Transferring Photos to External SSD

[yogi477]

Hi all

I haven’t found this anywhere but apologies if it’s been addressed before. I have a MacBook Pro and ran out of space to store all my photos long ago. I use iCloud Photo Library so the originals are in the cloud but I’d like a local backup of all of the original files.

I’ve bought an external SSD but would like to know if there is a way of backing up all of the originals from my library (not just the library file, which I assume which mainly contain lower res versions) to the SSD. I don’t really want to use the SSD as the home for my library as I don’t want it plugged in all the time. I’d then periodically update the backup to the SSD as required.

Am I trying to do something impossible or is there a better way?

 

[Puonti]

I've never tried this myself, but you can request a copy of you iCloud Photos through https://appleid.apple.com/

1) Log in
2) Scroll down and select "Manage Your Data & Privacy"
3) Select "Request a copy of your data"
4) Scroll down and tick "iCloud Photos"
5) Click continue and follow instructions

It will probably take some time before you will receive a download link. At minimum you should get all original photo and video files. It's unclear to me if you will also get photo library data like albums and edits, etc.

 

[yogi477]

Ok thanks, does anyone know whether that gives you the edits too (I edit a fair bit)? Also I’m sure plenty of people use an external drive for their library, is it a pain if the SSD isn’t plugged in all the time or is it ok?

 

[Ifti]

Cant you connect the iPhone to your Mac and then browse the photos directory?
Hardly ever connect my iPhone to my Mac so cant remember!

 

[yogi477]

Cant you connect the iPhone to your Mac and then browse the photos directory?
Hardly ever connect my iPhone to my Mac so cant remember!

That wouldn’t solve the issue as the photos on my phone are also just the low res versions whereas I want the originals.

 

[Ifti]

That wouldn’t solve the issue as the photos on my phone are also just the low res versions whereas I want the originals.

Ah Gotcha!
I don't use iCloud for my photos hence my suggestion.
Hope you find a way round it soon!

 

[NoBoMac]

I don’t really want to use the SSD as the home for my library as I don’t want it plugged in all the time.

Don't have to keep it plugged in. And not a pain. This is the exact way I'm using Photos, minus iCloud syncing (no need for me to have all my photos available on all devices). I only plug in the SSD with my library when I need to access the library. And for backup of the library, I periodically use the rsync command to copy only changes to a different drive

rsync "src" -lptgorDHv "dest" --delete

Re: low-res on the Mac: that only happens if you have "Optimize Storage" turned on. The originals get removed from Mac when space needed. Otherwise, the originals are still in Photos library. And you can have that to be always true by turning on Photos > Preferences > iCloud > Download Originals to this Mac