can't find original photo file location

[makemymanproud]

I can only see/find my photos in iphoto and need to figure out where they really "live" so I can use them in other applications or email them to friends.

I'm very much still learning how to use my mac and these little things are so frustrating! Can anyone explain to me where they are?

Thanks!

 

[bartelby]

If you right click on the iPhoto Library icon -> Show Package Contents.
It should be in there, possibly in a folder called Originals.

 

[makemymanproud]

Thanks!

This is why macs are awesome! It's not the computer, it's the community.

That worked. Thank you.

 

[skybolt]

Stay out of the library in finder!!!! Just because you can trick it to show you the photos, does not mean you should. Apple changed the file to a package to keep people from mucking about in there and corrupting their photos! Stay out!

If you want to email a photo, use the email button in iPhoto app. Or export a photo to the desktop and attach from there. Or drag a photo from the app to the desktop and attach. Do not do this from the finder! Another advantage to doing it this way, is that you will have the most current version of your photo, and the name you gave the photo in iPhoto will attach with the photo. If you go from finder, you will have the generic name you camera assigned, and if you go from the originals folder, you will have the photo just as it came from the camers -- not with any editing you might have done to it.

You and your photos will be much happier if you will just stay out of the library in finder.

 

[Dolmance]

Stay out of the library in finder!!!! Just because you can trick it to show you the photos, does not mean you should. Apple changed the file to a package to keep people from mucking about in there and corrupting their photos! Stay out!

If you want to email a photo, use the email button in iPhoto app. Or export a photo to the desktop and attach from there. Or drag a photo from the app to the desktop and attach. Do not do this from the finder! Another advantage to doing it this way, is that you will have the most current version of your photo, and the name you gave the photo in iPhoto will attach with the photo. If you go from finder, you will have the generic name you camera assigned, and if you go from the originals folder, you will have the photo just as it came from the camers -- not with any editing you might have done to it.

You and your photos will be much happier if you will just stay out of the library in finder.

 

[Dolmance]

I've tried to do it your way, but the photo program won't let me drag the photos to my desktop. Just says "can't find original file."

 

[chabig]

If you want to email a photo, use the email button in iPhoto app. Or export a photo to the desktop and attach from there. Or drag a photo from the app to the desktop and attach.

This is exactly right. I just drag them to the desktop and send them from there.

 

[Dolmance]

This is exactly right. I just drag them to the desktop and send them from there.

Photo won't let me drag the photos in question anywhere, including desktop.

 

[chabig]

There is no reason you shouldn't be able to drag photos anywhere. It's such a basic function that I have to suspect you're doing something wrong. Just click on a picture and drag while holding down the mouse button. Are you saying that you can drag them inside Photos but they stop dragging when you move outside the window?

 

[Goatllama]

Photo won't let me drag the photos in question anywhere, including desktop.

Dang. I just did that (dragged 'em to the desktop). I really didn't expect it to work, what with how iPhoto used to clunk around and disallow stuff like that (had to go all file>export). Have you tried anything like this: http://osxdaily.com/2015/05/21/repair-photos-library-photos-app-mac-os-x/? 'Cause something about the way your Photo library was set up is not working - like it said, it can't find the original file. I dunno, dude.

 

[Dolmance]

Dang. I just did that (dragged 'em to the desktop). I really didn't expect it to work, what with how iPhoto used to clunk around and disallow stuff like that (had to go all file>export). Have you tried anything like this: http://osxdaily.com/2015/05/21/repair-photos-library-photos-app-mac-os-x/? 'Cause something about the way your Photo library was set up is not working - like it said, it can't find the original file. I dunno, dude.

I know how to drag, and I'm able to do it with all my photos EXCEPT the photos that say "Can't find original" which is about 100 of them, out of about two thousand. When I try to drag these particular photos to my desktop, I get that damned message again -- "Can't find original." It also asks if I'd like to find it myself, but the photos themselves appear unfindable.

 

[chabig]

I'm sorry. I thought you had a dragging problem, but it's a problem of the missing original. So the issue is either the original photo is gone, or the photo database is somehow corrupted. I would try repairing the library as Goatllama suggested, or failing that try to restore the missing images from backup. Sorry I can't be more helpful.

 

[Goatllama]

I know how to drag, and I'm able to do it with all my photos EXCEPT the photos that say "Can't find original" which is about 100 of them, out of about two thousand. When I try to drag these particular photos to my desktop, I get that damned message again -- "Can't find original." It also asks if I'd like to find it myself, but the photos themselves appear unfindable.

Is there anything that stands out as different about those photos? Are they all part of the same import or came from the same source, etc.?

 

[Richardlw]

I have the same problem with at least one set of pictures that I imported from a newspaper photographer's flash drive after a photo-shoot. They worked fine for a while, then I got the message that the original can't be found. Then worked again for a day or two, now will not work again no matter how many times I reopen the program.

I can't edit, drag, export, etc. I can view the full picture, but nothing else. After reading above, I rebuilt the library, but that did not help.

 

[Dana Cline]

iPhoto Library.photolibrary under Picture folder.
Find it in Picture folder, then right click it, select Show Package Contents. All folders will be opened, you can found your files.

 

[Richardlw]

iPhoto Library.photolibrary under Picture folder.
Find it in Picture folder, then right click it, select Show Package Contents. All folders will be opened, you can found your files.

My iphoto library has everything up til July when I installed photos. The ones that are missing are after that date.

Where are they? (not where you said)- And I let everything save in default locations.