Photos for OS X: Import photos and video from storage media
If you have photos or video saved on a hard disk or other storage device, you can import them into Photos.
Import from a hard disk, optical disc, or flash drive
You can import photos or video files from a storage device (such as a hard disk), a CD or DVD (if you have an optical drive), or a flash drive.
Connect the device to your Mac.
Do any of the following:
Drag files or folders from the Finder to the Photos window.
Drag files or folders from the Finder to the Photos icon in the Dock.
In Photos, choose File > Import. Select the photos or videos you want and click Review for Import. If you selected multiple photos or videos, select the ones you want to import and click Import [number] Selected or Import All New Photos.
Important: Don’t eject a disc or drive while the photos are being imported.
Imported photos appear in the Last Import album in Albums view.
Tip: If you have an iCloud account, you can copy photo files to iCloud Drive from any Mac, iOS device, or Windows PC you’ve set up to use iCloud Drive, and then import the photo files to your Mac from iCloud Drive. For more information about iCloud Drive, search for iCloud Drive in Mac Help.
Import from a card reader or SD card
Some Mac computers have built-in SD card slots. If yours doesn’t, you can connect a device called a card reader that is compatible with your Mac and use it to import photos from a memory card, such as an SD or Compact Flash card.
Insert the card into your computer’s SD card slot, or connect a card reader to your computer and insert the card into it.
In Photos, choose File > Import. Select the photos or videos you want and click Review for Import.
Do one of the following:
Import all new photos: Click Import All New Photos.
Import a selection of photos: Click the photos you want to import, then click Import Selected.
If a message asks whether you want to delete or keep the photos on your card after importing them, click Delete Items or Keep Items.
Photos then imports your photos and videos. To cancel importing, click Stop Import.
When all photos have been imported, eject the card from your computer or card reader.
Imported photos appear in the Last Import album in Albums view.
Some card readers may not be compatible with Photos. For more information, check with the device’s manufacturer.
Reprocess imported RAW files
If you import RAW files that were already processed by another app, such as Aperture, the RAW processing of the photos might be out of date. The RAW processing used by Photos may also be updated when Apple releases a Digital Camera Raw Compatibility Update or an updated version of OS X. If you’re happy with how a RAW photo looks, you can leave it as is, or you can choose to reprocess the RAW file with the most recent version of Apple’s RAW processing software. Note that your photos may look different after reprocessing, and you cannot undo this change.
Double-click a photo to open it, click Edit in the toolbar, then choose Image > Reprocess RAW.
Note: If the Reprocess RAW command appears dimmed in the menu, the raw processing of the photo is up to date.