How to use PhotoMagic
Last updated June 1, 2026
PhotoMagic helps you triage a folder of photos that already lives in Google Drive or Google Photos — keep the good ones, skip the rest, and hand back a clean list. This guide has two parts: one for clients picking their own photos, and one for photographers who want to share it with clients. Skip to whichever fits you, then read the gotchas at the bottom.
Pick your photos in one sitting
Your photographer sent you a Google Drive folder with hundreds (or thousands) of shots and asked you to choose your favourites. Here’s the fastest way through it.
Open the folder in PhotoMagic
Sign in with the same Google account the folder was shared with. Paste the Drive folder link (or pick the folder from the list) and PhotoMagic opens it in place. Nothing downloads, nothing uploads — you’re just looking at the photos through Google.
Keep, maybe, or reject — one key each
Tap P to keep (pick), M for maybe, or Rto reject. Use the arrow keys to move between photos. Aim for a gut reaction in about three seconds per photo — you can always revisit the “maybe” pile later.
Compare the near-duplicates
Bursts and almost-identical frames are grouped together so you compare like with like. Open a group, flip between the contenders, and keep only the sharpest one. This is where most of the time savings come from.
Tidy up the maybes
Filter to just your maybe pile and make the final call on each. If a whole batch is sideways, select a range and rotate them all at once before deciding.
Send your final list back
When you’re happy, export your keepers as a list of filenames, numbers, or a CSV — copy it, email it, or download it. You can also push the picks into a clean Selects folder in Drive or a new Google Photos album, or build a print-ready photo book / shareable web lookbook. Hand whichever your photographer asked for back to them.
Hand clients a selection flow that doesn’t bounce back
Instead of a flat Drive folder and a confusing “reply with the numbers” email, give clients a guided pick. You get a clean list back and far fewer follow-ups.
Drop the gallery in a Drive folder
Put the export (JPEGs or web-res previews) in a single Google Drive folder. Sub-folders are fine — PhotoMagic lists the images inside. Keep the original filenames so the list you get back maps straight onto your catalogue.
Share the folder with the client
Share the folder with the client’s Google account (Viewer access is enough) or set it to Anyone with the link can view. The client signs into PhotoMagic with the account that can see the folder.
Send the PhotoMagic link & a short brief
Point them at PhotoMagic and tell them roughly how many to keep (“~40 for the album”). Mention the one-key shortcuts so they don’t click through one photo at a time.
Pick together, live, if they want help
Couples and families can share the session link and pick at the same time from different devices — disagreements get highlighted instantly. Great for “you choose, I’ll veto” sessions.
Get the list back in the format you use
Ask the client to export filenames, numbers, or CSV. Drop that straight into Lightroom (filter by filename) or your editing queue. No more deciphering screenshots or half-remembered descriptions.
/how-to) with clients, or paste the “For clients” steps above into your delivery email. The whole point is that they shouldn’t need a phone call to get started.Keyboard shortcuts
| P | Keep (pick) the current photo |
| M | Mark as maybe |
| R | Reject |
| 0 | Clear the current photo's state |
| ← / → | Move between photos |
| Space | Open the full-screen preview |
| [ / ] | Rotate left / right |
| Shift + click | Select a range for bulk actions |
| H | Open history to undo or restore |
| ? | Show all keyboard shortcuts |
On-screen buttons do everything the keys do — the shortcuts just make it faster.
Drive, privacy & sharing gotchas
Sign in with the account that can see the folder
If the photographer shared the folder with you@gmail.com but you sign into PhotoMagic with a different Google account, the folder will look empty. Use the matching account, or have the folder set to Anyone with the link can view.
Your photos never leave your Drive
PhotoMagic reads the folder in place through Google’s API and shows thumbnails. We do not upload, copy, or store your image files. We only keep the small bits of metadata needed to remember your picks. See the privacy policy for exactly what’s stored.
Selections are private to you and people you invite
Your keep/maybe/reject state is visible only to you and any collaborators you share the session link with. Sharing the session lets them see and change picks live — only send it to people you want editing alongside you.
A published lookbook link is public
If you click Share as web page, anyone with that unguessable link can view the assembled lookbook and download its PDF. They can’t see your other sessions or your pick state, but treat the link itself as semi-public — don’t post it somewhere you wouldn’t want the photos seen.
“Send to Photos” and “Selects folder” create new things
Pushing picks out makes a new Google Photos album or a new Drive folder. It never deletes or overwrites the originals, and the rejected photos stay untouched in the source folder.
Rotating writes back to the original file
The rotate action applies a lossless EXIF rotation to the photo in Drive so the corrected orientation sticks everywhere. If you only want a temporary preview rotation, rotate just before exporting rather than across the whole batch.
You can revoke access any time
Go to myaccount.google.com/permissions, find PhotoMagic, and remove access. To also delete your stored metadata, email hello@photomagic.live from your account address.
FAQ
Do I need to download the photos first?
No. PhotoMagic opens the Drive folder in place. Downloading defeats the purpose — and risks filling up your disk.
Will the photographer see my rejects?
Only what you export. Your reject pile stays private unless you choose to share the session or send a list that includes it.
Can two of us pick at the same time?
Yes — share the session link and pick live from separate devices. Disagreements are highlighted so you can settle them on the spot.
What if I close the tab halfway through?
Everything is saved as you go. Reopen the session later and continue exactly where you stopped.
Does this work on my phone?
Yes. The one-key flow is fastest on a laptop, but you can tap the keep/maybe/reject buttons on a phone or tablet too.
Still stuck?
Send us a message and we’ll help you get unblocked — or email hello@photomagic.live. Photographers: ask us for a ready-to-send client handout.