Nervous about using 'new' Photos App

[Lodesman]

May I have some advice please.

After a dreadful experience with iPhoto, when I first bought my Mac and moved from Windows, where my photos (all 20,000+) seemed to duplicate and move to all sorts of places where I had problems rearranging them as I wished.

I eventually moved them all (slowly) from iPhoto to separate folders with specific names that I understood.

At the time I didn't get much help here other than being lectured that I should learn about SQL databases and that folders were out of date.

My question is - should I consider using the 'new' Photos App ?

Will I be able to decide how I wish my photos to be arranged ?

After my previous experience I am nervous about opening the App and watching my photos being "taken over" by the program.

 

[DavoteK]

Was in a similar boat.

Similar sized library as well, and all organised in events, folders, faces, locations etc.

I made sure I had a back up of the library file first and then took the plunge and found it to be less hassle than I thought. Its pretty much iPhoto, but prettier and less clunky.

So, personally, I'd say take the plunge, but always have a backup of that library (this will take a while btw, so just let it run).

I'd also suggest looking at additional iCloud storage and having the lot saved to the cloud, great if you have multiple devices, having all your photos with you at all times, especially if they are as organised as yours sound.

Best of luck.

 

[Lodesman]

Was in a similar boat.

Similar sized library as well, and all organised in events, folders, faces, locations etc.

I made sure I had a back up of the library file first and then took the plunge and found it to be less hassle than I thought. Its pretty much iPhoto, but prettier and less clunky.

So, personally, I'd say take the plunge, but always have a backup of that library (this will take a while btw, so just let it run).

I'd also suggest looking at additional iCloud storage and having the lot saved to the cloud, great if you have multiple devices, having all your photos with you at all times, especially if they are as organised as yours sound.

Best of luck.

Many thanks for the advice, I'll backup the photos to my Ext HDD (all 70gb of it) and have a dabble with Photo.

 

[DavoteK]

No worries. Library that size, will take a little time to import in to Photos and will take even longer to get in to iCloud, but well worth it. Especially if you have an iPad or other Macs.

 

[spitf1r3]

No worries. Library that size, will take a little time to import in to Photos and will take even longer to get in to iCloud, but well worth it. Especially if you have an iPad or other Macs.

Fully agree.

I'll backup the photos to my Ext HDD (all 70gb of it) and have a dabble with Photo.

Remember there is nothing as precious as your photos, so don't count on that external HDD as your only backup - their failure rates are usually higher than for internal ones.

Arq + Amazon Cloud Drive is a great backup solution - encrypted, unlimited and offsite.

 

[Lodesman]

Thanks, one more thing will I be able to nest folders in Photo ?

For example: Folder Holidays containing folders for 2005, 2006 etc ?

 

[DavoteK]

Thanks, one more thing will I be able to nest folders in Photo ?

For example: Folder Holidays containing folders for 2005, 2006 etc ?

Your original iPhoto folders will be brought across and yes you can create additional folders to keep things organised.

 

[spitf1r3]

Thanks, one more thing will I be able to nest folders in Photo ?

For example: Folder Holidays containing folders for 2005, 2006 etc ?

Your original iPhoto folders will be brought across and yes you can create additional folders to keep things organised.

You can also use tags (which is even better, as you can assign multiple to a photo).

#Edit

You can even create 'smart albums' based on tags (and other information) within photos app

 

[DavoteK]

Yeah, I've used the smart albums based on faces and places/date information assigned to the images. These albums can also be put in to more folders haha

 

[Fishrrman]

OP wrote above:
"I eventually moved them all (slowly) from iPhoto to separate folders with specific names that I understood."

You created a "referenced" library, which stores the originals OUTSIDE of iPhoto's database scheme.

I do this myself. I keep all my photos on a separate volume, "away from" the OS and applications. On that volume, I have created my own folder/file scheme which is never disrupted by ANY photo management/editing application.

There's a setting in Photos to do this, as well, although I forget its exact wording (I'm booted right now to 10.8.5, my "regular OS").

So you can probably keep the existing folder/file setup that you have already created.

Be aware that Photos will create its own library for thumbnails, retained editing information, etc.

 

[Ebenezum]

OP:

Keep in mind that Photos has some serious downsides compared to iPhoto, especially when it comes organisation of pictures and metadata support.

Using keywords and smart folders is less practical because Apple made editing and adding them more cumbersome. Furthermore search in Photos isn't as good as it was iPhoto.

Metadata support leaves a lot to be desired, much of picture information contained in my iPhoto library didn't migrate into Photos and I wasn't pleased when I noticed it. I might use Photos if Apple improves it enough but currently I can't recommend it for serious use!

If your needs are more serious it might be a good idea to look for third party solutions...

 

[Lodesman]

Once again, thanks everyone.

Perhaps, after all, I'll just leave things as they are, completely separate from any Apple interference.

If Photos has downsides compared to iPhoto, a program I thought was the spawn of the devil, then perhaps Photo is not for me either.

I have learned the hard way that what Apple thinks is good for me is not necessarily what I want.

 

[ricosuave]

Once again, thanks everyone.

Perhaps, after all, I'll just leave things as they are, completely separate from any Apple interference.

If Photos has downsides compared to iPhoto, a program I thought was the spawn of the devil, then perhaps Photo is not for me either.

I have learned the hard way that what Apple thinks is good for me is not necessarily what I want.

You can test Photos App in a referenced mode without coping to its library under preferences. This way you keep your folders intact.

 

[DavoteK]

Once again, thanks everyone.

Perhaps, after all, I'll just leave things as they are, completely separate from any Apple interference.

If Photos has downsides compared to iPhoto, a program I thought was the spawn of the devil, then perhaps Photo is not for me either.

I have learned the hard way that what Apple thinks is good for me is not necessarily what I want.

Depends what you're after from it?

List what you require it to achieve and I'm sure people here can give you pros and cons.

Personally, I think if you've got the library file backed up, I'd say create a copy and let Photos use it, see if you like it, if not, not a big deal and you've then ruled it out as a tool you could have used. In fact I'm not sure if Photos just creates a copy of the library file anyway? But, just in case, I'd use a copy.

I like it. Large library, good organisational features, much more responsive than iPhoto and easy to use. Sure, a few things here and there could be tweaked to my liking, but then I'm gonna say that about everything as will most people.

 

[Ebenezum]

I have learned the hard way that what Apple thinks is good for me is not necessarily what I want.

Like others have said you can test Photos by either referencing a library in preferences or using a test library. Make sure you have a backup before testing it!

good organisational features

I don't agree. Compared to iPhoto it has several downsides like I explained in my post #11. Furthermore I don't see anything that is improved when it comes to organisational features compared to iPhoto...

 

[DavoteK]

I don't agree. Compared to iPhoto it has several downsides like I explained in my post #11. Furthermore I don't see anything that is improved when it comes to organisational features compared to iPhoto...

I don't agree. Your opinion does not speak for everyone bub.

Sorry, I meant;

I don't agree...



Gotta love a trailing ellipses lol

 

[Ebenezum]

I don't agree. Your opinion does not speak for everyone bub.

Sorry, I meant;

I don't agree...



Gotta love a trailing ellipses lol

Problematic Metadata support is a fact not an opinion as explained in Apple support documentation: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204478

As for organising pictures I would like to know how Photos is supposed to handle it better than iPhoto? I would love to see some solid examples.

 

[DavoteK]

As for organising pictures I would like to know how Photos is supposed to handle it better than iPhoto? I would love to see some solid examples.

Link to where I said it was better or worse with regard to organisational features?

Oh, that's right, I didn't.

I said it has good organisational features. Which it does.

I also said it was much more responsive than iPhoto. Which it is.

See below.

I like it. Large library, good organisational features, much more responsive than iPhoto and easy to use. Sure, a few things here and there could be tweaked to my liking, but then I'm gonna say that about everything as will most people.

Good organisational features: Date, face, place, coupled with folder structure and/or smart folders based on the 3 aspects mentioned. There's more on top of that, tags and other crap, but I don't need it, haven't used it, others might. That's enough for 99% of people. If you are the 1%, cool, here's a cookie. Chow down son.

 

[Ebenezum]

Fair enough.

It seems we have a different idea what good organisation means so its pointless to continue this conversation.