can you copy, transfer, or backup Photos Directory?

[gpspad]

I'd like to create a new user on my mac, so my Dad can use it when he's here.

The thing is I have a slow internet connection and it took days for all of his photos to upload to the cloud. He would like to use my scanner and the plan was for him to use my mac with an account on my mac linked to his iCloud, so the photos he imports goes into the cloud and his machine back home.

Can I make a copy of his photo directory on his home mac, then transfer it to mine, and then turn on photo cloud sharing to get a head start on any synching?

The thought of days of downloading photos is a deal breaker I'd like to avoid.

 

[Weaselboy]

Can I make a copy of his photo directory on his home mac, then transfer it to mine, and then turn on photo cloud sharing to get a head start on any synching?

Sure... that would work. Just go to his Pictures folder in his user account and copy the Photos library file to a USB key or whatever.

 

[mikzn]

in addition - you could open a separate library < hold option key while opening < select "Create New" and he can store/keep all your pictures in a separate file / library without mixing them with his own pictures.

Then you can copy the entire library to a hard drive / thumb dive etc. for trandfrring the pictures.

I have several separate libraries to separate "work related pictures" from "home / family" and "hiking pictures"

 

[gpspad]

I tried it. Only problem, is that when I start photos it now wants to upload 3,000 photos to the cloud.

is that going to give him 3,000 duplicate photos later? and 3,000 photos that get downloaded again?

Not to mention the internet its wasting. Not sure this is the way to go.

 

[Weaselboy]

I tried it. Only problem, is that when I start photos it now wants to upload 3,000 photos to the cloud.

is that going to give him 3,000 duplicate photos later? and 3,000 photos that get downloaded again?

Not to mention the internet its wasting. Not sure this is the way to go.

I'm confused now. I thought that is what you wanted... to put the file on your Mac now so it could start the upload to iCloud.

 

[Shirasaki]

If your office has good internet connection speed, you can transfer all your dad photos with you, create a new account on your office Mac, import photo library, log into your dad iCloud account. Then Mac OS X may start uploading all photos to your dad account.

If you copy them just to your user without logging into your dad iCloud account, you will create duplicates eventually. You will also need to move away your library from photos app when uploading your dad photos.

 

[stooovie]

I tried it. Only problem, is that when I start photos it now wants to upload 3,000 photos to the cloud.

is that going to give him 3,000 duplicate photos later? and 3,000 photos that get downloaded again?

Not to mention the internet its wasting. Not sure this is the way to go.

It probably wouldn't actually upload all of these photos and thus create duplicates. It needs to check all of them to see.if they're indeed in iCloud. Apple is just deliberately obscuring detailed info from users for sake of simplicity (even when ultimately creating confusion). Google Photos does the same thing when installed on new computer.

 

[gpspad]

It probably wouldn't actually upload all of these photos and thus create duplicates. It needs to check all of them to see.if they're indeed in iCloud. Apple is just deliberately obscuring detailed info from users for sake of simplicity (even when ultimately creating confusion). Google Photos does the same thing when installed on new computer.

It took all day, but finished in 24hrs. I don't think it actually downloaded just updated files.