Cull event, conference and concert photos fast

Updated

To cull event photos, open the folder in Pulahpilih, set how many you need (say 40 for a press set), and judge each photo with the arrow keys. Pulahpilih runs rounds until the selected folder holds exactly 40 photos. Organisers can join in through a link and PIN without installing anything. Pulahpilih is free, open source and runs on Windows 10 and 11.

Why event shoots pile up

Conferences, concerts, exhibitions and company events are usually shot in burst mode. One speaker moment on stage can produce a dozen almost identical frames. Right after the event, organisers want photos fast: ten for tonight's post, forty for the press release, and the full archive for the report.

Picking in File Explorer or the Windows Photos app is slow. You open, compare and copy one photo at a time, then count at the end.

How to cull event photos with Pulahpilih

  1. Download Pulahpilih and install it on your laptop.
  2. Choose the event folder with Browse.
  3. Set the target you need, for example 40 photos.
  4. Sort by Date taken to follow the running order, or by File size to see the most detailed frames first.
  5. Press → to pick and ← to reject. Three photos sit side by side, so bursts are easy to compare.
  6. Press Space or Z to zoom in and check the speaker's focus.
  7. Wrong key? Backspace undoes the last decision.

Picks move into a selected subfolder. Rejects stay in the original folder and nothing is deleted.

Rounds that land on the exact count

In the first round, pick every moment worth keeping without worrying about the count. Then:

  • If you picked more than 40, a narrowing round shows only your picks, and anything you reject goes back to the original folder.
  • If you picked fewer than 40, last round's rejects come back until the count is exact.

You always deliver exactly what the organisers asked for, without counting by hand.

Let the organisers weigh in

Organisers often have their own priorities, such as sponsor shots or VIP guests. Click Share in Pulahpilih to create a temporary link and a 4-digit PIN. They open the link in a browser, cull every photo on their own and send their picks.

In the app, Guest results shows the most-voted photos and who voted for them. You adjust and approve the final set. Guests only see copies of 800 KB at most, so full-resolution originals stay on your laptop. Read the guide to getting help picking photos for the full walkthrough.

Tips for culling event photos

  • Run several sessions. One with a target of 10 for a quick post, another for the fuller press set.
  • Faces and expressions first. For speakers, keep frames with open eyes and a clear gesture.
  • Mix the angles. Keep crowd and venue shots, not only the stage.
  • RAW is supported. If you shoot RAW+JPG, both files move together. See how to sort RAW photos on Windows.

More scenarios are on the use cases page, and the general method is in how to pick the best photos.

FAQ

Does Pulahpilih need an internet connection?

Not for culling. You only need internet to share a link with guests and for the app's update check.

Can I stop halfway?

Yes. Close the app at any time. When you reopen the same folder, the session continues from the selected folder.

Are HEIC photos from phones supported?

Not yet. Pulahpilih supports JPG, PNG, WebP and camera RAW formats such as CR2, CR3, NEF, ARW and DNG.

How many organisers can vote?

Anyone with the link and PIN can send picks. A new submission from the same person replaces their earlier one.

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