just got a new macBook with iphoto and i imported the photos into a new album. Where is the original photo kept? I want to be able to have that original not just having it in the iphoto library (if that is where the photo info is stored).
Thanks
Kelly

Look in the home directory > Pictures > iPhoto Library. If you right click on the iPhoto Library file and select "Show Package Contents, that will give you access to all original files.

You're better off "EXPORTING" the photos you want to keep separate from iPhoto rather than digging around in the package.

Be careful, iPhoto does not like it when you tamper with the
Package Contents and will cause you problems and headaches.

If I ever have to use iPhoto, to leave the iPhoto library alone and
keep it from holding my images hostage, this is the method I follow.

From iPhoto Help:
Using advanced options when importing from a hard disk
By default, iPhoto copies photos imported from your hard disk,
leaving the originals in their original location and making
duplicates for use in the iPhoto library.

However, if you already have an extensive collection of photos
saved on your computer and you prefer to leave your photos in
their current file structure, you can choose to have iPhoto point
to your original photo files instead of copying them in iPhoto.
Either way, you can still make full use of iPhoto.


To set advanced options for photos imported from your hard disk:
Choose iPhoto > Preferences
Click Advanced.
Select or deselect “Copy items to the iPhoto Library.”

Deselecting this option means that iPhoto will not duplicate photos
when importing them into the application, but will leave them in
their original files on your computer. When you edit these images in
iPhoto, however, the edited versions will be saved in the iPhoto library,
not your original files. Your original files remain untouched.

Thanks so much for the help. You guys ROCK.