Apple - How do I import photos in OS X without using Photos.app?

You can use Image Capture in the /Applications folder. This allows you to select a normal folder and import photos to that location, which can be accessed in Finder or Photoshop as usual.

In addition, this application allows you to setup the preferred application to open when connecting your camera (or smartphone, ...). There you can select Image Capture itself as the default application.

What do you mean by "import", if you're not copying to the special internal organization?

Just copy the files from the camera media.

If you're using Photoshop, maybe you can consider using Lightroom too. It can "import" with some flexibility in where you store the files.

Normally I just copy files, no special import process, to put he files where I want them, which is especially handy as I can do that on any computer to store to a file server. Then Lightroom "imports" (really, discovers) in-place without moving or changing those files.

You can use Dropbox, (free version is Ok, you get 2GB free could storage) when you sign up and install it on your mac, every time you connect any device (including iPhone, iPad, digital cameras, etc..) it comes up with a window asking if you want to transfer the images stored in that device to your Dropbox folder (which is in your computer, but also backed up on the cloud), once transferred you can move them anywhere. Hope it helps