iCloud Photo Library and syncing pics via iTunes

[SnapThrow]

So up to this point (for years) I have been periodically moving photos out of my camera roll into folders on my Mac and syncing then pics back via iTunes. Right now I have over 10k pics syncing back to my iPhone via a folder structure based on years. Out of curiosity this morning I clicked on iCloud Photo Library and iOS told me that if I do that all my pics sync'd via iTunes will be deleted from my iPhone. Soooooo.. what do I do with all those pics? Is there a way to make them part of iCloud and the Photo Library feature? I'm confused.

 

[iOS Gravity]

Yes. That will save them onto iCloud, but you might use up all of your storage space on iCloud.

 

[SnapThrow]

Yes. That will save them onto iCloud, but you might use up all of your storage space on iCloud.

I'll pay for the storage if need-be, but it doesn't seem like that is what it does... specific to the pics I have stored on my iMac and syncing to the iPhone via iTunes. The message stated it will delete all those pics on my iPhone... so how do I get them in iCloud so I can share them with my devices?? That's what I don't understand!! Ugh...

 

[ghostface147]

I use iPhoto quite a bit and won't use that new iCloud photo library until the new photo app is completed and released on the Mac.