Get set up fast

Setup

Everything you need to get Caption Caddie running on your Mac, connect your Gemini key, and fit it into your sports photography workflow.

macOS 15+ Gemini BYOK Photo Mechanic workflow Wire-ready IPTC/XMP

System requirements

macOS 15 or later, your own Google Gemini API key, and ideally Photo Mechanic in your workflow.

Good news

IPTC/XMP metadata write is built in. No separate ExifTool install or Homebrew setup required.

Connect Google Gemini

Bring your own AI key

Caption Caddie uses your own Google Gemini API key for cloud jersey detection and captioning. Create the key in Google AI Studio, paste it once in Settings (⌘,), and pay Google directly for usage.

⌘, open Settings
~$4 per ~2,500 images
Keychain secure storage

  1. Create the key

    Make a Gemini API key in Google AI Studio.

  2. Paste it once

    Open Settings (⌘,) in Caption Caddie and paste the key into the Gemini field.

  3. Track usage

    Check Settings → Stats for session, month, and lifetime usage with exact and estimated cost.

Caption Caddie Stats with lifetime Gemini cost and image processing metrics
Real-world testing: 2,467 images processed, ~$3.98 to $4.02 estimated Gemini API cost (gemini-3.1-flash-lite).
Caption Caddie Gemini usage panel with lifetime cost breakdown
Lifetime usage: 2,467 photos for $3.98 estimated, with a direct link to Google AI Studio spend.

Bring-your-own-key pricing keeps the app affordable. AI usage stays on your Google account instead of being bundled into a subscription. See our privacy policy for how images are processed.

Caption workflow tips

Photo Mechanic first

Cull, crop, edit, and apply wire XMP templates before importing into Caption Caddie.

Teams and rosters

Build rosters manually or import them from CSV, JSON, Photo Mechanic text, or an ESPN URL.

Matchups and events

Create a matchup, attach rosters, set jersey colors, and make it active before you start captioning.

Session to FTP

Import via drag-and-drop, watch folder, or File → Import Images, then press ⌘↩ to write IPTC/XMP and FTP as usual.