diff --git a/util/import_photos.py b/util/import_photos.py
index 4e80210..32a4065 100644
--- a/util/import_photos.py
+++ b/util/import_photos.py
@@ -32,8 +32,14 @@ def process_pictures(source: str, dest_shrunk: str, dest_original: str):
                 (k[5:], v) for k, v in image.metadata.items() if k.startswith("exif:")
             )
             with image.clone() as cloned:
+                # adjust an image so that its orientation is suitable for viewing
+                # (i.e. top-left orientation) by checking EXIF data
+                cloned.auto_orient()
+                # strip an image of all profiles and comments
                 cloned.strip()  # Q: may damage icc, do we allow that or use smh else?
-                cloned.transform(resize="50%")  # Q: what do we want here?
+                # resize the shorter side to be no more than 1000px
+                # https://legacy.imagemagick.org/discourse-server/viewtopic.php?p=44329#p44329
+                cloned.transform(resize="1000^>")  # Q: what do we want here?
                 # move them to the processed folder
                 cloned.save(filename=path.join(dest_shrunk, filename))