AI is everywhere — from image generators to editing software — and it’s changing the way we work as photographers. But not all AI tools are created equal. Some try to replace your creativity; others are designed to support it.

That’s where Narrative comes in. This assistive AI tool helps photographers like Jeahn Laffitte speed up their photo culling workflow — without taking the artistry out of the process.

As photographers adopt new AI photo culling software and AI batch photo editing, tools like Narrative make it possible to streamline your photography workflow while maintaining full creative control.

In this guide, based on Jeahn’s real-world experience, we’ll explore what photo culling is, why it matters, and how Narrative’s ethical AI helps professionals cull smarter, edit faster, and stay in control of their creativity.

About Jeahn Laffitte — A Photographer’s Perspective on AI and Workflow

Jeahn Laffitte is a professional photographer and educator known for his emotive studio portraits and photography education with Luma University. All photos included in this blog are shot and edited by Jeahn.

In his YouTube video on photo culling and editing with Narrative, Jeahn shows exactly how he uses Narrative to select and sort through thousands of studio images efficiently.

He’s transparent about being a Narrative ambassador, but his perspective is based on genuine use:

“I’d recommend their product either way because it’s built by photographers, for photographers.”

That authenticity makes this workflow relatable and trustworthy — especially for photographers navigating the balance between technology and creativity.

What Is Photo Culling (and Why It Matters in Photography)

Every shoot produces hundreds, sometimes thousands, of images — but only a fraction make the final cut.
Photo culling is the process of sorting, comparing, and selecting your best images before editing.

It’s one of the most time-consuming yet essential parts of a photography workflow. Manually, it can take hours or even days. That’s where AI-assisted culling software steps in — to speed things up and reduce creative fatigue.

Modern photo culling software for photographers uses AI technology to analyse sharpness, exposure, and facial expressions, helping you identify the best photos for editing faster and with greater accuracy.

Culling efficiently helps you:

• Focus on your strongest images
  
• Maintain consistent quality across sessions
• Save hours on your photo editing workload
• Increase the speed you can deliver galleries to clients

The Rise of AI Photo Culling Software (and Why It’s Controversial)

AI in photography is powerful — and polarising.
Generative AI can now create images from text, sparking debates about originality, ownership, and ethics.

Assistive AI, however, takes a different approach. Instead of replacing photographers, it empowers them. Tools like Narrative act as intelligent assistants — speeding up repetitive tasks while leaving all creative decisions in human hands.

Jeahn puts it best:

“Assistive AI understands its limitations. It helps you push the low-level ideas out of the way so you can focus on what’s important.”

That’s the key difference — AI that assists, not replaces.

Why Narrative Stands Out as the Best AI Photo Culling Software for Photographers

Among today’s growing list of AI culling software, Narrative stands out for its ethical, assistive design — giving photographers the efficiency of automation without losing their artistic judgment.

Designed for Creative Control, Not Automation

Narrative identifies the obvious “undesirable” shots (blinks, poor focus, awkward expressions) while surfacing the strongest options for your review. It doesn’t take over; it just helps you make better selections, faster.

Seamless Workflow with Adobe Lightroom Classic and Capture One Pro

Narrative integrates directly with Adobe Lightroom Classic and Capture One Pro, the two most widely used professional editing platforms.

• Lightroom users can train their own AI Personal Preset, ensuring consistent color grading.
  
• Capture One users can export selects directly into existing catalogues, preserving file structure and metadata.
  

Built by Photographers, for Photographers

Narrative’s team understands what creative professionals need — simplicity, accuracy, and empathy. The software is intuitive, clean, and built around real-world workflows rather than tech jargon.

Step-by-Step: How Narrative Streamlines the Photo Culling Process

The photo culling process inside Narrative follows a structured AI workflow tailored for speed, accuracy, and creative consistency. Whether you’re shooting weddings, portraits, or commercial work, Narrative helps you select the best photos efficiently.

Here’s how Jeahn uses it in his studio workflow:

1. Create a new project – Import your image folder from Lightroom or Capture One.
   
2. Use Scenes View – Automatically groups similar images for faster comparison.
   
3. Apply AI First Pass – Hide unlikely or undesirable images with one click.
   
4. Adjust Sharpness Filters – Fine-tune focus control (Jeahn uses level 6–8 for portraits).
   
5. Compare with Face Assesments  – Evaluate expressions and eye sharpness side-by-side.
   
6. Export & Edit – Send final selects directly to Lightroom or Capture One.
   
   

By automating technical sorting, you reclaim hours of creative time — while maintaining full control of the final selection.

AI-Assisted Editing: From Culling to Creative Editing Faster

Narrative doesn’t just stop at culling. Its AI tools for photographers also help you transition seamlessly into editing.

You can:

• Train AI presets using your own Lightroom edits
  
• Apply AI presets from renowned photographers via the preset marketplace
• Apply consistent color and exposure settings automatically
  
• Create faster, cleaner final galleries
  

These features bridge photo culling and editing, turning your workflow into one connected, efficient process.
The result: less time sorting, more time creating.

Narrative vs Other AI Photo Culling Tools in 2025

When comparing the best photo culling software in 2025, it’s important to look at balance — automation vs control, speed vs artistry.

Tool	Approach	Strengths	Weaknesses
Narrative	Assistive AI	Fast, intuitive, ethical, photographer-led	Limited automation (by design)
Imagen	Semi-automated AI	Fast batch culling	Less creative control
Aftershoot	Fully automated	Auto-rates and edits	May feel “too automatic”
Photo Mechanic	Manual	Fast sorting	No AI assistance

Speed shouldn't be a trade-off for accuracy. Full automation requires you to re-check to ensure you haven't missed a key shot (which may end up not saving you any time at all!). If you value control and artistry, Narrative offers the perfect balance of speed, accuracy and creative input for professional photographers.

Why Ethical AI Matters for the Future of Photography

Jeahn’s philosophy on AI is clear: technology should assist human creativity, not replace it.

Assistive tools like Narrative preserve the photographer’s voice — they eliminate the grunt work but leave the art to you. In an era where automation threatens originality, this balance is not just practical; it’s essential.

“Narrative isn’t taking over your creativity. It’s just getting rid of the bad choices faster, so you can focus on the great ones.”

FAQs About Photo Culling and AI Workflow

What is photo culling?
Photo culling is selecting the best images from a shoot while removing duplicates, blinks, or blurry shots.

How long does photo culling take?
Manual culling can take several hours. With AI-assisted culling software like Narrative, you can cut that time by 50–80%.

What is the best photo culling software in 2025?
Narrative, Imagen, and Aftershoot are among the top contenders. Narrative is best for photographers who value creative control.

Does Narrative work with Lightroom or Capture One?
Yes. It integrates seamlessly with both and lets you export selects or apply AI-trained presets directly.

Try Narrative for Free and Cull Faster

Narrative offers a free trial (no credit card required!) so photographers can experience AI-assisted culling firsthand. You can sign up, import your photos, and start filtering in minutes — no long tutorials required.

Cull smarter, edit faster, and keep your creativity at the center of your workflow.
👉 Try Narrative for free at narrative.so

All images in the blog are shot and edited by Jeahn Laffitte, see more of his work here: https://jeahnlaffitte.com/