diff --git a/README.rst b/README.rst
index 62ba0cbe..7602e548 100644
--- a/README.rst
+++ b/README.rst
@@ -110,6 +110,7 @@ Alternatively, you can also run the command line utility like this: ``python3 -m
      persons   Print out persons (faces) found in the Photos library.
      places    Print out places found in the Photos library.
      query     Query the Photos database using 1 or more search options; if...
+     repl      Run interactive osxphotos shell
      tutorial  Display osxphotos tutorial.
 
 To get help on a specific command, use ``osxphotos help <command_name>``
diff --git a/osxphotos/_version.py b/osxphotos/_version.py
index 3368b8db..11dc6663 100644
--- a/osxphotos/_version.py
+++ b/osxphotos/_version.py
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 """ version info """
 
-__version__ = "0.42.40"
+__version__ = "0.42.41"
diff --git a/osxphotos/cli.py b/osxphotos/cli.py
index d305064e..2275ee9d 100644
--- a/osxphotos/cli.py
+++ b/osxphotos/cli.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 """Command line interface for osxphotos """
 
+import code
 import csv
 import datetime
 import json
@@ -16,6 +17,7 @@ import bitmath
 import click
 import osxmetadata
 import yaml
+from rich import pretty
 
 import osxphotos
 
@@ -3773,3 +3775,73 @@ def tutorial(ctx, cli_obj, width):
     """Display osxphotos tutorial."""
     width = width[0] if width else 100
     click.echo_via_pager(tutorial_help(width=width))
+
+
+def _show_photo(photo):
+    """open image with default image viewer
+
+    Note: This is for debugging only -- it will actually open any filetype which could
+    be very, very bad.
+
+    Args:
+        photo: PhotoInfo object or a path to a photo on disk
+    """
+    photopath = photo.path if isinstance(photo, osxphotos.PhotoInfo) else photo
+
+    if not os.path.isfile(photopath):
+        return f"'{photopath}' does not appear to be a valid photo path"
+
+    os.system(f"open '{photopath}'")
+
+
+def _load_photos_db(dbpath):
+    print("Loading database")
+    tic = time.perf_counter()
+    photosdb = osxphotos.PhotosDB(dbfile=dbpath, verbose=print)
+    toc = time.perf_counter()
+    tictoc = toc - tic
+    print(f"Done: took {tictoc:0.2f} seconds")
+    return photosdb
+
+
+def _get_photos(photosdb):
+    photos = photosdb.photos(images=True, movies=True)
+    photos.extend(photosdb.photos(images=True, movies=True, intrash=True))
+    return photos
+
+
+@cli.command()
+@DB_OPTION
+@click.pass_obj
+@click.pass_context
+def repl(ctx, cli_obj, db):
+    """Run interactive osxphotos shell"""
+    pretty.install()
+    print(f"python version: {sys.version}")
+    print(f"osxphotos version: {osxphotos._version.__version__}")
+    db = db or get_photos_db()
+    photosdb = _load_photos_db(db)
+    print("Getting photos")
+    tic = time.perf_counter()
+    photos = _get_photos(photosdb)
+    toc = time.perf_counter()
+    tictoc = toc - tic
+
+    # shortcut for helper functions
+    get_photo = photosdb.get_photo
+    show = _show_photo
+
+    print(f"Found {len(photos)} photos in {tictoc:0.2f} seconds")
+    print("The following variables are defined:")
+    print(f"- photosdb: PhotosDB() instance for {photosdb.library_path}")
+    print(
+        f"- photos: list of PhotoInfo objects for all photos in photosdb, including those in the trash"
+    )
+    print(f"\nThe following functions may be helpful:")
+    print(f"- get_photo(uuid): return a PhotoInfo object for photo with uuid")
+    print(f"- show(photo): open a photo object in the default viewer")
+    print(
+        f"- help(object): print help text including list of methods for object; for example, help(PhotosDB)"
+    )
+    print(f"- quit(): exit this interactive shell\n")
+    code.interact(banner="", local=locals())
diff --git a/tests/test_cli.py b/tests/test_cli.py
index 5e4c85ff..4a5f4970 100644
--- a/tests/test_cli.py
+++ b/tests/test_cli.py
@@ -6457,6 +6457,8 @@ def test_export_directory_template_function():
     with runner.isolated_filesystem():
         with open("foo.py", "w") as f:
             f.writelines(["def foo(photo, **kwargs):\n","    return 'foo/bar'"])
+
+        tempdir = os.getcwd()
         result = runner.invoke(
             cli,
             [
@@ -6464,10 +6466,11 @@ def test_export_directory_template_function():
                 "--db",
                 os.path.join(cwd, PHOTOS_DB_15_7),
                 ".",
+                "-V",
                 "--uuid",
                 CLI_EXPORT_UUID,
                 "--directory",
-                "{function:foo.py::foo}"
+                "{function:"+f"{tempdir}" + "/foo.py::foo}"
             ],
         )
         assert result.exit_code == 0