Store photos outside of iPhoto's library

Macworld - Despite its powerful cataloging tools and easy-to-use editing features, many users are still nervous about committing their photo library to iPhoto. The program's approach to storing images feels a little like the photography version of Hotel California: your pictures check-in, but they can never leave. That may be fine if you don't often venture beyond iPhoto's borders; but what if you want to take advantage of the advanced image-adjustment tools in programs such as Aperture or Lightrooom?

The good news is you can enjoy the benefits of iPhoto and have some flexibility, too. The secret is to create a referenced library. This means that instead of importing all of your master images into iPhoto, you simply "point" iPhoto to where those originals live--whether on your Mac or on a separate hard drive.

The beauty of the referenced-library approach is that you can also point other applications to these same images. You don't have to bother with first extracting the photos from iPhoto. This approach works particularly well with programs that use a non-destructive workflow, such as Aperture, Lightroom, or Adobe Bridge and Camera Raw. Since these programs don't actually apply changes to the image file, you don't have to worry about overwriting your original set of pictures--even if they're all pointing to the same set of shots. (I don't recommend using the approach with Photoshop or other destructive editors as you run the risk of altering your original image irrevocably. Instead, use iPhoto's option to edit a photo in an external editor, so iPhoto can manage the process.)

The referenced-library approach is very flexible and perfectly suited for Raw shooters who have to manage large files. Here's how you set it up.

Creating your referenced library

First, you have to decide where your image files are going to live. A good option is an external hard drive, as this allows your collection to grow without clogging up your Mac's internal storage space. Plus, you then have the option of connecting this hard drive to other computers, too. (Need help choosing one? Read our hard drive buying guide.)

Although not mandatory, I recommend you also give yourself a clean slate in iPhoto by creating a new iPhoto Library file. Mixing referenced shots with those stored within iPhoto can lead to problems: at some point you'll become confused by what lives where.

Your iPhoto library is really just a database that tracks of all your pictures and the information that accompanies them. When you edit a photo in iPhoto, the program doesn't actually change the original image file at all. Instead, it makes note of your settings and then generates a high quality Jpeg that represents those edits. This is your working copy. This approach means that you can go back and adjust the settings at any time without degrading your original image. Every time you do this, iPhoto generates a fresh working copy based on the changes you've made. When you choose to export the photo--to e-mail it to someone else, for example--iPhoto then applies the changes you've made and generates a new jpg, still leaving the original file untouched.