pictures folder is empty

[92 5 oh]

Hi everyone,
I was just poking around and realized that my pictures folder is empty except for a 12GB photo library. This appears to have all the pictures contained inside of it, like a zip file? I logged in my girlfriends profile and all her pictures show in the pictures folder. logged back in to mine and also noticed when i go to "all files" pictures don't show up either. However, when i open "photos" app all the pictures are there. any idea what's going on and how i can get the pictures back in the "pictures" folder?

thanks!

 

[Donka]

Any photos you import into the Photos app will be stored inside the Photo Library file. If your girlfriend's profile shows all the individual photos inside the folder instead, I assume this is because she has saved the files there instead of importing in the Photos app. You can check with her if that is what she does or open up the Photos app under her profile to see if her photos are in there or not.

 

[Fishrrman]

It's possible to put "loose pics" inside the "pictures" folder.
I do it myself.

Regarding the Photos app, all of the originals will be in the "Photos library".
Be aware that this IS NOT a "file".
Rather, it's a "package", containing numerous folders and files.
To see what's inside, RIGHT CLICK on it and choose "show package contents"

WARNING!
Don't move or delete what's inside unless you're sure of what you're doing.
Otherwise, problems could result!

 

[92 5 oh]

Thanks for the replies. Last night I was thinking about it a little more and as Donka mentioned, I think the pictures i'm seeing were imported from her digital camera into the pictures folder. I believe they also exist in the Photos app, so she must have imported them later. I don't really use the camera or import photos, which would explain why there's none in my profile. I thought there was an issue with my profile or the pictures folder, but that doesn't seem to be the case

 

[komatsu]

Glad you sorted it out 925!

WARNING!
Don't move or delete what's inside unless you're sure of what you're doing.
Otherwise, problems could result!

What is the safest way to move photos from the Photos Library Folder to another location?

Secondly, what is the point of Photos Library? Why does Apple complicate things with "packages"? They are only .Jpegs and not part of some database!