Getting Started

This page will walk you through your first session in PhotoWorker.

System Requirements

macOS 14 Sonoma or later
Apple Silicon processor (M1 or newer)
8 GB RAM (16 GB recommended)

Installation

Download the archive from photoworker.app and drag PhotoWorker into your Applications folder. On the first launch, click "Open" in the macOS dialog.

30 days free, no registration or credit card required.

Open a photo folder

Three ways to load photos:

Drag a folder into the PhotoWorker window
⌘O — choose a folder via the dialog. Recent folders are available in File → Open Recent
Navigator (⌘N) — open the folder tree on the left and click the folder you need

Photos appear immediately. Face detection starts in the background — you can work without waiting for it to finish.

Tip: PhotoWorker opens only the selected folder. The "Show all subfolders" toggle is visible on the tab when subfolders contain images or recursive mode is already enabled — it loads photos from all subfolders.

Basic actions

Navigation

Move through the gallery: ← → ↑ ↓
Open a photo full-size: Space
Zoom 1:1: Tab
Return to gallery: Space or Esc

Rating

1 – 8 — color labels, 0 — remove. Ctrl + 1 – 5 — stars, Ctrl + 0 — remove
Or vice versa — configurable in settings
Pressing the same key again removes the rating

Result

Filter your best shots by stars or color — buttons in the toolbar
Send to a client: ⌘G — create an online gallery
Open in Capture One: File → Quick Capture One Export

What's next

Gallery — navigation, selection, thumbnail size
Face Detection — finding people, closed-eyes filter
Ratings & Labels — stars, color labels
Keyboard Shortcuts — full reference table