How to export Photo while keeping the original date?

The command " File > Export > Export 1 Photo" is creating a new image file. It is rendering a new version if the image, with all adjustments applied, in the specified format, quality and size. And so the exported file will have a new file creation date, as it is a new version of the imported image. But the exif tags of the new image file should still contain the date the photo has been taken, if the camera has set such a tag. When you open the file in Preview or another photo editor, the correct capture date should be shown.

When you export the original image file with "File > Export > Export unmodified original", not an edited version, the exported file should keep the original file creation date, as the original file you imported will be reexported. However, this will be different, if you are using iCloud Photos. Then the file creation dat will be the date the file has been downloaded from iCloud.

If the file creation date matters to you, because you want to sort the image files in the Finde ray the capture date, you could use third-party apps to change the the file creation date to the capture date. I am using the Services installed by "RawRightAway", also GraphicConverter installs such services. Or use "A Better Finder".

In any recent version of macOS, since macOS 10.13 Mojave, you can also see the the capture date below the preview of the image in the Finder in Column View. It will be shown as Content Created, below the creation date and the modification date. For example:

There are two kinds of metadata involved when you consider jpeg or other image file.

One is the file data. This is what the Finder shows. This tells you nothing about the contents of the file, just the File itself.

The problem with File metadata is that it can easily change as the file is moved from place to place or exported, e-mailed, uploaded etc.

Photographs have also got both Exif and IPTC metadata. The date and time that your camera snapped the Photograph is recorded in the Exif metadata. Regardless of what the file date says, this is the actual time recorded by the camera.

Photo applications like Photos, CaptureOne, Lightroom, Mylio, Photoshop etc get their date and time from the Exif metadata.

When you export from iPhoto to the Finder new file is created containing your Photo (and its Exif). The File date is - quite accurately - reported as the date of Export.

However, the Photo Date doesn't change.

The problem is that the Finder doesn't work with Exif.

So, your photo has the correct date, and so does the file, but they are different things. To sort on the Photo date you'll need to use a photo app.

There are apps that will edit the file data to match the Exif. This is one:

https://www.publicspace.net/ABetterFinderAttributes/index.html

Hi Yoon,

Please have a look at EXIF Renamer

https://www.qdev.de/?location=mac/exifrenamer

This tool will read the original EXIF date and set the file date back.

If you like you can also rename your files to reflect date and time.

Ralf