The Ultimate AI Photo Culling Face Off | Aftershoot vs. FilterPixel vs. Narrative Select

Britney Clause
8 Mar 202435:31

TLDRBritney, a former photographer and current user experience practitioner, explores three AI photo culling systems—Aftershoot, FilterPixel, and Narrative Select—to determine which can streamline a photographer's workflow most effectively. She evaluates them based on pricing, speed, user interface, and call quality. Aftershoot and Narrative Select emerge as the winners, with Aftershoot noted for its organized interface and Narrative Select for its fast processing speed. However, Britney acknowledges the challenge of balancing AI efficiency with the need for human oversight to ensure quality, suggesting that finding the optimal mix between AI and manual review is an ongoing process.

Takeaways

  • 📷 Britney, a former photographer, evaluates AI photo culling software to streamline her workflow.
  • 🔍 Three main AI photo culling tools are discussed: Aftershoot, FilterPixel, and Narrative Select.
  • 💰 Pricing is a significant factor, with Aftershoot being the most affordable at $10/month, FilterPixel at $12/month, and Narrative Select at $15/month.
  • ⏱️ Narrative Select outperforms the others in speed, culling images in just 3 seconds.
  • 🎛️ Aftershoot offers customizable parameters and call power settings to adjust the strictness of image selection.
  • 🏆 Aftershoot wins in the interface design category for its organized layout and helpful tooltips.
  • 📝 Narrative Select excels in system communication, providing detailed information about image assessments.
  • 🔄 Aftershoot is favored for ease of correcting AI mistakes with its spray can tool and keyboard shortcuts.
  • 📚 FilterPixel offers a straightforward export process, making it the most user-friendly for this task.
  • 🤖 All three systems use similar AI technology, leading to nearly identical image selection results.
  • 🤔 Britney questions the true time savings of AI culling due to the need for human oversight and validation.
  • 🌟 Britney encourages viewers to try these systems for themselves to find the best fit for their photography workflow.

Q & A

  • What is the main topic of the video?

    -The main topic of the video is a comparison of three AI photo culling systems: Aftershoot, FilterPixel, and Narrative Select, focusing on their performance, pricing, and user interface.

  • Why did Britney decide to use Aftershoot initially?

    -Britney decided to use Aftershoot initially because she was overwhelmed during a fall wedding season and needed something to help with photo culling. Aftershoot was the first result from her Google search.

  • What is the significance of the 30-day free trial offered by Aftershoot?

    -The 30-day free trial is significant because it provides photographers with ample time to test the system during busy seasons, offering a full month of access to determine if the system meets their needs.

  • How does FilterPixel's pricing model differ from Aftershoot's?

    -FilterPixel offers a basic tier that is always free but only allows manual calling. Their Pro tier, which includes AI features, is $12 per month billed annually or $13 per month billed every six months, providing a seasonal billing option.

  • What unique feature does Narrative Select offer in its free trial?

    -Narrative Select offers a free option that includes six project trials, which is unique because it is based on the number of projects rather than a daily trial, reducing time pressure on users.

  • What was the outcome of the speed test for photo culling?

    -In the speed test, Narrative Select was the fastest with a time of approximately 3 seconds, followed by FilterPixel at 4 minutes and 4 seconds, Britney's manual culling at 4 minutes and 26 seconds, and Aftershoot at 4 minutes and 48 seconds.

  • How does Aftershoot's user interface facilitate communication with the user?

    -Aftershoot's user interface uses tooltips, hover-over text, and an email alert system to communicate with the user. It also provides a legend for color and star ratings, and a feedback tool for reporting issues with images.

  • What does Britney find particularly helpful in Filter Pixel's user interface?

    -Britney finds the tooltips and hover-over information in Filter Pixel's interface helpful, as well as the video tutorial in the welcome tab which clarifies the picking process and exporting.

  • What is Britney's assessment of the user interface of Narrative Select?

    -Britney finds Narrative Select's user interface to be beautiful and feature-rich, with a lot of information provided. She appreciates the on-image eye and focus assessment shapes and colors, despite a minor criticism regarding the communication of duplicate images.

  • How does Aftershoot assist users in correcting AI mistakes?

    -Aftershoot assists users in correcting AI mistakes with the spray can tool for quick removal or adding of color ratings, smooth navigation in Loop mode, and the ability to fully customize keyboard shortcuts.

  • What is Britney's final verdict on the AI photo culling systems?

    -Britney concludes that Aftershoot and Narrative Select are the winners, with both scoring two points each. However, she emphasizes that finding the right balance between AI and human oversight is crucial for maximizing the benefits of these systems.

Outlines

00:00

📸 Introduction to AI in Photography

Britney, a former photographer and current user experience practitioner, introduces the topic of artificial intelligence in the photography industry. She discusses her background and her interest in exploring AI's impact on a photographer's workflow. Britney mentions three prominent AI photo editing software options: Aftershoot, Filter Pixel, and Narrative Select. She shares her personal experience with Aftershoot and her anticipation in comparing it with the other two systems. The criteria for evaluation include pricing, speed of image selection, user interface, and the quality of the AI's selections.

05:02

💰 Pricing and Free Trials

The video delves into the pricing structures of the three AI systems. Aftershoot offers a 30-day free trial and a monthly subscription at $10 when billed annually. Filter Pixel has a free tier for manual culling and a Pro tier with a 30-day free trial, costing $12 per month billed annually or $13 per month billed every six months. Narrative Select provides six project trials for free and a Select Pro tier at $15 per month billed annually. Britney appreciates the flexibility of Narrative Select's project-based trial and considers it a valuable approach for photographers.

10:03

⏱️ Speed Test and AI Performance

Britney conducts a speed test using images from a wedding photographed in October 2023. She manually culls the same set of 399 images for comparison. Aftershoot takes 4 minutes and 48 seconds, while Britney manually culling takes 4 minutes and 26 seconds. Filter Pixel completes the task in 4 minutes and 4 seconds. Narrative Select astonishingly finishes in about 3 seconds. The video highlights that Narrative Select is exceptionally fast, marking images as recommended, undesirable, or for potential future use.

15:05

🎨 User Interface and Experience

The video breaks down the user interface and experience into subcategories, including layout and design, onboarding tips, system communication about images, modifying image choices, and exporting options. Aftershoot's interface is well-organized with clear sections and helpful tooltips. Filter Pixel has a compact UI with a straightforward design, and a helpful tutorial video. Narrative Select's interface is feature-rich with a lighter theme and detailed subject views. Britney finds Aftershoot's interface most appealing due to its structured layout and quick tutorial.

20:05

🔍 System Communication and Corrections

Britney evaluates how each system communicates with the user and allows for corrections to AI selections. Aftershoot provides clear communication with email alerts, tooltips, and hover text. Filter Pixel offers simplicity with tooltips and hover information. Narrative Select provides extensive information with tooltips, hover text, and on-image assessments. The ease of correcting AI mistakes is also discussed, with Aftershoot's spray can tool and keyboard shortcuts highlighted for efficiency.

25:05

🚀 Exporting and Final Thoughts

The final subcategory focuses on exporting capabilities. All three systems allow for drag-and-drop exporting, but Aftershoot's export menu is considered overly complex. Filter Pixel provides a straightforward export process, and Narrative Select, after a recent update, allows exporting to Lightroom. Britney emphasizes that finding a balance between AI and human effort is crucial for maximizing productivity. She concludes that Aftershoot and Narrative Select are the winners, but the choice depends on individual workflow preferences.

30:06

📝 Conclusion and Call to Action

Britney wraps up the video by reflecting on her experience with the three AI systems. She emphasizes the importance of finding the right balance between AI and human validation to ensure productivity gains and time savings. She invites viewers to share their thoughts and experiences with AI culling software and encourages trying out the systems for oneself to form personal conclusions. She expresses excitement about the future of AI in photography and thanks viewers for watching.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Artificial Intelligence (AI) refers to the simulation of human intelligence in machines that are programmed to think like humans and mimic their actions. In the context of the video, AI is used to enhance the photo culling process for photographers by automatically selecting the best images from a batch, thus speeding up the photographer's workflow. An example from the script is the use of AI in photo culling software to 'pick a pack of pickled images'.

💡Photo Culling

Photo culling is the process of reviewing and selecting the best photographs from a larger set, typically after a photoshoot. In the video, the host discusses the use of AI in photo culling to streamline the workflow for photographers. The script mentions 'the calling workflow for photographers' which refers to the process of culling through numerous photos to select the best ones.

💡Aftershoot

Aftershoot is one of the AI photo culling software options mentioned in the video. It is highlighted as a tool that the host has previously used and paid for, primarily due to its availability during a busy wedding season. The script refers to Aftershoot as the 'first result' when the host Googled AI photo editing software.

💡Filter Pixel

Filter Pixel is another AI-driven photo culling software that claims to be the fastest in its category, as mentioned in the video's transcript. It is one of the systems compared for its speed, pricing, and user interface in the context of photo culling for photographers.

💡Narrative Select

Narrative Select is a third AI photo culling software option that the host examines in the video. It is noted for its unique approach to offering a free trial based on the number of projects rather than a time limit, which the host appreciates for allowing more flexibility in testing the software with real client sessions.

💡User Interface (UI)

User Interface (UI) refers to the space where interactions between users and a digital device occur. In the video, the host evaluates the UI of the three AI photo culling systems, discussing the layout, design, and how intuitive and user-friendly they are. The UI is important as it affects how efficiently a photographer can use the software.

💡Pricing

Pricing in the context of the video refers to the cost of using the AI photo culling software. The host discusses the pricing models of Aftershoot, Filter Pixel, and Narrative Select, highlighting the importance of cost as a key factor when choosing a system. The script mentions 'pricing is a key category for me,' indicating the significance of pricing in the decision-making process.

💡Smart Tech

Smart Tech, as used in the video, refers to technology that performs tasks in a way that mimics human behavior, such as learning and decision-making. In the context of photo culling, smart tech helps in automatically selecting images based on certain criteria, thereby assisting photographers in their work. The script refers to systems that 'rely on Smart Tech in order to help speed up the calling workflow for photographers.'

💡Workflow

Workflow refers to the sequence of steps taken to complete a certain job or project. In the video, the host is concerned with how AI can improve the photographer's workflow by making the photo culling process more efficient. The script discusses the potential of AI to 'speed up a photographer's workflow through picking.'

💡Free Trial

A free trial is a period during which users can use a software product for free to evaluate its features and performance before deciding to purchase it. In the video, the host mentions the free trial periods offered by Aftershoot, Filter Pixel, and Narrative Select, which allow her to test the software's capabilities without initial cost.

💡Project Trials

Project trials refer to the specific number of projects or sessions that a user can test with a software during a free trial. The host appreciates Narrative Select's approach of offering six project trials, which provides a more relaxed timeframe to evaluate the software's performance with actual client sessions, as mentioned in the script.

Highlights

Britney, a former photographer turned user experience practitioner, explores AI photo culling software.

Three major AI photo culling systems are discussed: Aftershoot, FilterPixel, and Narrative Select.

Aftershoot is noted for its 30-day free trial and straightforward pricing at $10/month when billed annually.

FilterPixel offers a basic free tier and a Pro tier with a 30-day free trial, priced at $12/month billed annually.

Narrative Select provides a unique project-based free trial with six project trials, and its Select Pro tier costs $15/month billed annually.

Britney emphasizes the importance of pricing, speed, user interface, and call quality in evaluating the software.

A speed test is conducted using 399 images from a wedding photographed in October 2023.

Narrative Select outperforms the others in speed, completing the test in just 3 seconds.

Aftershoot's interface is praised for its organization and the availability of in-app video tutorials.

FilterPixel's interface is described as compact and lightweight, with a helpful tutorial video.

Narrative Select's interface is feature-rich with a lighter theme and detailed subject views.

Aftershoot's communication with users is highlighted for its clarity and use of tooltips and email alerts.

FilterPixel uses tooltips and hover information for effective communication within its compact design.

Narrative Select is commended for its detailed image assessments and focus on clear communication.

Aftershoot is favored for its ease in correcting AI mistakes with the use of keyboard shortcuts and the spray can tool.

FilterPixel's exporting process is straightforward and user-friendly, making it the preferred choice for those prioritizing simplicity.

Narrative Select has recently updated its exporting capabilities, now allowing export to Lightroom.

Britney concludes that all three systems have similar AI technology, making the decision on which to use a matter of personal workflow preference.

She encourages viewers to test different systems and strategies to find the best fit for their photography business.