iPhone and Photos

Hey rlvarady,

Thank you for using Apple Support Communities!

We see from your post that you're having trouble with photos automatically syncing and opening on your MacBook when your iPhone is connected. We can help.

To turn this off, use the steps here:

Keep your photos safely stored and up to date on all of your devices - Apple Support

"Turn off Finder syncing

If you don't want the synced photos on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch anymore, turn off syncing in the Finder and they'll be removed from your device. You can turn off syncing for some of your photo albums or all of them at once.

Stop syncing some albums

1. Open a Finder window and connect your device to your computer using a USB cable. 
2. Your device appears in the sidebar of the Finder window. Click the device to select it.
3. If prompted, trust your device.
4. Click the Photos tab below your device's information.
5. Choose "Selected albums" and deselect the albums or collections that you want to stop syncing.
6. Click Apply.

Stop syncing all photos

1. Open a Finder window and connect your device to your computer using a USB cable. 
2. Your device appears in the sidebar of the Finder window. Click the device to select it.
3. If prompted, trust your device.
4. Click the Photos tab below your device's information.
5. Deselect "Sync Photos" then click "Remove photos."
6. Click Apply."

Cheers!