Transfer Photos Originals

[TyWahn]

Hello all
I have a 2008 iMac that I am about to replace with the 21.5" Retina iMac.
All my original photos are in the Photos app. I want the originals on the new iMac. How would I go about doing that? I like having hard copies and not just copies in the cloud.
I don't even know how the originals showed up on the iMac.
Thanks

 

[Fishrrman]

I don't really use Photos much, but here's what I would try:

You want to export to an EXTERNAL drive that IS NOT "managed by the cloud" in any way. This is very important. Then...

Connect the drive to the Mac and open Photos.

Try typing "command-a" to "select all" -- the ENTIRE library.

Go to the file menu and choose Export --> Export Unmodified Original...

I believe a dialog will open asking WHERE you want the exported files to be saved.

Choose your EXTERNAL drive.

See what this does for you. Copying them all may take some time.

A word of advice:
I would never never NEVER "trust the cloud" with files that are important to me.
Not Apple's cloud.
Not ANYBODY'S cloud.
Always always ALWAYS keep at least one (preferably more than one) copy stored by YOU on media that YOU CONTROL.

What if the cloud you trusted in suddenly "blows away"....?