How to copy photo library to external hard drive

[Chiromac81]

Hi all, I was wondering what's the easiest and fastest way to get my whole library of FULL RES videos and photos to an external hard drive just to have it as a backup?

Do I have to select each photo and video one by one or can I select a lot or all?

How do I know I'm backing the files up as full res and not compressed


Thanks in advance

 

[Mr_Brightside_@]

Are you using Photos?

 

[Fishrrman]

How large is the "whole library"...?

 

[Weaselboy]

Just go to this folder in Finder and drag and drop this file to the external drive.

 

[Chiromac81]

Just go to this folder in Finder and drag and drop this file to the external drive.

View attachment 1984177

Awesome-it's that easy??? Is that the uncompressed files?

I'm not sure how large my whole library is (videos and photos) how do I find out so I know what size disc to use?

Do other people do this? It must be good practice I would think...

 

[Weaselboy]

Yep... just drag and drop. This copies everything in the library, including any original uncompressed files and edited files.

If you select that file like in my screenshot then hit command-i it will bring up a popup showing the size.

I use an app called Carbon Copy Cloner to automate backing up this stuff, but if you just want to do it occasionally manually, there is no reason you can't.

 

[Webcat86]

Yep... just drag and drop. This copies everything in the library, including any original uncompressed files and edited files.

If you select that file like in my screenshot then hit command-i it will bring up a popup showing the size.

I use an app called Carbon Copy Cloner to automate backing up this stuff, but if you just want to do it occasionally manually, there is no reason you can't.

So does this allow you to delete photos from the Mac itself? I’ve been wondering how people only keep recent photos on their computer and have everything else on a separate drive

 

[Weaselboy]

So does this allow you to delete photos from the Mac itself? I’ve been wondering how people only keep recent photos on their computer and have everything else on a separate drive

You could copy the library over then use Photos to open the library and delete whatever images you don't want to keep any longer.

 

[satcomer]

Yes if your long term picture taker take it from a old timer, invest in smart nat and keeping you pictures, music archives on when buying new Macs!

 

[Webcat86]

Yes if your long term picture taker take it from a old timer, invest in smart nat and keeping you pictures, music archives on when buying new Macs!

what's your benefit from this?

 

[satcomer]

what's your benefit from this?

When upgrading to new Mac!