FramePilotPHOTO LIBRARY GUIDES
Same photo, different dates: which copy should you keep?
Compare capture dates, resolution and metadata before choosing or merging photo copies.
Separate the date taken from the file dates
A photo can have a capture timestamp in its metadata and separate creation or modification dates in the file system. Copying, downloading or exporting can change file dates without changing when the picture was taken. Compare the field names as well as their values.
The oldest timestamp is a useful starting point, not automatic proof. An incorrectly set camera clock, a scanned print or a missing time-zone offset can give an older date that is wrong. Use nearby pictures, the event and your own knowledge to decide.
More pixels or more bytes do not always mean a better picture
Check pixel dimensions, but also open the full image. One version may be a crop, an edited favorite or a sharper exposure. A larger file can contain different compression or extra metadata rather than more visible detail.
If the files are byte-for-byte identical, image quality and embedded metadata match. Differences displayed by your file manager may instead describe the file’s location or file-system dates. If the images only look similar, compare their metadata before discarding either.
Choose metadata deliberately when merging
First choose the image you want to keep for its visual quality. Then review the metadata fields offered by the merge tool. Prefer a date you can substantiate, and check orientation, location and descriptive information when available. Do not assume all fields can be transferred between every file format.
Keep the originals until you have opened the merged result and checked its date and appearance. For a photo managed by Apple Photos, compare what Photos displays too: library information and metadata embedded in an exported file are not always the same thing.
Keep both when the difference matters
A finished edit and its original are often both worth keeping. The same is true of RAW and JPEG versions or a crop used for a particular purpose. Duplicate review is about choosing what you need, not reducing every similar group to one file.
If you cannot establish which date or version is right, keep both and return later. A clear decision on a smaller group is better than losing a useful version during a large cleanup.