The fastest way: drag your photo into Preview

Open the photo in Preview (the app that comes with every Mac), then go to File > Export As and choose PDF from the format dropdown. Name the file and pick where to save it. That's the whole process — no extra software needed.

Preview works with JPG, PNG, HEIC, and most other image formats. If you have multiple photos and want them in one PDF, open them all in Preview, then go to Tools > Contact Sheet to arrange them on a single page before exporting.

Key Takeaways

  • Preview, which comes built into macOS, converts photos to PDF in two steps: open the photo, then File > Export As > PDF.
  • If you need to edit the photo first — crop, rotate, or adjust brightness — Preview has those tools in the Tools menu before you export.
  • For multiple photos in one PDF, use Preview's Contact Sheet feature under Tools to arrange them, then export the whole sheet as PDF.
  • Third-party apps like ImageMagick or Automator offer batch conversion if you regularly convert dozens of photos at once, but Preview handles occasional conversions without installing anything.

Editing the photo before you convert

Preview includes basic editing tools that appear in the toolbar once you open a photo. You can crop, rotate, flip, and adjust colors without leaving the app. Make your changes, then export as PDF — the PDF will contain the edited version.

If you need to add text, signatures, or shapes to the photo before converting, Preview has an Annotate button in the toolbar. Click it to add boxes, arrows, text, or your signature. These annotations become part of the PDF when you export.

Combining multiple photos into one PDF

Open all the photos you want in one PDF by dragging them into Preview at once, or by opening the first photo and then File > Open to add more. They'll appear as separate pages in Preview's sidebar.

Rearrange the pages by dragging them in the sidebar. Delete any you don't want. Then go to File > Export As, choose PDF, and save. The result is a single PDF file with each photo on its own page, in the order you arranged them.

If you want multiple photos on a single page instead, use Tools > Contact Sheet. Set the number of columns and rows, and Preview will shrink and arrange the photos to fit. Then export that as PDF.

Using Automator for batch conversion

If you convert dozens of photos regularly, Automator (also built into macOS) can do it in bulk. Open Automator, create a new Quick Action, then search for "Convert Image Format" in the library on the left. Drag it into the workflow.

Set the format to PDF, then save the action with a name like "Convert to PDF". Now you can right-click any photo in Finder, go to Quick Actions, and select your new action. Automator will convert it when ready. You can also set it to process an entire folder at once by using the "Ask for Finder Items" action first.

When to use a third-party app instead

Preview handles most photo-to-PDF conversions, but some apps offer features Preview doesn't. ImageMagick (free, command-line tool) lets you resize, compress, or batch-process hundreds of photos with specific settings. Coherence X or PDF Squeezer compress PDFs after conversion if file size matters for email or storage.

For privacy, Preview and Automator work entirely on your Mac — nothing leaves your computer. Third-party apps vary: check their privacy policy before installing. Many free PDF apps collect data or show ads; paid apps like PDF Squeezer typically don't.

Troubleshooting common problems

If Preview won't open your photo, the file format may be corrupted or unsupported. Try opening it in another app first (like Photos or Finder's Quick Look) to confirm it opens. If it does, try copying the photo and pasting it into a new Preview window.

If the PDF is too large, Preview's export dialog has a Quartz Filter dropdown. Select "Reduce File Size" before exporting. This compresses the image but may reduce quality slightly. For more control, use Preview's Tools > Adjust Size to shrink the photo's dimensions before exporting.

If you're converting HEIC photos (Apple's newer format) and the PDF looks blurry, Preview may be scaling it. Check the image size in Tools > Adjust Size and make sure it matches your original photo's dimensions before exporting.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I password-protect the PDF after converting?

Preview doesn't add passwords during export, but you can after. Open the PDF in Preview, go to File > Export As, and look for the Security Options button. You can set a password to open the file or to prevent printing and copying.

What's the difference between exporting as PDF and printing to PDF?

File > Export As gives you direct control over quality and file size. Printing to PDF (File > Print, then PDF dropdown) works but often creates larger files. For photos, Export As is faster and gives better results.

Will the PDF look the same as the original photo?

Yes, unless you use the Reduce File Size filter. The PDF will match the photo's appearance on screen. If you edited the photo in Preview before exporting, those edits appear in the PDF.

Can I convert a screenshot to PDF the same way?

Yes. Screenshots save as PNG files on Mac. Open the screenshot in Preview and export as PDF using the same steps. You can crop or annotate the screenshot before exporting if needed.

Is there a way to convert photos without opening Preview each time?

Yes — create an Automator Quick Action as described above, or use a command-line tool like ImageMagick if you're comfortable with Terminal. For occasional conversions, Preview is faster than setting up automation.