Accessing photo metadata

In Aperture or iPhoto the filenames have been used as the default titles for the image versions. As long as we did not assign a title to the photo, the filename has been used as the title by default. Photos is making a conceptual difference between the title and the filename, which is conceptually clearer, but rather inconvenient. In Photos 1.0 to Photos 3.0 nothing will be shown in the title field, if we do not assign a title.

For Photos 4.0 Apple relented, and is now showing the filename again as a default title below the thumbnails. But it is still different from iPhoto or Aperture. If you look at the screenshot I posted, you will notice, that the filenames are slightly gray. We can see them, but we cannot copy and paste them. They are a fake.

If Apple does have that kind of policy - and I have only heard about it relative to iOS devices - it certainly would not apply to a 2016 Mac!

Just note: if you shoot in RAW you are now forced to update to get new RAW convertors.

If you upgrade to macOS 10.14.2 Mojave, the filenames will be shown as default titles below the thumbnails of your photos.

• Upgrade to macOS 10.14.2 Mojave with Photos 4.0, if your Mac can run this system. (macOS Mojave - Apple (UK))
• In Photos enable the option "View > Metadata > Titles" in the View menu.

All photos, that do not have a custom title will now be showing the filenames as the titles below the thumbnails.

For example:

Being able to show the filenames below the thumbnails is one of niceness features of Photos 4.0.

But if you upgrade to Photos 4.0, you will no longer be able to create Apple Books in Photos. The native Apple print projects are no longer supported.

If you rather would not upgrade to a new system just now, you could use an Apple Script to copy the filenames to the title field of the photo. Photos 2.0 in Sierra can also show the titles below the thumbnails as shown in the screenshot, but it will not use the filename as a default title, like Photos 4.0 is doing.

An Apple Script to batch copy the filenames to the titles is here: Script: Batch Changing the Titles to the Filenames with Extension (Dec 19,2018)