Loading HEIC Photos

Introduction 

HEIC photos will contain EXIF metadata which gives information about the time and date the photo was taken, the phone/camera model used to take it, and the technical settings such as focal length and ISO speed. First copy the HEIC files from the device on which you took the photos to a computer. You need to compress the files into a ZIP file before transfer to your computer to ensure that metadata is preserved. Then unZIP the files into a temporary folder on your computer and create a PDF "print" of the metadata and load that to the document management system.

Next, load the HEIC file itself. Some document management systems check EXIF data and use that to set the date in the system when loading an HEIC file but not all do. If your system does not check the EXIF date for HEIC files, add the date from the EXIF data to the end of the filename (preceded by a space) just before you load the HEIC. To add the date using Advanced Renamer you would specify Add 0 backwards <DateTaken:d mmm yyyy> Most systems, as well as checking contents, check filename for a date and, having used it as a date, then omit it from the document name set in the system. It is important to create the metadata print before you rename the file so that the filename shown in the metadata print is the original unappended filename.

It is important that the original filename is retained because it is used to uniquely identify the photo (as there are likely to be more than one photo with the same date) and also to cross reference the HEIC file with the correct metadata print. You can add a general description if that is helpful but make sure you leave the original file name at the end:

If the EXIF date/time metadata is missing from the metadata "print" PDF, see if you have or can obtain a copy of the HEIC with intact EXIF metadata and, if you can, use that instead of the current file. But if there really is no HEIC file with intact EXIF metadata available to load, or if there is EXIF date metadata but you have reason to think that the EXIF date/time is not accurate, use the current file but see here for what else to do about it.

It is important to ensure that the original filename is included in the Document Name to uniquely identify the photo as there are likely to be more than one photo with the same date, but if the original filename is not available (for example if the only copy you have is a copy of a HEIC which has been renamed without including the original filename) you should include the current filename (with file extension so that it is obvious it is a filename) in single quotes so that that can be used for identification instead.

Exhibit Mark

When you get to the stage in litigation where a statement is being prepared which will refer to a photo with an exhibit mark (e.g. a statement confirming where and when you took the photo or how it has come into your possession) you should add the exhibit mark to the start of the document name. The file can then be downloaded as a PDF and an exhibit mark label applied to the downloaded PDF which can then be printed and verified by the witness.

Disclaimer

The information above is necessarily of a general nature and will not be applicable to every case: it is intended to be used in conjunction with more specific advice to the individual client about the individual case. Contact me for advice about your case.

The information on this page about specific computer techniques is provided for information purposes only. Every reasonable effort has been made to ensure that the information is accurate and up to date at the time it was written but no responsibility for its accuracy, or for any consequences of relying on it, is assumed by me. You should satisfy yourself, before using any of the techniques, software or services described, that the techniques are appropriate for your purposes and that the software or service is reliable.

This page was lasted updated in December 2025. Disclaimer