How to DATE sequence mixed IOS .mov and .jpg files

Lots of dates and times are stored in photo metadata, which can be (and often are) different than file and file modification dates. Your first step is to check that the photo metadata timestamps are correct and in the right places (which varies depending on some factors, but if they are recent photos they should have a date created that is consistent).

So if you've got that the information is preserved. You can name the files anything you want; it has no bearing or effect on the timestamps in exif or IPTC.

What gives me pause is "the mix of jpg and mov files in chronological order based on filename." I am not sure what that means. Do you mean sequence? or did you rename them to include a timestamp? In Lr you can sort by timestamp or by filename. I don't know which Smugmug uses.

rob211 said:

Lots of dates and times are stored in photo metadata, which can be (and often are) different than file and file modification dates. Your first step is to check that the photo metadata timestamps are correct and in the right places (which varies depending on some factors, but if they are recent photos they should have a date created that is consistent).

So if you've got that the information is preserved. You can name the files anything you want; it has no bearing or effect on the timestamps in exif or IPTC.

What gives me pause is "the mix of jpg and mov files in chronological order based on filename." I am not sure what that means. Do you mean sequence? or did you rename them to include a timestamp? In Lr you can sort by timestamp or by filename. I don't know which Smugmug uses.

Click to expand...

Thanks Rob211. I just finished reading your "Dates in LR: Examples of differences". The ambiguity of metadata date fields across different software is aggravating. That said, I will still try to extract what little I need for my needs and then move on.

I am still insuring that the photo(and video .MOV) metadata timestamps are correct, in a place where I can find them, and recognizable and accessible by LR. Regarding my statement, "the mix of jpg and mov files........". I "think" I mean sequence. I did NOT rename them to include a timestamp. When these 100 or so jpg and mov files end up being viewed in SmugMug, I want to be sure I can sequence/sort the files chronologically based on the creation timestamp regardless of file type. SmugMug offers 5-6 ways to sequence the display of photo galleries so I'm fairly certain one of those will do what I need.

Thought I'd share an example of what I'm seeing while making sure timestamps are available. See enclosed screenshot. On the left is the output from Friedl's metadata printout. This is an MOV file from my iphone without any metadata changes by me. Notice Creation Date. Of all the metadata date fields displayed by the plugin, this is the only field containing what I know to be the correct date/time timestamp for this video clip (2016:09:14 13:49:43-08:00). Now let's consider metadata date fields that LR panels display. I tried all of the Metadata display choices. None of them display a date field with a value that matches the timestamp value displayed by the plugin. However, if I click on Metadata/Edit Capture Time and change the date and time to the correct values, those correct values replace the previous incorrect values in the LR metadata panels with the corrected timestamp values. The corrected values now appear in Capture Date and Capture Time if I choose Default and also in Date Time Original and Date Created if I choose EXIF & IPTC. The plugin seems to have access to the correct timestamp but LR seems not to know about it or isn't displaying the same field as the plugin. I'm stumped.

I also notice that the plugin is displaying GPS coordinates for the MOV file but LR's GPS fields are empty.

It's very likely my expectations are unrealistic as I know very little about the use of metadata in different types of files. Perhaps someone can explain the differences I'm seeing.

Thanks

I am tenaciously pursuing a method for chronologically merging MOV and JPG files. I seem to have discovered a metadata field that seems to be common to both MOV and JPG files. LR calls it DATE TIME DIGITIZED. I currently have an MOV file selected in the LR Library module. I have asked for EXIF and IPTC metadata fields to be displayed. The DATE TIME DIGITIZED is correct for this particular MOV file and I assume for all others too. The bar just underneath the thumbnail display shows the word Sort: however DATE TIME DIGITIZED is not one of the choices displayed in the drop down window. Is there a way for me to sort the entire folder of mixed JPGs and MOV files by DATE TIME DIGITIZED? I could then rename the files while they're in DATE TIME DIGITIZED sort order and from then on display them in file name order which would then carry over when published to SmugMug.

You might try this: Complex file renaming in Lightroom made simple – thanks to the Search and Replace plug-in – John Beardsworth

Or use his excellent List View plugin, which can use many more criteria for sorting, and then can save the results as a collection with that sort order.

rob211 said:

You might try this: Complex file renaming in Lightroom made simple – thanks to the Search and Replace plug-in – John Beardsworth

Or use his excellent List View plugin, which can use many more criteria for sorting, and then can save the results as a collection with that sort order.

Click to expand...

I now have List View and have tried sorting by Date Time Digitized. It put the first 73 JPGs and MOVs in the correct order but then it started mixing AM and PM times in the same calendar day. Sent a problem report to author and waiting for reply. If this works, I will have found the answer I've long been searching for. Thank you very much for putting me onto this!