You can add more photos to a Narrative project you've already started. It's handy when a shoot spans several memory cards, or a two-day wedding where you ingest after each day.
How do I add more photos to an existing project?
To add more photos, you ingest them into the project from the File menu. It works with memory cards and with folders on your computer or an external drive.
Step 1: Open Ingest More.
Open the project you want to add photos to.
Go to File → Ingest More from Memory Card.
Select the memory card or cards to ingest from. To add photos from a folder instead, click Add in the bottom-left corner and choose the folder.
Step 2: Check your settings and ingest.
Check the photos you've selected to copy.
Check the destination is your existing project's folder.
If you see Don't include duplicates, check it so Narrative skips photos that are already in the project.
Choose whether to rename the photos as they're copied. Learn about renaming on ingest.
Add any backup locations you want (see below).
Click the button in the bottom-right corner that shows how many photos will be copied, for example Copy 50 photos into project.
Narrative copies the new photos and adds them to your existing project.
Why can't I see my folder in the memory card list?
The list on the left only shows memory cards. A folder on your computer or an external drive won't show there, even if you can see it in Finder or File Explorer.
To add photos from a folder, click Add in the bottom-left corner of the ingest window and choose the folder. If the photos are in folders inside that folder, open the menu for the folder you added and turn on Include subfolders.
Can I drag and drop photos into an existing project?
No. Dropping a folder onto the Narrative window creates a new project. To add photos to a project you've already started, use File → Ingest More from Memory Card as described above.
If you'd rather copy the photos yourself, you can:
Open the project and go to File → Open Source Folder in Finder (on Windows, File → Open Source Folder).
Copy the new photos into that folder.
Back in Narrative, go to File → Refresh Source Folder so the project picks up the new photos.
What if ingest says it failed?
If Narrative says ingest failed or couldn't start, check these things, then try again:
The memory card or drive with the photos is still connected.
The drive you're copying to has enough free space. If it doesn't, Narrative shows how much more space it needs.
Another ingest isn't already running for the same project. Wait for it to finish before you start another.
If it still fails, contact our support team and let us know the exact message you see and where the photos are (a memory card, a folder on your computer or an external drive).
What happens if I insert a memory card while Narrative is open?
If you insert a memory card while Narrative is open, Quick Ingest can open automatically. To add the photos to an existing project, make sure the destination is that project's folder, not a new folder.
Can I back up photos while adding them to a project?
You can add up to four backup locations when you ingest more photos, once you've chosen the project folder. Narrative makes a copy in each one as it ingests.
Backup folders can't be inside each other.
Narrative checks there's enough space before it starts, and stops if a location doesn't have room.
Backups are a one-off copy made during ingest. Narrative doesn't keep them in sync afterward.
What does Narrative copy when I ingest more photos?
Narrative copies supported photo files and their XMP files (small sidecar files that hold ratings and edits).
Important: Narrative doesn't copy videos or any other files that aren't photos. Copy your videos separately before you format the card.
Before you erase or format the memory card, wait for ingest to finish, check each backup location, and make sure the new photos show in your project.