How to Automatically Rename Photos for Photographers Using AI
A Fast and Private Way to Batch Rename JPEG, TIFF, and Everyday Photo Shoots
Photographers work with thousands of images across portraits, weddings, newborn sessions, travel photos, food content, and personal projects. But cameras save files using meaningless names like DSC_0045.JPG or IMG_5401.JPG, making it difficult to organize your shoots or build clean client galleries.
If you're new to AI Renamer, check out our quick overview: What is AI Renamer?
Manually renaming images is slow and interrupts your editing flow, especially during busy wedding or portrait seasons.
In this guide, you’ll learn how to automatically rename photos using AI so you can organize entire shoots in seconds.
Why Photos Are Hard to Organize
Cameras use generic filenames like:
DSC_0031.JPGIMG_20250114_120533.jpgPXL_3920.PNG
These names tell you nothing about the content.
This leads to messy workflows:
- Harder to manage client galleries
- Travel shoots get mixed up
- Wedding and event photos lose structure
- Food and product shots aren’t grouped
- Portfolio images become disorganized
- Sorting inside Lightroom becomes slower
AI-powered renaming removes all of this friction instantly.
How AI Renamer Helps Photographers
AI Renamer analyzes the visual content of an image and uses EXIF metadata when available to generate descriptive filenames.
Supported Photo Formats
- JPG
- PNG
- GIF
- BMP
- TIFF
- WEBP
Ideal For Renaming
- Portrait photos
- Wedding and event images
- Newborn and baby photography
- Pet photography
- Food photography
- Travel and vacation shots
- Everyday mobile photos
- Landscape and street photography
What AI Renamer Can Do
- Batch rename hundreds of images at once
- Keep everything private using Local Mode
- Use Custom Instructions for consistent naming
- Preview names before applying
- Detect general subjects, scenes, and landmarks
- Use EXIF data (date taken, orientation, etc.) to improve naming
How to Automatically Rename Photos with AI (Step-by-Step Guide)
1. Download AI Renamer
Install the macOS or Windows app from airenamer.app. Setup takes under one minute.
Need help installing? Follow our step-by-step guides:
• How to Install AI Renamer on macOS
• How to Install AI Renamer on Windows
2. Choose Local Mode or Cloud Mode
Local Mode
Use your own AI models via Ollama or LM Studio.
Best for privacy because files stay on your device.
Cloud Mode
Use built-in AI models with prepaid credits.
Best for speed and convenience.
Both modes support image renaming.
3. Add Your Photos
Drag and drop any folder containing supported image files. AI Renamer scans each image and prepares naming suggestions.
It can read:
- Visual content (objects, people, scenery)
- General categories such as person, woman, cat, food, baby, group
- Landmarks when clearly visible (for example, Eiffel Tower)
- EXIF metadata such as date taken and orientation
4. Preview the AI-Generated Names
AI Renamer suggests a filename for each photo based on what it sees and its metadata.
If you want a different name, click Regenerate.
5. Rename All Photos in One Click
When the names look correct, click Rename All to apply them instantly.
Using Custom Instructions for Consistent Photo Naming
Custom Instructions let you define your own naming pattern.
For example:
{shoot type}-{main subject}-{location}-{date}
Example instruction:
“Rename photos using this format: {shoot type}-{main subject}-{location}.”
AI Renamer applies this structure to every file.
Photo Examples for Photographers
AI Renamer can describe general subjects and scenes, not specific identities.
For more workflow ideas, check out 10 Professional Use Cases for AI File Renaming Tool, covering accountants, photographers, lawyers, creators, students and more.
Example 1: Birthday Photography
Before: photo_7251.jpeg
After: birthday-party-kids-indoor.jpeg
AI Renamer detects:
- Cake, candles, balloons
- Indoor party setting
- People (general categories)
Example 2: Wedding Photography
Before: IMG_8349.JPG
After: wedding-couple-palmpark.JPG
AI Renamer detects:
- Event-like ceremony setting
- Flowers, rings, decorations
- Couple or group (general categories)
Example 3: Newborn Photography
Before: 3747ef_0b31e0bf447c.tiff
After: portrait-newborn-baby-studio.tiff
AI Renamer detects:
- Baby (general)
- Soft blanket or props
- Indoor home or studio environment
Example 4: Pet Photography (Tabby Cat)
Before: DISC_3542.png
After: pet-photo-ginger-cat-outdoor.png
AI Renamer detects:
- Cat (orange tabby)
- Indoor scene
- Sofa or furniture
Example 5: Food Photography
Before: 276725-27c56f91a42.webp
After: food-pasta-chicken-broccoli.webp
AI Renamer detects:
- Ingredients
- Plate and background
- Indoor restaurant or home setting
Frequently Asked Questions
Does AI Renamer identify people?
No. It only detects general categories like person, woman, man, child, or group.
Does it support RAW files?
No. AI Renamer currently supports image formats such as JPG, PNG, GIF, BMP, TIFF, and WEBP.
Does it read EXIF data?
Yes. If an image contains EXIF metadata (for example, date taken or orientation), AI Renamer can use it to improve filename suggestions.
Is my data private?
Yes. In Local Mode, all processing happens on your device.
Whether you're shooting weddings, portraits, newborns, pets, food, or travel content, manually renaming photos takes time and breaks your workflow.
AI Renamer gives photographers a fast, private, and customizable way to clean up filenames quickly so you can spend more time creating and less time organizing.
