ICloud Storage – No photos or videos but still shows as full

First question: yes, iCloud backs up your photo as it is. If you delete media from your photos library it will be deleted from iCloud. (I might add that videos are also stored in the cloud - and consequently take up the most room).

Second question: It is possible you can use the Scanner and Camera wizard to import photos from your iPhone. Here is are two articles that briefly describe the process.

• Tech Recipes
• OSX Daily

Before you delete all (or most of) your photos off your iPhone, I would recommend that you double check that everything has been transfered correctly so you don't lose any pictures.

You probably already know this but it's worth mentioning anyways. When you go to delete photos from your iPhone, open the Photos app, click the Camera Roll album, then select the box with the arrow icon at the top right of the screen. Select pictures to be deleted, then tap the Delete button in the bottom bar (this is also a way to email more then one picture).

Of course, the other option would be to turn off the iCloud backup of your photos. (You already know how to get there but go to iCloud > Storage & Backup > Manage Storage > [your name] iPhone > Turn Camera Off.)

Yes - this aspect could potentially be a little confusing. There is a difference between iCloud Photo Library and PhotoStream and backed up photos and videos.

Photostream

• Does not count towards your iCloud storage limit.
• Contains up to 1000 pictures (and only pictures).
• Also, shared photo streams (now called Shared iCloud Photos) do not count towards your limit.
• PhotoStream has been around for awhile and is quite automatic. It uploads just photos and allows you to view those photos on your iPad or computer.

iCloud Photo Library

• Counts towards your iCloud storage limit.
• Is in beta (as of March 2015)
• Must be manually enabled (and can sort of be disabled in Settings -> Photos & Camera -> iCloud Photo Library (Beta)).
• Uploads your entire photo and video library from your phone.
• Has some fancy-ness built in like optimizing your iOS device's storage.
• Can be viewed on your iPad, iPhone, computer, and iCloud.com
• Is terrible at this point (IMO, March 2015)

Backed Up Photos

• Are managed in Settings -> iCloud -> Storage -> Manage Storage
• Typically they will then be under [Your iPhone Name]'s iPhone -> Photo Library, but if Photo Library is enabled you will see information on iCloud Photo Library.

More general information.