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Narrative Select
What Narrative Select is
Narrative Select is AI-assisted photo culling and editing software for photographers on macOS and Windows. Its AI detects faces, checks focus and eye state, and flags when another frame in a scene might be stronger. It ranks images, while the photographer keeps final selection control. Scenes View arranges a shoot into scenes, and the Close-ups Panel supports expression checks. People Filter lets you name detected faces and filter images by selected people. Supported formats include CR2, CR3, NEF, DNG, RAW, JPG, HEIC and HEIF. One-click workflows connect with Lightroom Classic, Lightroom CC, Photoshop and Capture One; Capture One support is listed for Mac. The maker says thousands of RAW files can be imported in seconds, with unlimited projects and images. Culling is local and works offline. Annual billing plans are Lite at $10 a month, Standard at 20.00, Premium at 40.00 and Ultra at 60.00.
Who it suits
Narrative Select suits photographers, especially professionals handling high-volume shoots, who want AI-assisted sorting while retaining final choices. It also fits users working with RAW files and Lightroom, Photoshop or Capture One.
What it does well
- AI checks faces, focus and eye state
- Local culling works offline
- Supports major RAW and image formats
- One-click Lightroom, Photoshop and Capture One workflows
- Unlimited projects and images stated
What to know first
- Paid plans are billed annually
- Capture One support is listed for Mac
- Plan user limits vary by tier
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Lite | annually · 1 user · unlimited images and projects · fast culling · ships to Lightroom, Photoshop and Capture One | $10 a month |
| Standard | annually · 1 user · advanced AI culling · unlimited editing with Core and Marketplace AI Presets | $20 a month |
| Premium | annually · up to 2 users · 1 Color AI Preset · 1 Black & White AI Preset · AI image straightening | $40 a month |
| Ultra | annually · up to 4 users · up to 5 Color AI Presets · up to 5 Black & White AI Presets · personal onboarding · early access to features | $60 a month |
As narrative.so lists them, read 29 Sept 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Verdict
Narrative Select combines automated image assessment with photographer-controlled selection. Its offline workflow, broad format support and editing integrations make it suited to large photo shoots, while plan limits and annual billing matter when choosing a tier.
Facts from Narrative Select's own pages
- AI culling
- The software detects faces and assesses focus, eye state and whether a better frame may exist in a scene. · narrative.so, 29 Sept 2026
- Company location
- Narrative describes itself as a New Zealand startup and says it is made in Aotearoa New Zealand. · narrative.so, 29 Sept 2026
- Creative control
- The AI sorts, assesses and ranks images while the photographer makes the final selections. · narrative.so, 29 Sept 2026
- Founded
- 2019 · narrative.so, 28 Sept 2026
- Headquarters
- Auckland, New Zealand · narrative.so, 28 Sept 2026
- High-volume workflow
- The maker says users can import thousands of RAW files in seconds and use unlimited projects and images. · narrative.so, 29 Sept 2026
- Image formats
- Supported formats listed include CR2, CR3, NEF, DNG, RAW, JPG, HEIC and HEIF. · narrative.so, 29 Sept 2026
- Integrations
- Narrative supports one-click workflows with Lightroom Classic, Lightroom CC, Photoshop and Capture One; Capture One support is listed for Mac. · narrative.so, 29 Sept 2026
- Intended users
- The maker describes the product as built for photographers, especially professionals who shoot high volumes of images. · narrative.so, 29 Sept 2026
- Limits
- The listed paid plans support one user on Lite and Standard, up to two on Premium, and up to four on Ultra. · narrative.so, 29 Sept 2026
- People Filter
- People Filter lets users name detected faces and filter a shoot by one or more people. · narrative.so, 29 Sept 2026
- Purpose
- Narrative is AI-assisted photo culling and editing software designed for photographers. · narrative.so, 29 Sept 2026
- Scenes and close-ups
- Scenes View organizes a shoot into scenes, and the Close-ups Panel helps review expressions. · narrative.so, 29 Sept 2026
- Support
- The site links users to a Narrative Help Center and a Contact Support page. · narrative.so, 29 Sept 2026
- Trial
- New accounts start with a free Ultra trial without requiring a credit card; the page does not state the trial duration. · narrative.so, 29 Sept 2026
Where Narrative Select stands on Freedom251
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