Cull graduation photos down to an exact count

Updated

To cull graduation photos, set the number you plan to deliver (say 50), then judge each photo with the arrow keys in Pulahpilih. The app keeps running rounds until the selected folder holds exactly 50 photos. You never count by hand and nothing gets deleted. Pulahpilih is free, open source and runs on Windows 10 and 11.

Why graduation shoots are hard to cull

A single graduation session easily produces several hundred frames: family portraits, groups of friends, cap-and-gown shots in front of the building, and long bursts where every pose looks the same. The family usually wants a few dozen of the best for editing and printing.

The hard part is not finding one good photo. It is landing on an exact number out of hundreds of near-duplicates. With File Explorer you open photos one by one, copy keepers into another folder and count at the end. You usually end up 20 over or 8 short and start again.

How to cull graduation photos with Pulahpilih

  1. Download Pulahpilih and install it on your Windows PC.
  2. Click Browse and choose the folder with the graduation photos.
  3. Set the target, for example 50 photos. Sort by Date taken so photos follow the order of the day.
  4. Click Start sorting. Pulahpilih shows three photos side by side. The left one is the photo you are judging; the other two are coming up next.
  5. Press → to pick or ← to reject. Picked photos move into a selected subfolder right away.
  6. Pressed the wrong key? Backspace undoes the last decision and moves the file back.
  7. Press Space to zoom in and check eyes and expressions.

Why exact-target rounds help

In the first round you only pick what deserves a second look. You don't need to be strict. Then Pulahpilih counts the selected folder:

  • More than the target: a narrowing round starts. Only your picks are shown, and anything you reject goes back to the original folder.
  • Fewer than the target: the photos you rejected last round come back until the count is exact.
  • Exactly the target: you're done.

This suits graduation photos because near-duplicates are easier to judge in the narrowing round. With three photos on screen, the frame with closed eyes or a stiff smile stands out next to its neighbours.

Let the graduate help choose

Graduates often want a say in which photos get printed. Click Share in the Pulahpilih toolbar. After about 25 seconds the app shows a link and a 4-digit PIN. Send both to the graduate.

In their browser, they cull every photo on their own using the same rounds, then send their picks. Nothing moves on your PC. In the app, open Guest results to see which photos got the most votes and who picked them. You still approve the final set. Guests only see copies of 800 KB at most; the originals stay on your PC. The guide to getting help picking photos walks through it.

Tips for picking the best graduation photos

  • Start loose, finish strict. Pick generously in round one. The narrowing rounds force the side-by-side comparison.
  • Check eyes and hands. Zoom into group shots to make sure nobody blinked.
  • Keep variety. Leave room for close-ups, family groups and wide shots of the venue, not just one pose.
  • Shoot RAW if you can. RAW and JPG files with the same name move together, so your picks are ready to edit. See how to sort RAW photos on Windows.
  • Stop any time. Close the app mid-way. Reopen the same folder and the session continues from the selected folder.

For a general method, read how to pick the best photos from hundreds. More scenarios are on the use cases page.

FAQ

How long does it take to cull 500 graduation photos?

It depends on how carefully you look. Each photo takes a single key press, so the first round over 500 photos is much faster than picking by hand in File Explorer.

Are rejected photos deleted?

No. Pulahpilih never deletes files. Rejected photos stay in the original folder and picks sit in the selected subfolder.

Can the graduate pick from their phone?

Yes. Share the link and PIN from Pulahpilih. The graduate sorts in their phone browser, sends their picks, and you approve the result in the app.

Does Pulahpilih cost anything?

No. Pulahpilih is free and open source under the GPL-3.0 license.

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