Narrative vs Aftershoot - Best Photo Culling Software?


By Narrative Team

If you’re a photographer overwhelmed by endless culling and editing, you’ve probably come across both Aftershoot and Narrative. Both claim to save you time with AI-powered photo workflow tools - but which one actually delivers the best results?

In this comparison, we’ll break down Narrative vs Aftershoot across culling speed, accuracy, editing quality, and overall workflow.

Want to see the video we made first? Watch here


Culling Comparison: Narrative vs Aftershoot

When it comes to AI photo culling software, speed and accuracy matter most. Here’s how both platforms stack up:

Import Speed

  • Aftershoot: Decent, but slows down when facial recognition is on.

  • Narrative: Instant access - images are scrollable immediately with RAW thumbnail reads.

👉 Verdict: Narrative wins for speed.


Focus, Eyes & Facial Expression Detection

  • Aftershoot: Detects closed eyes/blur, but doesn’t provide detailed side-by-side comparisons.

  • Narrative: Offers confidence scoring and a unique Close Up Panel, showing every face in the frame so you instantly see who blinked, who’s sharp, and who looks best!

👉 Verdict: Narrative gives photographers more control and insight.


Grouping Similar Shots

  • Aftershoot: Groups by bursts, but often mis-selects with similar light or poses.

  • Narrative: Uses First Pass Rank Ordering and Scene View to group by subject, angle, and composition, not just metadata.

👉 Verdict: Narrative’s grouping feels more natural and creative.


Accuracy vs Overshoot

  • Aftershoot: Fast but can miss emotional nuance - like dismissing an almost-tearful candid as “bad.” This means re-checking selections, costing more time.

  • Narrative: Keeps you in control. AI provides insight, not final decisions, so you never lose creative say in your selects.

👉 Verdict: Narrative is more accurate where it counts.


Editing Comparison: Narrative vs Aftershoot

Both platforms now offer AI photo editing, but their approaches differ.

AI Editing Quality & Workflow

  • Aftershoot: Learns from Lightroom edits but averages around ~65% accuracy depending on complexity.

  • Narrative: Delivers 80%+ first-pass accuracy and trains continuously on your Lightroom style, improving with each job.

👉 Verdict: Both offer AI-trained editing, but Narrative’s iterative learning and tighter Lightroom integration make it more dependable.


Final Verdict: Narrative vs Aftershoot

Aftershoot is fast and convenient, but it often oversimplifies creative decision-making. That can cost time when you have to go back and fix its oversights.

Narrative, on the other hand, balances AI speed with full creative control. It’s:

  • Faster to cull

  • More accurate in selects

  • Seamless in Lightroom editing

If Aftershoot puts your workflow on autopilot, Narrative keeps you in the driver’s seat.

Want to watch the full breakdown video? - Click here to watch


🚀 Try the Best Photo Culling Software Free

Sorting through thousands of images doesn’t need to take hours. Narrative is the best photo culling software for photographers, designed to save you time while keeping your unique style intact.

  • Cull thousands of images in minutes with AI trained on your style.

  • See every detail with facial recognition and confidence scoring.

  • Trusted by professional wedding and portrait photographers worldwide.

👉 Try Narrative free today and experience faster, smarter photo culling.