Can I delete photos already imported into iPhoto?

I hope so. I deleted all mine last night

I did it on the basis that when I plug my DSLR in I import the photos right into iPhoto and they aren't stored anywhere else.

I imported my other photos off my external hardrive over a year ago and haven't touched the original folder until now when i deleted them.

Just for your own piece of mind, delete a couple of photos and make sure they remain in iPhoto. I'm sure they will

They will be like for like. If you're worried stick your photos on a usb stick for now as a back up.

I'm sure someone will come in this thread soon to either back up or rubbish my posts. best wait for clarification before you start deleting stuff.

I import to iPhoto as well and I am in the same confused boat as you are. I have started to take some of them and move them to a dedicated folder but for the ones I have not, how do you access the ones that have been imported with iPhoto? Like say for example you want to send one via email, and you are adding an attachment, where do you browse to in order to find the file if it is in iPhoto? I am afraid to delete anything that is strictly in iPhoto and not in a dedicated folder because I am not confident it will not get lost if it is not in a folder...?

NWI73 said:

I import to iPhoto as well and I am in the same confused boat as you are. I have started to take some of them and move them to a dedicated folder but for the ones I have not, how do you access the ones that have been imported with iPhoto? Like say for example you want to send one via email, and you are adding an attachment, where do you browse to in order to find the file if it is in iPhoto? I am afraid to delete anything that is strictly in iPhoto and not in a dedicated folder because I am not confident it will not get lost if it is not in a folder...?

Click to expand...

Why are you moving photos out of iPhoto? Any reason?

You can navigate your iPhoto library through finder. (should be under media on the left)

You can email directly from iPhoto by the way.

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http://www.apple.com/support/iphoto/

The default setting of iPhoto is to copy files that you import from their original location to the iPhoto library folder - you can then safely delete the original.

You can change the setting (in iPhoto preferences) so that iPhoto does not copy on import, but links to the original file, wherever it may be. If you have this setting enabled, if you delete the original file, you will lose it in iPhoto.

MonkeySee.... said:

Why are you moving photos out of iPhoto? Any reason?

You can navigate your iPhoto library through finder. (should be under media on the left)

You can email directly from iPhoto by the way.

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http://www.apple.com/support/iphoto/

Click to expand...

Perhaps it is bc I am a long time windows user but another example not regarding emailing would be attaching a photo to a forum or uploading to a photo printing website. When you browse within snapfish persay, where do you browse to in order to find the photos that were imported by iPhoto?

You can navigate your iPhoto library through finder.

Click to expand...

That is not a good idea. You can corrupt the iPhoto database if you are not careful.

When you import photos from a camera, iPhoto automatically adds them to the iPhoto Library. That way you can view them after the camera is disconnected. If you import from a Folder on your hard drive, or an external drive, you can choose to have them copied to the Library, or not.

If you choose NOT to have them copied, then that Folder, or the external drive must be able to be accessed by your Mac in order for you to view them in iPhoto

Dave Braine said:

That is not a good idea. You can corrupt the iPhoto database if you are not careful.

When you import photos from a camera, iPhoto automatically adds them to the iPhoto Library. That way you can view them after the camera is disconnected. If you import from a Folder on your hard drive, or an external drive, you can choose to have them copied to the Library, or not.

If you choose NOT to have them copied, then that Folder, or the external drive must be able to be accessed by your Mac in order for you to view them in iPhoto

Click to expand...

Just out of curiostity. how would that corrupt the database? Its like you're looking at the photos through iphoto but via finder?

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NWI73 said:

Perhaps it is bc I am a long time windows user but another example not regarding emailing would be attaching a photo to a forum or uploading to a photo printing website. When you browse within snapfish persay, where do you browse to in order to find the photos that were imported by iPhoto?

Click to expand...

through to the media folder in finder. I'm not at my mac now so its hard for me to give direct instructions.

Anyone help this chap?

MonkeySee.... said:

Just out of curiostity. how would that corrupt the database? Its like you're looking at the photos through iphoto but via finder?

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through to the media folder in finder. I'm not at my mac now so its hard for me to give direct instructions.

Anyone help this chap?

Click to expand...

I imagine carefully browsing the finder would cause no corruption, but could certainly create confusion. iPhoto's internal folder hierarchy is not for the faint of heart. The corruption occurs when the uninitiated feel they can better manage the hierarchy and attempt changes to the folder structure. Best to just stay out of there.

How do you accomplish any sort of attachment with your photos? Simply find them in iPhoto (the app, not the folder) and drag the pics to your desktop. They are easy to find and there are no concerns with mucking around on the original. When your MMS or email (although it is built in to iPhoto) or avatar or burned DVD or whatever is completed, simply discard the desktop version of the pic.

NWI73 said:

Perhaps it is bc I am a long time windows user but another example not regarding emailing would be attaching a photo to a forum or uploading to a photo printing website. When you browse within snapfish persay, where do you browse to in order to find the photos that were imported by iPhoto?

Click to expand...

When you attach something and the website pulls up the Finder browser, there is a Media section at the bottom of the left-hand sidebar - that lets you browse through your iPhoto library.

CrzyCanuck72 said:

When you attach something and the website pulls up the Finder browser, there is a Media section at the bottom of the left-hand sidebar - that lets you browse through your iPhoto library.

Click to expand...

This is great...did not know this. Now when I do not have a internet search open, say persay I have nothing open except for finder, I don't have a media section on the lower left. When I navigate to the pictures then iPhoto library, I can't view pics this way. Thoughts on this? Or am I missing something blatant?

I'll break my windows ways one of these days!

A few clarifications if I may

Ok so I think I am getting this stuff figured out. I just have a few things I would like to clear up.
1. So in preferences>advanced if I have "copy photos to iPhoto" checked then when photos are imported they end up being in two places. The original folder and the iPhoto library folder? Which means I am using double the space to store my photos? So can I then delete the original folders with the photos in them?
2. If I delete the original folders and need to get the pics back into folders for some reason like I lose my mind and want to go back to Windows. Is that possible?
3. I have notice that when I delete a photo in iPhoto as well as empty the iPhoto trash it does not delete the photo from the album. Is that because of the above mentioned choice to "copy" the photos? is it just deleting the photo from the iPhoto library and not the folder? if so. Then if I uncheck that option it will then delete rom the mac altogether?
Ok one last one. For now.. If I uncheck the "copy" option now with that revert all of the photos already imported into iPhoto back to their original folders or will it only affect future imports?

That is all..for now..
Thank you for the info
Bill

Billybaldin said:

Ok so I think I am getting this stuff figured out. I just have a few things I would like to clear up.
1. So in preferences>advanced if I have "copy photos to iPhoto" checked then when photos are imported they end up being in two places. The original folder and the iPhoto library folder? Which means I am using double the space to store my photos? So can I then delete the original folders with the photos in them?
2. If I delete the original folders and need to get the pics back into folders for some reason like I lose my mind and want to go back to Windows. Is that possible?
3. I have notice that when I delete a photo in iPhoto as well as empty the iPhoto trash it does not delete the photo from the album. Is that because of the above mentioned choice to "copy" the photos? is it just deleting the photo from the iPhoto library and not the folder? if so. Then if I uncheck that option it will then delete rom the mac altogether?
Ok one last one. For now.. If I uncheck the "copy" option now with that revert all of the photos already imported into iPhoto back to their original folders or will it only affect future imports?

That is all..for now..
Thank you for the info
Bill

Click to expand...

1. By default iPhoto copies the photos into its own place. You can then delete photos from camera, memory card, etc.

2. You can easily copy photos from iPhoto. Just drag and drop.

3. "Albums" are actually more like playlists. To delete photos you have to delete from events.