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Photography · head to head

Narrative Select vs ShootProof

Narrative Select logo

Narrative Select

Photography

AI photo culling with a low-cost entry tier, scaling to advanced editing and multi-user studio plans

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
ShootProof logo

ShootProof

Photography

Client proofing galleries, print store and studio billing with no commission on sales

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only ShootProof has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Narrative Select the cheap 10 US dollar entry tier covers culling only, so most photographers who also want AI editing end up on the 20 to 40 US dollar tiers instead.; ShootProof storage is counted in photos rather than gigabytes, so a wedding photographer delivering three thousand frames per job crosses tier boundaries within a handful of weddings regardless of how small the files are.
  • They diverge on capability: Narrative Select covers Standalone AI culling, ShootProof covers Proofing galleries.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Narrative Select and ShootProof actually diverge.

Attributes where Narrative Select and ShootProof differ
AttributeNarrative SelectShootProof
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelPer user per month, tiered by editing depthPer month by photo count
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWindows, macOSWeb, iOS, Android

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Photography).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Narrative Select

  • Standalone AI culling
  • Focus and eyes-open detection
  • Burst and duplicate grouping
  • Tiered AI editing
  • Multi-user studio plans
  • Export to any editor

Only in ShootProof

  • Proofing galleries
  • Print store
  • Zero sales commission
  • Contracts and invoices
  • Studio automation
  • Client mobile app

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Narrative Select

  • A photographer who wants to cull a shoot before deciding which RAW editor to send selects tonot ShootProof
  • A studio wanting several people to share one subscription editing profiles on the Ultra plannot ShootProof
  • Someone who wants culling only, at the lowest entry tier, without paying for AI editing they will not usenot ShootProof
  • A Capture One user who wants AI culling without being locked into a Lightroom-only plugin ecosystemnot ShootProof

ShootProof

  • A portrait studio whose print revenue exceeds its subscription cost, where a percentage based competitor would be the more expensive optionnot Narrative Select
  • School and sports volume work where galleries are keyed to individual subjects and priced from a fixed sheetnot Narrative Select
  • A photographer who wants contracts, invoices and gallery delivery billed to one vendor instead of threenot Narrative Select
  • Wedding delivery where clients need a downloadable set and the parents need a print ordering routenot Narrative Select

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Narrative Select

  • The cheap 10 US dollar entry tier covers culling only, so most photographers who also want AI editing end up on the 20 to 40 US dollar tiers instead.
  • There is no perpetual licence option; the subscription must stay active to keep using current AI models.
  • It is a separate standalone catalogue rather than a Lightroom plugin, which adds an extra application and import step to an existing workflow rather than embedding into one.
  • Multi-user studio pricing is only available on the most expensive Ultra tier, so smaller studios cannot get shared seats at a lower cost.
  • As with any AI culling tool, judgement calls on close eyes, expression and framing still need a manual review pass, so it reduces rather than removes culling time.

ShootProof

  • Storage is counted in photos rather than gigabytes, so a wedding photographer delivering three thousand frames per job crosses tier boundaries within a handful of weddings regardless of how small the files are.
  • Gallery presentation is plainer than Pic-Time and Pixieset, which matters at the high end where the gallery is part of the product the client is paying for.
  • There is no bundled website or blog builder, so photographers still pay a separate hosting subscription that competitors include in the same fee.
  • Print fulfilment is strongest with North American labs, and photographers outside that region face longer lead times, higher shipping and a shorter list of usable products.
  • Support is email and ticket based with no telephone line, which is awkward when a client gallery fails on the evening before a delivery deadline.

Pricing, plan by plan

Narrative Select

On request
  • Lite$10/month
    • Basic AI culling only
    • No AI editing included
  • Standard$20/month
    • Advanced culling
    • Basic AI editing
  • Premium$40/month
    • Advanced culling
    • Advanced AI editing
  • Ultra$60/month
    • More AI editing profiles
    • Unlimited advanced culling and editing for up to four users

ShootProof

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Up to 100 photos stored
    • Full store and download delivery
    • No commission on sales
  • Photo count tiers$undefined/month
    • Tiers set by the number of photos stored, not by file size
    • No sales commission at any tier
    • Contracts, invoices and studio automation included

Which should you pick?

Choose Narrative Select if

  • You need standalone ai culling.
  • You work on Windows, macOS.
  • You also want focus and eyes-open detection.
Narrative Select review

Choose ShootProof if

  • You need proofing galleries.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want print store.
ShootProof review

Questions people ask

Is Narrative Select or ShootProof better?
Neither clearly leads. Narrative Select starts at On request and ShootProof at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Narrative Select or ShootProof?
ShootProof has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Narrative Select and Free for ShootProof.
Does Narrative Select or ShootProof run on more platforms?
Narrative Select runs on Windows, macOS. ShootProof runs on Web, iOS, Android.
Can I use ShootProof for free?
Yes. ShootProof has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Narrative Select starts at On request.
What is Narrative Select best used for?
Narrative Select is most often used for a photographer who wants to cull a shoot before deciding which raw editor to send selects to, a studio wanting several people to share one subscription editing profiles on the ultra plan, someone who wants culling only, at the lowest entry tier, without paying for ai editing they will not use, a capture one user who wants ai culling without being locked into a lightroom-only plugin ecosystem. Of those, a photographer who wants to cull a shoot before deciding which raw editor to send selects to and a studio wanting several people to share one subscription editing profiles on the ultra plan are not what ShootProof is typically brought in for.
What can Narrative Select do that ShootProof cannot?
Narrative Select covers Standalone AI culling, Focus and eyes-open detection, Burst and duplicate grouping, Tiered AI editing. ShootProof covers Proofing galleries, Print store, Zero sales commission, Contracts and invoices.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Narrative Select: Is Narrative Select a Lightroom plugin?

No, it is a standalone application that culls a shoot independently and then exports selects to whichever editor you use.

ShootProof: Does ShootProof take a cut of print sales?

No. Every plan, including the free one, keeps zero percent of print and download revenue. You pay only the subscription and the lab cost.

Narrative Select: What is the cheapest way to use it?

The Lite tier at around 10 USD a month covers basic culling only, with no AI editing.

ShootProof: Is the free plan usable for real work?

Only for small jobs. One hundred photos covers a single short portrait session, so it works as a trial rather than as a business tier.

Narrative Select: Can multiple people share one subscription?

Only on the Ultra tier, which supports up to four users on a studio plan.

ShootProof: Can I use my own lab?

Yes. You can fulfil orders yourself or through a lab that ShootProof does not integrate with, but you then handle ordering and shipping manually.

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