating is whether I should go with the larger storage of a desktop storage drive - or go with the portable with the largest storage capability just in case I *ever* want to take it and use it with the laptop (now or in the future)?
    Does that seem like a sound strategy?  Thoughts?  Thanks!
    P.S.  A good thing to add is that the iMac has only Firewire 800 available, unfortunately (and USB obviously).  The MacBook Air has thunderbolt.  If I use a Thunderbolt storage drive on the iMac it would need a converter (which I think will slow it down - but is that slower than the usual Firewire 800 speeds?)  If I use a Firewire 800 storage drive with the iMac, I'd need a converter if I went to use it with the Macbook Air - not ideal, but not going to happen very often. 

    1. You need two drives: one to hold the Photos and one to be a back up for that.
    2.
    What I'm debating is whether I should go with the larger storage of a desktop storage drive - or go with the portable with the largest storage capability just in case I *ever* want to take it and use it with the laptop (now or in the future)?
    Well, as you need both, I'd get one of each, and keep the portable outside the house - even in your car.
    SmugMug is excellent as off-site storage (as is Flickr) for your photos. But if whatever you choose to manage your apps has a library of any form, then you need to also back that up. And everything pretty much uses a Library - Picas, iPhoto, Aperture, Lightroom etc  - of some form or other.
    The thunderbolt to Firewire adaptor will not make an appreciable difference in performance. But frankly, I'd go for USB, I'm not sure of the long term prospects for Firewire.

Maybe you are looking for