My personal rule is to keep all photos except for the following:

  • Accidental shot of the floor or the inside of my camera bag
  • Flash misfire where the image is completely black
  • The subject is blinking or making an unflattering face
  • Major motion blur
  • The image portrays the subject badly

This is my general rule based on being an author and an educator. I sometimes need an example of a bad or blurry photo to teach how software or a photography tip can help fix it. You should create your own set of rules as a guideline. Don’t be afraid to break your own rules when you see a bad image you love and wish you had the ability to make it look good.

Want to learn more? Check out this article, “To keep or not to keep a photo. That is the question!”