r/software • u/Phablos • 4d ago

Looking for software Anything to choose photos from hundreds of similar ones?

After every vacation, and especially with kids I find myself with thousands of photos with many similar ones "because maybe we take one where everyone is smiling".

In the end there's a lot of afterwork choosing the best ones and cutting down on storage while keeping some quality selection.

Or maybe something that groups them by similarity or automatic albums.

Do you know anything smart that helps with this?

8 Upvotes

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2

u/hspindel 4d ago

You're hoping for something that can make a judgment call for you about which photo you personally prefer. There is no automated way to do that.

1

u/Phablos 4d ago edited 4d ago

Yes, I'm talking about something that maybe selects photos where at least one has closed eyes or looks away for example, or pictures that are out of focus... Things like that

1

u/notepad987 4d ago

I want a local program that has facial recognition.

1

u/HighRoad684 4d ago

digiKam is worth a look on Linux. Its Similarity view groups similar images, and the Image Quality Scanner can label shots based on blur, exposure and other quality factors. Use those labels to narrow the pile, then compare the remaining shots in Light Table. It won't reliably choose the family expression you prefer. I'd try a copy of one holiday folder first and review the rejects before deleting anything.

1

u/SujithShalitha 3d ago

1. Dedicated AI Photo Culling Software

Originally built for wedding and event photographers handling tens of thousands of shots, these tools scan a batch of photos, analyze technical quality, group bursts together, and automatically flag blurry shots or closed eyes.

  • FilterPixel: Excellent for automated culling. It scans a folder, detects blur, closed eyes, and facial expressions, and groups duplicates using AI so you can quickly review the best options. FilterPixel
  • Aftershoot: A popular desktop app that runs offline. It analyzes your shoots for duplicates, closed eyes, and poor framing, allowing you to set custom tolerances for how strict the AI should be. Imagen AI+ 1
  • Narrative Select: Famous for its raw rendering speed. It features a smart "Close-ups" panel that automatically locks onto people's faces across a burst sequence, letting you rapidly compare expressions without manually zooming in and out. Imagen AI

2. Built-in Similarity & Smart Albums

If you prefer not to install dedicated professional culling software, existing ecosystems offer automated organization:

  • Apple Photos / Google Photos: Both use on-device machine learning to automatically group burst shots, weed out duplicates into a "Clean Up" or "Duplicates" suggestion album, and recognize faces. Google Photos automatically curates "Memories" and highlights the best smiling shots from events.
  • digiKam (Open-Source/Free): If you are on desktop (Windows, Mac, or Linux), digiKam features an Image Quality Scanner that automatically grades photos based on sharpness, exposure, and noise, alongside a Similarity view that clusters near-duplicates together.

Recommended Workflow

  1. Run an AI pass: Feed your vacation folder into an AI culler (like Aftershoot or FilterPixel) to automatically flag or reject blurry shots and closed eyes. FilterPixel
  2. Use Side-by-Side Comparison: For the remaining burst sequences, use a grid or light-table view to look at the top 3 options side-by-side, zooming in briefly on the kids' faces to pick the definitive keeper.
  3. Delete the rest: Bulk-delete the rejects to instantly recover gigabytes of storage.

1

u/oharra3 3d ago

I don't have personal experience with this but I was just looking at Google Pixel phones that they are automatically shooting a bunch of photos each time your pressure shutter button and then it gets the one when everybody has their eyes open; looks super useful. something to think about in the future phone purchase ( not sure about the smile part but take a look at it)

1

u/Phablos 3d ago

Thank you, I had a pixel phone and it was ok, but after it died after 2 years I decided never again. Also I want something that doesn't depend on a brand

1

u/No_Product_2652 1d ago

The everyone smiling gamble creates sooo many duplicates

1

u/Disastrous-Ask-274 1d ago

Need automatic picks or just grouping tho?

1

u/Greg_Zeng 1d ago

Windows freeware or shareware from my personal machines. Later versions may exist than those listed here.

Cisdem Duplicate Finder 5.0.2.exe

CloneScan 2.3.exe

Czkawka 8.0.0.zip

DiskGeek 1.1.0.exe

DUDE (DUplicates DEtector) 2.0297.592 LINUX.zip

DUDE (DUplicates DEtector) 2.0297.592.7z

DuoBolt 2.2.6.exe

Dup Same Files Searcher (5 3 0).zip

Dup Scout 16.8.24.exe

Dupe Clear 3.1.exe

DupFilesSearchAndLink_(10_5_1).zip

Duplicate Cleaner Free 5.25 Pro.msi

Duplicate File Detective 7.3.68

Duplicate File Finder 1.0.1.exe

Duplicate Files Search & Link 10.8.4.zip

Duplicate Photo Cleaner 7.19.0.50.html

Easy Duplicate Finder 7.33.0.70.exe

EF Duplicate Files Manager 26.07.zip

Fast Duplicate File Finder.exe

ImageFinder 1.007.zip

Linux_czkawka_gui.appimage

Linux_czkawka_gui_alternative.appimage

PrivacyRoot Duplicate Finder 421.exe

Similar Images Finder 1.021.7z

Wise Duplicate Finder 2.1.8.69.html