Narrative can rename your photos in bulk, either in a project you've already imported or while you ingest photos from a memory card. You build the new file name from blocks, like the capture date, project name and a sequence number.
Important: Keep each photo's matching RAW file, JPEG and XMP sidecar file (the small file that holds its ratings and edits) together in the same folder. If you've already added the photos to other software, like a Lightroom Classic catalog, renaming them in Narrative may mean you need to relink them there.
How do I rename photos in an existing project?
Select the photos you want to rename, or filter your project to show them.
Go to Photo → Rename Files in the menu bar. You can also click the pencil icon next to the file name in Shot Info.
Choose whether to rename the selected photos or every photo in your current filtered view.
Build your file name formula (see below) and check the preview.
Confirm to rename the photos.
Narrative renames every photo you chose using your formula.
How do I build a file name formula?
A file name formula in Narrative is a row of blocks that make up each new file name. To change it:
Reorder blocks: click and drag a block to move it.
Change or remove a block: click the three dots on the block.
Add a block: hover at the end of the row, click +, and choose the type of block.
What blocks can I use in a file name formula?
You can build a file name formula in Narrative from these blocks:
Original Filename: keeps the photo's original file name from the camera.
Capture Time: adds the time each photo was taken.
Capture Date: adds the date each photo was taken, as separate YYYY, YY, MM or DD blocks. These are the dark purple blocks in the default formula.
Project Name: adds the Narrative project name.
Numbers: adds a sequence number, or the camera's serial number. This is the orange block in the default formula.
Dividers: separate the other blocks with a hyphen (-), plus (+), underscore (_), period (.), space or brackets.
Custom Text: adds any text you type.
How do the date blocks work?
The Capture Date blocks in a file name formula use these codes:
YYYY: four-digit year, like 2026.
YY: two-digit year, like 26.
MM: two-digit month, like 10.
DD: two-digit day, like 13.
For example, a photo taken on October 13, 2026 shows as 20261013 with YYYYMMDD, or 261013 with YYMMDD.
A formula of YYYYMMDD, a hyphen and Original Filename turns IMG_1234.CR3 into 20261013-IMG_1234.CR3. Check the preview to make sure the file extension, like .CR3, only appears once.
Does changing the formula change my default?
Changing the file name formula also updates your default formula, which Narrative uses the next time you rename photos or ingest a card. Check your formula before each new shoot. You can also set your default formula in Preferences → General.
How do I rename photos while ingesting from a memory card?
To rename photos as you ingest them, check Rename ingested files with default formula in the bottom-right corner of the ingest screen before you click Ingest.
Narrative renames each photo with your default formula as it copies it. To change the formula first, click the default formula link on the ingest screen, build your formula, then click Save As Default to keep it for future ingests.
Use a sequence number with enough digits for the size of your shoot, like 0001 for up to 9,999 photos. Once ingest finishes, check a few of the renamed files and their XMP sidecar files. Learn more about ingesting from a memory card.
Why isn't Narrative copying all of my selected photos?
If some of your selected photos don't copy to the new folder, two or more of them probably have the same file name, for example photos from two cameras. Rename them first with Photo → Rename Files (see above), then copy them again.