Getting Started with Import Magic: Your First Photo Import Tutorial

Getting Started with Import Magic: Your First Photo Import Tutorial

What You'll Learn

• Connect any device (SD cards, cameras, drives) to Import Magic

• Use the simple toggle interface for instant imports

• Customize organization by date and file type

• Set up multiple backup destinations simultaneously

• Configure auto-import for hands-free workflow

• Track every file with real-time progress monitoring

Before You Start

System Requirements

• Windows or Mac computer

• Any camera, hard drives, NAS, Dropbox, iCloud, OneDrive, or folder

• Available storage space for your photos

• Import Magic app downloaded from importmagic.app

What You'll Need

• SD card with photos from a recent shoot

• Destination folder ready (editing drive, backup drives)

• 5 minutes to complete this tutorial

Why Import Magic?

• Manual dragging to editing drives and backup drives

• Tediously reformatting SD cards and checking duplicates

• Hours wasted on file management

• That familiar "Skip, stop, or replace" dialog that only works with one file

• Checks every single file and detects new files automatically

• Import to multiple drives simultaneously

• Never format an SD card again

• Handle 50 files or 1 million files with equal ease

Get Started in 8 Simple Steps

Step 1: Wait for Your Drive to Mount

1. Plug in your SD card or drive and wait for it to appear in Finder (Mac) or Explorer (Windows)

2. Ensure the device is properly connected and recognized by your system

3. Multiple devices? No problem - Import Magic can handle them all simultaneously

Step 2: Click the Toggle

1. Open Import Magic from your Applications or Start Menu

2. Find your mounted drive in the Import Magic interface

3. Click the toggle next to your drive to activate it

4. See the magic begin - Import Magic immediately starts analyzing your device

• Import Magic scans for all files on your device

• Intelligent detection of new vs. existing files

• Automatic file type recognition

• Real-time progress tracking starts

Step 3: Confirm the Process

1. Review the confirmation dialog that appears

2. Check the file count and types detected

3. Verify source and destination information

4. Click "Confirm" to proceed with the import setup

• Total files found on your device

• File types breakdown (RAW, JPEG, Video, etc.)

• Estimated import time

• Destination preview

Step 4: Select Your Destination

1. Choose where you want your files imported

2. Best practice: Select a folder that contains most or all of your videos and pictures

3. Multiple destinations: Set up backup to multiple drives simultaneously

4. Folder structure: Import Magic will organize within your chosen destination

• Primary editing drive for immediate access

• Backup drives for redundancy

• Network storage for team access

• Cloud folders for automatic cloud backup

Step 5: Select the Folder as the Destination

1. Use the folder picker to navigate to your chosen destination

2. Confirm the folder selection in the dialog

3. Verify the path is correct for your workflow

4. Set up multiple destinations if backing up to several drives

Step 6: Select Files to Import

• Auto-selection: All new files are pre-selected

• Manual toggle: Turn individual files on/off as needed

• Bulk selection: Use sidebar to select/unselect by file type

• Smart filtering: Ignore specific file types or folders

• File type filtering: Include only RAW, or JPEG, or Video

• Size filtering: Skip thumbnail files automatically

• Date filtering: Import only recent files

• Custom ignore rules: Skip specific folders or file patterns

• Date Formats: Organize by year, month, day in any format

• Project Folders: Create custom folders for clients or shoots

• Subfolder Sorting: Auto-sort into subfolders by file type

• Enable auto-import: Future imports happen automatically

• Save settings: Your preferences are remembered automatically

• Quick workflows: No need to configure every time

Step 7: Press Import

1. Hit the Import button and watch the magic happen

2. Real-time progress tracking: See every file as it imports

3. Transfer speeds: Monitor import performance

4. Multiple destinations: Watch files backup simultaneously

• Live progress: Watch every single file import in real-time

• 100% Peace of Mind: Always know exactly which files have been imported

• Multiple Destinations: Backup to multiple drives at the same time

• Complete file tracking: Never wonder "Did everything import?"

• Simultaneous backup: No more copying files twice

• Lightning fast: Handle millions of files with ease

• Zero duplicates: Intelligent duplicate detection

• Perfect organization: Files exactly where they should be

• Small shoots (50-100 files): instant

• Wedding shoots (500-1000 files): 30-60 seconds

• Large events (2000+ files): 2-5 minutes

• Speed depends on: File sizes, destination drive speed, USB connection

Step 8: Done!

1. Import completes automatically

2. Destination folder opens so you can see your organized files

3. Import summary shows successful transfers and any skipped duplicates

4. Your SD card is ready for the next shoot (optional auto-cleanup)

• Perfect organization: Files sorted exactly as configured

• Multiple backups: Files safely stored in all specified locations

• Clean device: Option to safely clean your SD card

• Ready to edit: Immediately start your creative workflow

• Saved settings: Next import will be even faster

• ✅ Files successfully imported

• ⏭️ Duplicates detected and skipped

• 📊 Transfer statistics and timing

• 📁 Destination folder links

• 🧹 Device cleanup options

Advanced Features

Complete Import Confidence

• Live Import Progress: Watch every file import with detailed progress tracking

• 100% Peace of Mind: Always know exactly which files have been imported

• Multiple Destinations: Backup to multiple drives simultaneously

• Comprehensive Tracking: See every file, track every step, backup everywhere

Customize Your Import Organization

• Date Formats: Organize by year, month, day in any format you prefer

• Project Folders: Create custom project folders for different clients or shoots

• Subfolder Sorting: Automatically sort files into subfolders by file type

• Smart Filtering: Ignore specific files or folders you don't want imported

Time-Saving Automation

• Saved Configurations: Import settings are remembered for next time

• Auto-Import: Enable for completely hands-free importing

• Preset Workflows: Set up different configurations for different shoot types

• One-Click Operation: After initial setup, importing is just one click

Integration with Your Editing Workflow

Lightroom Integration

1. Point Lightroom to Import Magic organized folders

2. Import into catalog from the organized structure

3. Maintain folder hierarchy for consistent organization

4. Use smart previews for efficient catalog management

Capture One Integration

1. Create sessions from Import Magic organized folders

2. Maintain file organization throughout the editing process

3. Use folder-based workflow for maximum flexibility

4. Preserve metadata and file structure

Other Software

• Adobe Bridge: Browse organized folders directly

• Photo Mechanic: Use as organized source for metadata

• Any DAM software: Import from organized Import Magic structure

Troubleshooting Common Issues

"Device Not Detected"

• Check USB connections and try different ports

• Ensure device is properly mounted in Finder/Explorer

• Try a different card reader or USB cable

• Restart Import Magic and reconnect device

"Import Failed" or Errors

• Check available disk space on destination drive

• Verify file permissions for destination folder

• Ensure device isn't write-protected

• Check for corrupted files on source device

"Slow Import Speed"

• Use USB 3.0+ card readers for maximum speed

• Import to fast SSD drives when possible

• Close other applications during large imports

• Ensure destination drives have adequate free space

"Files Not Organizing Correctly"

• Check date/time settings on your camera

• Verify organization settings in Import Magic

• Review custom folder naming conventions

• Test with a small batch first

What's Next

Upcoming Features

• Media Library: View all photos, videos, audio, files in one place

• AI Media Library: Search all your files with AI

• AI Assisted Culling: Intelligent photo selection

• Easy Export: Direct export to Lightroom/Classic, Capture One, etc.

Supporting Import Magic

Conclusion

• ⚡ Lightning Speed: 30-second imports vs 15-minute manual process

• 🎯 Perfect Organization: Files exactly where they should be

• 🛡️ Complete Confidence: Track every file, never lose anything

• 📈 Multiple Backups: Simultaneous backup to multiple drives

• 🧠 Mental Freedom: No more file management decisions

• ⏰ Massive Time Savings: Hours reclaimed every month

Ready for Your Next Import?

Related Tutorials

• "Setting Up Import Magic Presets for Different Shoot Types"

• "Advanced Organization: Custom Naming and Folder Structures"

• "Multiple Destination Backup Strategies"

• "Integrating Import Magic with Lightroom and Capture One"

• "Troubleshooting Guide: Solving Common Import Issues"