copy Photo Library as a backup on OSX

[etaf]

I'm helping a elderly friend with an iMac, i have not checked the version, But its either OS X 10.10: Yosemite or 10.11: El Capitan - ITs NOT 10.12: Sierra
I want to make a copy of the icloud Photo library
Currently we have icloud photo library on on an iphone, and intend to turn on the ipad
She has a iMac which also has icloud logged in and we have photos from icloud library set to download originals
She wants to delete a few photos off the iphone, BUT wants to make sure they are not lost
She has timemachine running
BUT I would like to also make a seperate copy of the folder, which she will regularly do , so we have another copy of the photos

I used FINDER
When I went to Pictures > photo Library, ALL Photos - Saw all the photos
i then "Select All" > Copy
I created a new folder in Pictures
Named - Backup Photos
and > Pasted

the same volume of photos copied

but now here is the strange thing - i wanted just to spot check the copy and make sure they were the same size etc
Not all the photos copied - some where missing

I have no idea why ?

whats the best way to do this copy ?

Before I set the iphone to optimize pictures and switch on icloud photo library on the ipad - i want to make sure we have a robust process in place
so that we can select all photos
copy

I'm also hoping that we will get a notification, when we do this a 2nd/3rd time etc , that the files exist and so we get an option (like windows) to skip the copy

thanks

 

[jbarley]

I've done this in the past using the "Export" function from iPhoto's File menu.
I select all, then choose Export, pick a destination and go.

 

[Weaselboy]

whats the best way to do this copy ?

Don't open that iPhoto library file and monkey around in there since you might break things. Just copy the entire iPhoto library file to wherever you want to make the copy and you are done.

 

[etaf]

thanks for you qik replies

i dont have iphoto
its using the new photo program

i tried copy the photo library

does photo also have the same export

i know iphoto kept the images in a database -but the new photo does not now

I used FINDER
When I went to Pictures > photo Library, ALL Photos - Saw all the photos
i then "Select All" > Copy
I created a new folder in Pictures
Named - Backup Photos
and > Pasted

the same volume of photos copied

but now here is the strange thing - i wanted just to spot check the copy and make sure they were the same size etc
Not all the photos copied - some where missing

I have no idea why ?

 

[Weaselboy]

does photo also have the same export

It does, but it will just export the photos with no event or album organization. So if you have a bunch of those setup they will all be lost.

i know iphoto kept the images in a database -but the new photo does not now

Photos uses a similar Photos library setup with everything inside that file. You can just copy the whole Photos library file somewhere to save it.

 

[jbarley]

does photo also have the same export

https://support.apple.com/kb/PH21336?locale=en_US

 

[etaf]

thanks for the replies
i will try again tuesday pm, when i next on the pc

 

[etaf]

I used export and xml option into a new folder
seems to have worked all OK
now i have set the iphone 16gb to optimize and she can continue to take photos

only strange thing now is that photo share is working with an ipad and i though that was limited to 1000 images - but in this case has almost 5000 images from the iphone & iMac on the ipad - without using icloud photo library

Thanks to every one for the help