Trackx

Q: Photo Organization

I am trying to organize all the pictures on my Macbook Pro. I have tons of them as well as duplicate upon duplicate.  I got two questions would really love help on. 

 

1) What is the best software to use to help get rid of the duplicates or do I just need to go through them all by hand/mouse? I have tried various programs online that say they will remove the dups, but I always find photos it has missed.  Currently, I have a program I found via the app store on my desktop called Photos Duplicate Cleaner.  It seems to be pretty good.  Just wondering if there are any better options out there?

 

My second question is, I want to sort my photos by date. When sorting photos by date however, does the date created mean the date it was uploaded to my computer or date the photo was taken?

 

If anyone could help me that would be awesome!

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.7.5)

Posted on Sep 11, 2013 1:35 PM

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Q: Photo Organization

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  • by LowLuster,

    LowLuster LowLuster Sep 11, 2013 4:08 PM in response to Trackx
    Level 6 (12,074 points)
    Sep 11, 2013 4:08 PM in response to Trackx

    What program are you now using? iPhoto?

     

    iPhoto has a bad habbit by default it copies images you are importing into its own folder structure so if you copy your images off a memory card to a folder on your Mac and thenn import them into iPhoto they get copied into iphotos folder system.

    You can change that setting so iphoto doesn't copy them and just created a database/library/catalog of them. But by default that setting is off.

     

     

    I use Lightroom.

    As for dups there is only one way I have ever found to get rid of them and that is manually.

  • by OGELTHORPE,

    OGELTHORPE OGELTHORPE Sep 11, 2013 4:43 PM in response to Trackx
    Level 9 (52,101 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 11, 2013 4:43 PM in response to Trackx

    I will request that you query be relocated to the iPhoto forum where experienced iPhoto users will be able to assist you.

     

    Ciao.

  • by LowLuster,

    LowLuster LowLuster Sep 11, 2013 4:45 PM in response to OGELTHORPE
    Level 6 (12,074 points)
    Sep 11, 2013 4:45 PM in response to OGELTHORPE

    Why? The OP has not said he is using iPhoto.

    OGELTHORPE wrote:

     

    I will request that you query be relocated to the iPhoto forum where experienced iPhoto users will be able to assist you.

     

    Ciao.

  • by LarryHN,

    LarryHN LarryHN Sep 11, 2013 6:34 PM in response to LowLuster
    Level 10 (84,205 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Sep 11, 2013 6:34 PM in response to LowLuster

    Note - LowLuster is a bad source of advice about iPhoto since they do not use it and do not like it - if you are using iPhoto and want to then I suggest you deal with people who use it - if you want to user Lightroom or software other than iPhoto then the Apple Iphoto for Mac forums (or any Mac forum for that matter) are a very poor place to get advice

     

    As to iPhoto (where your post current is)

     

    1 - iPhoto Library Manager - http://www.fatcatsoftware.com/iplm/ -  or duplicate annihalitor are the best in my experiance

     

    2 - iPhoto is a photo manager and uses the EXIF and IPTC data so sorts by data are the EXIF date inserted into the photo by the camera

     

    There are some excellant online iPhoto tutorials which will assist in learning how it manages photos - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5371  --  and --  http://support.apple.com/videos#iphoto

     

    LN

  • by Trackx,

    Trackx Trackx Sep 11, 2013 7:01 PM in response to LarryHN
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 11, 2013 7:01 PM in response to LarryHN

    I am not using any program. I do have Iphoto, but stopped using it because, I don't like the fact that I could not find the orginal file easiy in my HD.  I do however, Use Adobe Bridgr to view/find photos I want to open in Photoshop.  As to how I want to access/organize them, I am just going into the pictures sidebar tab by clicking on my HD icon on my desktop to find the folders that sidebar. Im thinking about getting Lightroom, but just for editing reasons. Sorry, I was not aware I posted this the iphoto form.... where should I move this question since it does not really relate to iphoto.... the general Macbook Pro forum (if theiris one)?

     

    As for importing, I use Image Capture.

  • by LarryHN,

    LarryHN LarryHN Sep 11, 2013 7:35 PM in response to Trackx
    Level 10 (84,205 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Sep 11, 2013 7:35 PM in response to Trackx

    There is a MacBook Pro forum - but it is for MacBookPro questions - not Adobe questions or photo organization questions

     

    You need to post in the Adobe forums for Bridge and/or Photoshop

     

    BTW - you have no understanding of iPhoto - if you are interested look through the tutorials I linked to - if not then give the Adobe forums a shot

     

    And if you do not like iPhoto then Image capture and Bridge (Adobe's photo organizor) are one of many wayt to go

     

    LN

  • by LowLuster,

    LowLuster LowLuster Sep 11, 2013 10:20 PM in response to LarryHN
    Level 6 (12,074 points)
    Sep 11, 2013 10:20 PM in response to LarryHN

    See the OP doesn't eve use iPhoto. That is why I ask in my reply.

    Thank Larry your post just go to prove $%#^&.

     

    Again what is my post isn't fact.

    LarryHN wrote:

     

    Note - LowLuster is a bad source of advice about iPhoto since they do not use it and do not like it - if you are using iPhoto and want to then I suggest you deal with people who use it - if you want to user Lightroom or software other than iPhoto then the Apple Iphoto for Mac forums (or any Mac forum for that matter) are a very poor place to get advice

     

    As to iPhoto (where your post current is)

     

    1 - iPhoto Library Manager - http://www.fatcatsoftware.com/iplm/ -  or duplicate annihalitor are the best in my experiance

     

    2 - iPhoto is a photo manager and uses the EXIF and IPTC data so sorts by data are the EXIF date inserted into the photo by the camera

     

    There are some excellant online iPhoto tutorials which will assist in learning how it manages photos - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5371  --  and --  http://support.apple.com/videos#iphoto

     

    LN

  • by LowLuster,

    LowLuster LowLuster Sep 11, 2013 10:27 PM in response to Trackx
    Level 6 (12,074 points)
    Sep 11, 2013 10:27 PM in response to Trackx

    Then you have to come up with a folder system to place your image as you import them.

    I put mine in Year folders, Picturer 2001, Pictures 2002 and so on, and then in Sub-Folders for the dat I shot them.

    When I edit a image I then place the original and the edited version, I always make a copy and never change the original, into a different subfolder of that year.

    This helps stop the duplicates.

     

    Trackx wrote:

     

    I am not using any program. I do have Iphoto, but stopped using it because, I don't like the fact that I could not find the orginal file easiy in my HD.  I do however, Use Adobe Bridgr to view/find photos I want to open in Photoshop.  As to how I want to access/organize them, I am just going into the pictures sidebar tab by clicking on my HD icon on my desktop to find the folders that sidebar. Im thinking about getting Lightroom, but just for editing reasons. Sorry, I was not aware I posted this the iphoto form.... where should I move this question since it does not really relate to iphoto.... the general Macbook Pro forum (if theiris one)?

     

    As for importing, I use Image Capture.

  • by Trackx,

    Trackx Trackx Sep 12, 2013 8:10 AM in response to LowLuster
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 12, 2013 8:10 AM in response to LowLuster

    Thx LowLuster, I currently have a similar setup in my Picture tab in my HD. I'm just wondering about the date question I originally posted now then since you said going though my pics manually is my best option to fix the dup issue.  If the date created turns out to be the date the photo was taken and not imported, I think I'm just going to throw all my photos together in one folder to find the duplicates and then build it up again from scratch.

  • by Trackx,

    Trackx Trackx Sep 15, 2013 5:28 PM in response to LarryHN
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 15, 2013 5:28 PM in response to LarryHN

    How do I move this quetion to a different forum to see if anybody else can help me?

  • by Knownewstuff,Helpful

    Knownewstuff Knownewstuff Feb 25, 2014 8:17 AM in response to Trackx
    Level 1 (10 points)
    Feb 25, 2014 8:17 AM in response to Trackx

    Trackx,

    I do not know if you found the answers you were looking for in another forum, however, I believe the answers to your two questions are as follows:

    1) I really like dupeGuru Standard edition for finding ALL of my duplicate files, including photos, on my Mac.

    In addition to the Standard edition, there is one specific for finding duplicate pictures (PE) and another specifically for finding duplicate Music files. I've had the best luck with the Standard edition, although it could be interesting to use a feature in the Picture edition that lets you scan for duplicates based on EXIF data.

    All three editions are free to download and use (the developer  says he doesn't want any money), are  opensource and the dupeGuru website has lots of information on how they work and all the ways you can customize your scans. It's actually pretty straightforward though if you just want to jump in and start finding duplicates. Another thing I like is that it doesn't AUTOMATICALLY do anything with the duplicates it finds and lets me check each one out before I decide if I want to delete it or not.

    Just do an internet search for 'dupeguru' and I'm sure you'll find it. It's WAY better than trying to go through and find each copy of a picture manually in every possible place on your computer. It even found duplicates that I didn't know existed in places I didn't know they were taking up space (I think because of something iPhoto was doing that I haven't exactly figured out yet. I don't like iPhoto and only use it occasionally for its ability to rotate photos a specific number of degrees.).

     

    2) When sorting photos by date the Date Created can mean different things; it can mean EITHER the date it was uploaded to my computer OR the date the photo was taken and I think it depends on the input source (what you used to take the picture).


    To figure it out, do this:

    Once you get the photos on to your Mac, check the EXIF data by opening the image and getting the info on it (Apple "i"). It gives additional date time information on the picture such as "Date Time Digitized" and "Date Time Original".

    For example, I used bluetooth file transfer to get photos off a non "smart phone" (a Samsung flip phone) and  the Date Created is the date I transferred it on to my Mac. However, I notice that if I took a photo with my iPhone and got it on my Mac with Image Capture, the Date Created value is the date that it was taken, not the date that I put it on my Mac. The date I uploaded it to my Mac becomes the value under "Date Modified" (at least until I change / modify the file, that is).

     

    From all that I figure if the Date Time Original in the photo's EXIF data matches "Date Created" in File Manager, then the original file is already a digital image and the Date Created field gets populated by the information found in the file's EXIF data.

    If however you notice that the Date Time Original timestamp in the photo's EXIF data is different from  Date Created in File Manager, then the Date Created is most likely the date that it was uploaded to your computer, not the date that it was actually taken.

     

    I hope this helps. If you found out any additional information that supports or contradicts what I figured out on my own from just poking around in Preview and File Manager, I'd love to hear it.

    Thanks!

  • by Trackx,

    Trackx Trackx Feb 25, 2014 10:14 AM in response to Knownewstuff
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 25, 2014 10:14 AM in response to Knownewstuff

    Thank you for letting me know about this Knownewstuff.  It's good info to know.  I checked some of my photo this way, and I noticed that under the date created, it says a date that I know is totally incorrect. For example, I have this photo of my sister (she was born in '87), and when I look at the date created, it says 1969. A good portion of my photos are labled like this, so I don't know when the were taken.  I took a good majority of these photos off my dads computer and put them on my laptop.  I asked my dad this, and he said he thinks it has to do with sharing from/to other comps or using external HD's.  Somehow the EXIF/METADATA gets skrewed up I guess.  Have you ever noticed this or know a workaround way to labled photos?  I could just add tags to them of the general dates since I don't know the specific day i suppose.

  • by Knownewstuff,Helpful

    Knownewstuff Knownewstuff Feb 25, 2014 10:34 AM in response to Trackx
    Level 1 (10 points)
    Feb 25, 2014 10:34 AM in response to Trackx
  • by Trackx,

    Trackx Trackx Mar 6, 2014 10:57 AM in response to Knownewstuff
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 6, 2014 10:57 AM in response to Knownewstuff

    Thanks for pointing this thread out to me.