Conceptual illustration for My Photo Library Described: an invented coastal scene paired with sound-wave shapes to represent descriptions read through VoiceOver. Illustration: MacDigest.
Kelly Ford has released My Photo Library Described 0.2.0, the first public version of a photo browser designed to work with screen readers. Announced on October 14, the free, MIT-licensed app uses Apple Intelligence to describe images locally on supported Macs. It works with the Photos library and folders you add, without uploading pictures for description.
Hear descriptions while browsing
The developer’s announcement describes a VoiceOver-friendly workflow: move through photos with the arrow keys, pause, and hear what is in the selected image. The first description can take several seconds while the model warms up. Saved descriptions are reused when you return to a photo.
Command-D requests a description; Shift-Command-D moves into an editable description panel and back to the photos. The panel supports reading by line, word or character, including with a braille display. Optional background processing prepares descriptions ahead of browsing.
Search currently filters metadata such as names, captions and dates; it does not search saved descriptions. Automatic and background describing do not download cloud-only photos. The tagged privacy policy explains that gallery viewing, previews and explicit description requests can download images from your own cloud account.
Keep photo changes optional
Each launch starts in Read-Only Mode. Descriptions and corrections can be saved locally without changing the photos. To write a description into a photo, you must allow editing and choose a caption command or enable the separately confirmed automatic-saving option.
The version 0.2.0 guide distinguishes the destinations: Photos-library images receive captions, which sync through iCloud Photos; supported files in added folders can receive captions and IPTC accessibility alt text. Check a generated description before saving or sharing it.
Check compatibility and sharing choices
AI descriptions require macOS 27 or later, Apple silicon and enabled Apple Intelligence. Browsing remains available without AI. An open installer issue documents installation on older systems, so successful installation alone does not establish compatibility. The Help menu’s system check can identify missing requirements.
On-device description still comes with documented network activity: update checks contact GitHub, and optional place-name lookup sends photo coordinates to Apple. Submitted bug reports are public, including anything entered in the optional Contact field. Review the preview and leave private information out; removing that field is planned.
MacDigest has not independently tested this first release.
