Question 1

What is Selekt?

Accepted Answer

Selekt is a photo culling app built for photographers. It sits between your camera and your editor. Import a shoot, cull thousands of images with keyboard shortcuts, organise into scenes, and export your picks to Lightroom, Capture One, or any editor. It's designed to make the least enjoyable part of photography fast and painless.

Question 2

Is Selekt really free?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Import, cull, tag, organise, and export with zero limits on the free plan. The Pro plan adds AI-powered features like auto-tagging, face detection, and smart crop for $8/month.

Question 3

What platforms does Selekt run on?

Accepted Answer

Selekt is a desktop app for macOS and Windows, handling full library management and culling. Companion iOS and Android apps for reviewing and culling synced shoots on the go are coming soon.

Question 4

How do I install Selekt?

Accepted Answer

Download from selekt.photos/download. On macOS, drag to Applications. On Windows, run the installer. Note: the Windows installer isn't code-signed yet, so SmartScreen will show a warning. Click "More info" then "Run anyway" to proceed. Code signing is coming in a future update.

Question 5

Does Selekt require an internet connection?

Accepted Answer

Selekt is local-first. Your library is stored in a local SQLite database and all culling, tagging, and export features work fully offline. An internet connection is only needed for optional AI features on the Pro plan and for syncing shoots to mobile devices.

Question 6

What cameras and RAW formats are supported?

Accepted Answer

Selekt supports 400+ camera models via LibRaw, including Canon (CR2, CR3), Nikon (NEF), Sony (ARW), Fujifilm (RAF with X-Trans), Olympus (ORF), Panasonic (RW2), Pentax (PEF), Leica (DNG), and Phase One (IIQ). JPEG, TIFF, and HEIF files are also fully supported.

Question 7

How does importing work?

Accepted Answer

Selekt reads directly from your file system. Point it at a folder of images and it creates lightweight previews and a local database index. Your original files are never uploaded, moved, or modified. Import is non-destructive and fast. You can start culling while import is still running.

Question 8

How many images can Selekt handle?

Accepted Answer

Selekt is designed for libraries of 10K to 500K+ images. The virtualised grid, parallel import processing, and optimised SQLite queries keep everything fast even at scale. Photographers who shoot weddings, events, and sports regularly work with libraries this size.

Question 9

Can I import from memory cards directly?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Insert your card, point Selekt at the mounted volume, and import. Selekt doesn't care whether images are on an internal drive, external SSD, memory card, or network share. If your OS can see the folder, Selekt can read it.

Question 10

What is scene-based culling?

Accepted Answer

Instead of scrolling through thousands of images in a flat timeline, Selekt lets you organise your shoot into scenes. A wedding might have ceremony, portraits, reception, and details. A portrait session might have outfit changes. Scenes group similar shots together so you compare within context. Pick the best from each burst, move to the next scene. It turns an hour of scrolling into a series of quick decisions.

Question 11

What keyboard shortcuts does Selekt use?

Accepted Answer

Selekt is keyboard-first. Arrow keys (or H/J/K/L) to navigate, and single keystrokes to flag: P for pick, M for maybe, X for reject, U to unflag. You can cull through hundreds of images without touching the mouse. All shortcuts are customisable in settings.

Question 12

Can I compare images side by side?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Select multiple images and enter compare mode to view them side by side at full resolution. Zoom is synchronised across images so you can check sharpness, focus, and expression at the same point in each frame. Essential for choosing between similar shots from a burst.

Question 13

Does Selekt have AI culling?

Accepted Answer

Selekt doesn't auto-cull your photos. The Pro plan includes AI features like auto-tagging, face detection, and smart crop suggestions, but the keep/reject decision is always yours. We believe photographers should make their own creative choices. Selekt makes those choices faster, not automatic.

Question 14

Can I export my selects to Lightroom?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Selekt exports XMP sidecar files with star ratings and colour labels that Lightroom reads on import. Your cull decisions transfer seamlessly into your editing workflow. No manual re-rating needed.

Question 15

What about Capture One and other editors?

Accepted Answer

Selekt exports standard XMP sidecars that any editor supporting XMP can read. This includes Capture One, darktable, and others. You can also export to folders, which works with any editor. The goal is to fit into your existing workflow, not replace it.

Question 16

Can I export to Google Photos?

Accepted Answer

Google Photos export is coming soon. You'll be able to send selected images directly from Selekt to your Google Photos library. Connect your Google account in settings and choose Google Photos as a destination when exporting.

Question 17

Does Selekt modify my original files?

Accepted Answer

Never. Selekt is completely non-destructive. It creates lightweight previews and stores metadata in its own local database. Your RAW and JPEG files are never touched, moved, or modified. Ratings and labels are stored in XMP sidecar files alongside your originals, not embedded in them.

Question 18

What does the free plan include?

Accepted Answer

Everything you need to cull: import, keyboard-driven culling, scene organisation, side-by-side comparison, flags, and export with XMP sidecars. Culling is unlimited and there is no time limit — the free plan is fully usable on its own.

Question 19

What does the Pro plan add?

Accepted Answer

Pro ($8/month) unlocks AI-powered features: auto-tagging that categorises your images by content, face detection that groups shots by person, and smart crop suggestions for common aspect ratios. Companion iOS and Android apps for culling on the go are coming soon.

Question 20

Is there a free trial for Pro?

Accepted Answer

The free plan is fully functional for culling — use it as long as you want. When you want AI features, upgrade. No credit card required to start, no time pressure.

Question 21

Can I cancel my Pro subscription?

Accepted Answer

Yes, anytime. Your account reverts to the free plan at the end of the billing period. You keep all your library data, ratings, and organisation. You just lose access to Pro features until you resubscribe.

Question 22

Why is Selekt so fast?

Accepted Answer

Selekt uses Tauri (Rust core with system webview) instead of Electron. The image processing pipeline is written in Rust with parallel processing, and the UI uses virtualised rendering so only visible thumbnails are in memory. The database is SQLite with optimised indexes. The result: browsing 50K+ images at 60fps with instant preview loading.

Question 23

Where are my photos stored?

Accepted Answer

Your photos stay exactly where they are on your local drive. Selekt creates a library database in its application support folder, along with lightweight preview thumbnails. That's it. No cloud upload, no hidden copies, no file reorganisation.

Question 24

How much disk space does Selekt use?

Accepted Answer

The app itself is under 50MB. Preview thumbnails are generated on import and typically add 1-3% of your original library size. A 100GB shoot might generate 1-3GB of previews. You can clear preview caches anytime to reclaim space.

Question 25

What are the system requirements?

Accepted Answer

macOS 12+ or Windows 10+. 8GB RAM recommended (4GB minimum). Any reasonably modern CPU works. GPU acceleration is used for preview rendering where available but isn't required. Selekt runs well on M1 MacBooks, Intel Macs, and mid-range Windows laptops.

Question 26

How does Selekt compare to Lightroom for culling?

Accepted Answer

Lightroom is a full RAW editor that happens to have culling features. Selekt is a dedicated culler. The difference: Selekt loads previews instantly (Lightroom renders them slowly), Selekt groups shots into scenes (Lightroom uses a flat timeline), and Selekt's entire UI is optimised for rapid keep/reject decisions. Use Selekt to cull, then send picks to Lightroom to edit.

Question 27

How does Selekt compare to Photo Mechanic?

Accepted Answer

Photo Mechanic is the speed benchmark for culling and has been the industry standard for years. Selekt matches its preview speed while adding scene-based organisation, AI tagging, a modern interface, and mobile apps. Photo Mechanic is a one-time purchase ($139); Selekt's core features are free.

Question 28

How does Selekt compare to Aftershoot?

Accepted Answer

Aftershoot uses AI to auto-cull your photos. Selekt gives you the tools to cull faster yourself. If you want a machine to make keep/reject decisions, Aftershoot is your tool. If you want creative control with a workflow designed for speed, that's Selekt. Aftershoot costs $480/year; Selekt's core is free.

Frequently asked questions

Getting started

Import and compatibility

Culling workflow

Export and integration

Pricing and plans

Performance and technical

Comparisons

Ready to cull faster?