diff --git a/osxphotos/_version.py b/osxphotos/_version.py
index 0384f60d..08e23a57 100644
--- a/osxphotos/_version.py
+++ b/osxphotos/_version.py
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 """ version info """
 
-__version__ = "0.39.5"
+__version__ = "0.39.6"
 
 
diff --git a/osxphotos/imageconverter.py b/osxphotos/imageconverter.py
index cffbc6ab..b69a46ee 100644
--- a/osxphotos/imageconverter.py
+++ b/osxphotos/imageconverter.py
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@
 
 # reference: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/59330149/coreimage-ciimage-write-jpg-is-shifting-colors-macos/59334308#59334308
 
-import logging
 import pathlib
 
 import Metal
@@ -16,6 +15,11 @@ from Foundation import NSDictionary
 from wurlitzer import pipes
 
 
+class ImageConversionError(Exception):
+    """Base class for exceptions in this module. """
+
+    pass
+
 class ImageConverter:
     """ Convert images to jpeg.  This class is a singleton
         which will re-use the Core Image CIContext to avoid
@@ -60,6 +64,7 @@ class ImageConverter:
         Raises:
             ValueError if compression quality not in range 0.0 to 1.0
             FileNotFoundError if input_path doesn't exist
+            ImageConversionError if error during conversion
         """
 
         # accept input_path or output_path as pathlib.Path
@@ -89,8 +94,7 @@ class ImageConverter:
             input_image = Quartz.CIImage.imageWithContentsOfURL_(input_url)
 
         if input_image is None:
-            logging.debug(f"Could not create CIImage for {input_path}")
-            return False
+            raise ImageConversionError(f"Could not create CIImage for {input_path}")
 
         output_colorspace = input_image.colorSpace() or Quartz.CGColorSpaceCreateWithName(
             Quartz.CoreGraphics.kCGColorSpaceSRGB
@@ -105,8 +109,7 @@ class ImageConverter:
         if not error:
             return True
         else:
-            logging.debug(
+            raise ImageConversionError(
                 "Error converting file {input_path} to jpeg at {output_path}: {error}"
             )
-            return False
 
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index ec801c87..fc3d60a0 100755
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ with open(os.path.join(this_directory, "README.md"), encoding="utf-8") as f:
 setup(
     name="osxphotos",
     version=about["__version__"],
-    description="Manipulate (read-only) Apple's Photos app library on Mac OS X",
+    description="Export photos from Apple's macOS Photos app and query the Photos library database to access metadata about images.",
     long_description=about["long_description"],
     long_description_content_type="text/markdown",
     author="Rhet Turnbull",
diff --git a/tests/test_image_converter.py b/tests/test_image_converter.py
index 566accf3..350ec554 100644
--- a/tests/test_image_converter.py
+++ b/tests/test_image_converter.py
@@ -89,14 +89,15 @@ def test_image_converter_bad_file():
     """ Try to convert a file that's not an image """
     import pathlib
     import tempfile
-    from osxphotos.imageconverter import ImageConverter
+    from osxphotos.imageconverter import ImageConverter, ImageConversionError
 
     converter = ImageConverter()
     tempdir = tempfile.TemporaryDirectory(prefix="osxphotos_")
     with tempdir:
         imgfile = pathlib.Path(TEST_NOT_AN_IMAGE)
         outfile = pathlib.Path(tempdir.name) / f"{imgfile.stem}.jpeg"
-        assert not converter.write_jpeg(imgfile, outfile)
+        with pytest.raises(ImageConversionError):
+            converter.write_jpeg(imgfile, outfile)
 
 
 def test_image_converter_missing_file():