shift key does not work to select batch photos in finder. (macOS sierra v10.12.6)

No that doesn't work in icon view, you can just click hold and drag the cursor over the items you want to select if they are contiguous, you can also select multiple files in icon view by holding down the command or the shift key and clicking on the images you want to select. If you have selected a group of 10 files for example but now want to exclude numbers 2 and 7 press and hold the command key and click on 2 and 7 of them to remove them from your selection.

Does no harm to just experiment a little, get to know your mac, its a pussycat.

In column or list mode click to highlight the first image you want to select and then go down the list to the last image you want to select, now press the shift key and click on that image, all files should now be selected.

If you want to select non-contiguous photos while in icon view you want to use the command key, not shift.