Photo archive guide
Batch edit EXIF metadata on macOS
Batch metadata editing saves hours, but a bad rule can also spread one mistake across hundreds of files. The safest workflow separates rule design, preview, export and verification.
Work with a representative sample first
Choose photos from the beginning, middle and end of the folder. Confirm image formats, existing dates, orientation and GPS behavior before committing to the whole set.
Define one narrow rule at a time
Apply date and location changes deliberately. For chronology repair, sort the import order and confirm the sequence interval. For GPS, validate latitude and longitude ranges before writing.
Keep originals outside the output folder
Use a separate destination with collision-safe filenames. Hash each source before processing so the manifest can identify the exact input later.
Read metadata back from outputs
Do not assume the write succeeded because a file exists. Inspect the exported copy, compare dimensions and record the metadata that was actually written.