The Top Culling and Editing Softwares for Photographers
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Written by: Camila Sanchez Checa
Photo by Ron Lach
As a professional photographer, having the right software tools can significantly streamline your post-production workflow. In this article, let's look over the four most popular culling and editing programs you can incorporate in your workflow today that can save you days at a time: Aftershoot, Narrative, Imagine AI and FilterPixel.
Aftershoot: The All-in-One Integrated Solution
Aftershoot combines AI culling and editing into a single integrated platform. Its culling software reviews your images and studies them, filtering to quickly sort through blurry images, shots with closed eyes, and duplicate photos. Its AI will also highlight what it thinks are the best images for you to use.
Similar to other softwares, Aftershoot also uses AI technology to provide automated editing. You can either create your own editing profile, training the AI with your previously edited Lightroom or Capture One catalogs, needing only 2500 images, or choose one of the profiles Aftershoot offers for free in their Marketplace. Its software will enhance your image, applying changes like color correction, white balance, exposure, among others.
Edits 2.0 launch (aftershoot.com)
Narrative: AI-Powered Intelligent Culling
Narrative takes a similar approach to culling by leveraging artificial intelligence technology. Much the same to Aftershoot, it analyzes your images based on factors like sharpness, exposure, composition, and facial recognition, then presents you with a selection of your best shots. While Aftershoot will give you what some consider "sneak peaks" with their Highlights, Narrative focuses a lot more on facial analysis and detection.
As for editing, Narrative recently expanded into offering editing features like basic exposure, contrast and color adjustments, though it still seems relatively basic compared to other editing softwares like Aftershoot or Imagen AI. The focus still appears to be primarily on their AI-powered culling to rapidly find your best photos.
Narrative’s culling interface (narrative.so)
Imagen AI: Automated Editing with AI
Imagen AI started out as an editing-only software; designed to automate various editing tasks using AI algorithms, but it now also offers culling features, although these are still in beta. It can analyze your images and apply intelligent enhancements, such as color correction, exposure adjustments, noise reduction, and skin softening. Just like with Aftershoot, you'll need to upload a couple thousand images to train Imagen AI's editing skills to edit photos with your unique style. Once the AI has learned your editing preferences, you can run a batch through its automated editing software, then hop over into Lightroom to review and refine the results if needed.
As for culling, the software will quickly scan through your photos, using AI to automatically filter them recognising closed eyes or blurry images, as well as kissing shots. One of the best features Imagen AI offers is being able to preview your images with one of Imagen AI's editing profiles already applied. Instead of just staring at the raw files, you get to see the final edited version could look like right from the start.
ImagenAI interface (support.imagen-ai.com)
FilterPixel: AI-Driven Editing and Culling
Although FilterPixel may not be as widely known, it offers a couple of standout features that make it worth taking a look for those of us seeking new tools to speed up our workflow. Similar to Imagen AI and Aftershoot, FilterPixel uses AI algorithms to automatically enhance your images, applying adjustments like color correction, exposure tweaks, and noise reduction. However, FilterPixel also offers automated culling features, allowing you to quickly sort through and identify your best shots based on various criteria.
One particularly interesting feature of FilterPixel is its ability to create and train a personalized Culling Assistant, similar to how you can train AI editing profiles in Aftershoot and Imagen AI. By uploading your previously culled galleries, you can actually teach FilterPixel's AI to cull images just like you would. This tailored Culling Assistant then applies your trained criteria to automatically identify and sort your best photos, mimicking your own manual culling process.
FilterPixel edits (filterpixel.com/blog)
Which one is for you?
Aftershoot
Choose it if you’re looking for:
An all-in-one software. In their latest update, you can cull and edit RAWs or JPEGs without having to hop between apps.
A completely personalized editing workflow: Either customize Aftershoot's profiles or create your own to recreate your style.
A cost-effective solution without sacrificing quality: it's subscription based plans will allow you to edit as many images as you need.
The possibility of culling and editing your images without needing an active internet connection.
Pricing:
Subscription based with a 30-day unlimited trial:
Selects (only Culling): $120/year or $15/month.
Essentials (Culling and basic Editing): $240/year or $25/month
Pro (Culling and personalized Editing): $480/month or $48/month.
Max (Culling and personalized Editing with multiple editing profiles): $720/year or 72/month.
Narrative
Choose it if you’re looking for:
An advanced and more precise facial analysis and detection, for superior culling selection.
While editing may not be Narrative's strongest suit, it's culling capabilities are considered one of the best.
An accesible option to get started: their free plans are a great option for beginners looking to try AI culling and editing.
Pricing:
Subscription based:
Select free (basic culling): $0
Select Pro (advanced): $180/year or $20/month
Edit free (basic editing): $0
Per-image based:
Edit Pro (personalized editing): from $0.03 per image
Imagen AI
Choose it if you’re looking for:
An advanced editing tool, with basic culling capabilities. This program will learn your editing style and will give you very similar and consistent results.
The option to pay per image if your workload is light: Ideal for those with lower shooting volumes; they offer flexible per-image pricing alongside its standard plans.
A cloud-based interface: Imagen AI offers up to 100GB of storage for free for 3 months.
Pricing:
Per-image based (includes culling in beta) with a 1000 image trial:
$0.05 per image
Anual plans (also includes culling in beta):
$810/year for 18k images
$1530/year for 36k images
$2880/year for 72k images
FilterPixel
Choose it if you’re looking for:
A fully personalized culling assistant: You can train the its culling algorithm to mimic your own manual culling style.
An integrated all-in-one software with both culling and editing for a set price.
Pricing:
Subscription based with a 14-day unlimited trial:
Pro (only culling): $98/year
Max (culling and personalized editing): $329/year
Time to choose
Each of these software solutions caters to different needs and workflow preferences. Aftershoot and FilterPixel both offer an all-in-one experiences that combine AI culling and editing capabilities. However, it seems Aftershoot's features and capabilities are a bit more advanced overall and their subscription-based pricing could be a great fit, IF it aligns with your budget.
Imagen AI seems to be very reliable when it comes to automated editing powered by AI and their per-image pricing can definitely work in your favor if you're working with less images. However, it's important to note that their culling software is still in beta testing, so it may not provide the seamless one-stop platform you want.
Narrative has built a strong reputation as an AI-driven culling power-house, rapidly picking out your best photos. However, their editing tools are still quite limited compared to other solutions at this point, and that's something to keep in mind.
Ultimately, the choice will depend on factors such as your shooting volume, editing requirements, and personal workflow preferences. By understanding the strengths and capabilities of each software, you can select the program that best aligns with your needs as a professional photographer. Whichever decision you make, these tools have the potential to completely change your post-production workflow, freeing up time and energy to focus on what truly matters: capturing visually stunning photos.