The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for processing the images (B1-B7) of a photographic order. The image processing is controlled by a control means (SM). Determination means (FM) determines the presence or absence of at least one selected property (PAN, RA, DCD) of at least one of the images (B1-B7) of the photographic order. Sorting means (AS) automatically rejects an image (B1-B7) from the image processing procedure in the event that the presence or absence of the selected property (PAN, RA, DCD) cannot be determined unambiguously.