Photo Ingest Workflow

The root destination is always: /Users/mbowdish/photos_temporary

Card Detection

Camera cards mount under /Volumes/ on macOS. Run the detect command:

python3 <skill-path>/scripts/photo_ingest.py detect

This finds volumes with a DCIM directory (the universal camera folder standard). Common Canon volume names include "EOS_DIGITAL" and "Untitled". The user shoots on a Canon EOS 5D Mark IV which writes to both CF and SD simultaneously.

• If one card is found: use it automatically, confirm with user
• If multiple cards: list them with image counts, let user pick
• If none found: tell the user to insert/mount a card

The script scans all subfolders inside DCIM (Canon creates numbered folders like 100EOS5D, 101EOS5D, etc. as it fills up — these are just auto-numbering and should all be scanned).

Step 2: Create Destination & Copy Photos

First create the destination:

mkdir -p "/Users/mbowdish/photos_temporary/<subfolder-name>"

Then run the copy. Always include --file-type based on the user's choice (jpeg, raw, or both):

python3 <skill-path>/scripts/photo_ingest.py copy \
  --source "/Volumes/<card-name>/DCIM" \
  --dest "/Users/mbowdish/photos_temporary/<subfolder-name>" \
  --date "2026-03-31" \
  --file-type jpeg

For a date range, add --date-end:

python3 <skill-path>/scripts/photo_ingest.py copy \
  --source "/Volumes/<card-name>/DCIM" \
  --dest "/Users/mbowdish/photos_temporary/<subfolder-name>" \
  --date "2026-03-15" \
  --date-end "2026-03-17" \
  --file-type raw

For all photos (no date filter):

python3 <skill-path>/scripts/photo_ingest.py copy \
  --source "/Volumes/<card-name>/DCIM" \
  --dest "/Users/mbowdish/photos_temporary/<subfolder-name>" \
  --all \
  --file-type both

The script handles JPG and RAW files (CR2, CR3, NEF, ARW, RAF, DNG, ORF, RW2, TIFF). It reads EXIF DateTimeOriginal to determine capture date. It copies (not moves) — originals stay on the card until the user formats in-camera.

After the copy, report to the user:

• How many photos were copied
• File type breakdown (e.g., "42 CR2 + 42 JPG")
• Total size copied
• Any files that had no EXIF date (ask user if they should be included)
• Available disk space warning if relevant

EXIF Date Reading

The script reads EXIF dates using three methods in priority order:

1. exiftool (if installed) — most reliable, especially for RAW files
2. mdls (macOS built-in) — reads Spotlight metadata
3. Pillow — pure Python fallback; reads the EXIF sub-IFD (tag 0x8769) where Canon stores DateTimeOriginal

For Canon 5D Mark IV CR2 files specifically, Pillow needs to check the EXIF sub-IFD (exif.get_ifd(0x8769)) because DateTimeOriginal (tag 36867) lives there, not in the root IFD.

Step 3: Import into Lightroom Classic

Lightroom Classic needs to import the photos into its catalog, and each shoot should go into its own folder within Lightroom. The user has a consistent import preset they use every time.

3a. Open Lightroom and trigger Import

Run the import helper script:

bash <skill-path>/scripts/lightroom_import.sh "/Users/mbowdish/photos_temporary/<subfolder-name>"

This script:

1. Opens Lightroom Classic (or activates it if already running)
2. Waits for it to be ready
3. Triggers the Import dialog via Cmd+Shift+I using AppleScript

3b. Guide the user through the Import dialog

Once the Import dialog is open, tell the user:

"Lightroom's Import dialog should be open. Here's what to do:

1. On the left panel, navigate to /Users/mbowdish/photos_temporary/<subfolder-name>
2. Make sure your import preset is selected
3. On the right panel under 'Destination', create or select a folder for this shoot (e.g., <subfolder-name>)
4. Click Import

Once the import finishes and your photos have synced to Adobe's cloud, come back and let me know."

The key point: each upload gets its own destination folder in Lightroom's catalog. The subfolder name from step 1 is a good default — suggest it to the user but let them override.

3c. Wait for confirmation

Stop and wait. Do not proceed to the next step until the user confirms that:

1. The import into Lightroom is complete
2. Photos have synced to Adobe's cloud

Step 4: Baseball Photo Gallery (Optional)

After Lightroom import is confirmed, ask:

"Do you also want to publish these photos to the baseball photo gallery website?"

• If yes: invoke the photo-gallery-publish skill, pointing it at /Users/mbowdish/photos_temporary/<subfolder-name>. The local copies must stay until that workflow is complete.
• If no: proceed directly to Step 5.

Do not delete local copies until both this step and cloud sync are confirmed done.

Step 5: Confirm Cloud Sync & Delete

This requires two explicit confirmations:

Gate 1 — Ask: "Have your photos finished syncing to Adobe's cloud?"

• If no: wait
• If yes: proceed

Gate 2 — Ask: "Ready for me to delete the local copies from /Users/mbowdish/photos_temporary/<subfolder-name>? This cannot be undone."

• If no: leave files, stop
• If yes: delete the subfolder:

rm -rf "/Users/mbowdish/photos_temporary/<subfolder-name>"

After deletion, confirm what was removed. Remind user that originals are still on the memory card (format in-camera when ready).

Error Handling

• No EXIF data: Report these files separately, ask user if they want them included
• Duplicate filenames: Append a counter (e.g., IMG_1234_2.CR3)
• Low disk space: Warn before copying if destination drive is tight
• No card found: Ask user to insert/mount the card
• Lightroom not installed: Tell user the app couldn't be found