diff --git a/shared.py b/shared.py
index e7335e3..36dcf59 100644
--- a/shared.py
+++ b/shared.py
@@ -33,13 +33,16 @@ if hostname == "lappy":
     PA_JOB_MANAGER_HOST="localhost"
     DB_URL = 'postgresql+psycopg2://pa:for_now_pa@localhost:5432/pa'
 # if we dont set the env or we are explicitly DEV, run web server on localhost & db on mara (port 65432)
+    PA_EXIF_ROTATER = './utils/pa_exifautotran'
 elif 'FLASK_ENV' not in os.environ or os.environ['FLASK_ENV'] == "development":
     PA_JOB_MANAGER_HOST="localhost"
     DB_URL = 'postgresql+psycopg2://pa:for_now_pa@mara.ddp.net:65432/pa'
 # if we explicitly are on PROD, run web server on localhost (pa_web container) & db on mara (port 5432 on padb container)- only accessed via internal docker ports)
+    PA_EXIF_ROTATER = './utils/pa_exifautotran'
 elif os.environ['FLASK_ENV'] == "production":
     PA_JOB_MANAGER_HOST="localhost"
     DB_URL = 'postgresql+psycopg2://pa:for_now_pa@padb/pa'
+    PA_EXIF_ROTATER = '/code/utils/pa_exifautotran'
 else:
     print( "ERROR: I do not know which environment (development, etc.) and which DB (on which host to use)" )
     exit( -1 )
@@ -119,7 +122,7 @@ def GenThumb(fname,auto_rotate):
     try:
         if auto_rotate:
             # run cmdline util to re-orient jpeg (only changes if needed, and does it losslessly)
-            p = subprocess.run(["/usr/bin/exifautotran",fname] )
+            p = subprocess.run([PA_EXIF_ROTATER,fname] )
             im=Image.open(fname)
         # if we don't autorotate/touch the original, we still want the thumbnail oriented the right way
         else:
diff --git a/utils/pa_exifautotran b/utils/pa_exifautotran
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..30f2b5b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/utils/pa_exifautotran
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+# pa_exifautotran [list of files]
+#
+# Transforms JPEG files so that Exif Orientation becomes 1
+#
+# blatant copy of exitautotran shell script with:
+# Minor change made to ignore failure of jpegtran (it was failing
+# b/c Samsung images are incomplete, but the rotation works)
+for i
+do
+  case $i in
+    -v|--version) echo "$0 (pa variant)"; exit 0;;
+    -h|--help) 
+      cat <<EOF
+$0 [list of files]
+Transforms JPEG files so that Exif Orientation becomes 1
+EOF
+    exit 0;;
+  esac
+
+	case $(exiftool -t -s -s -s -n -IFD0:Orientation -IFD1:Orientation "$i") in
+    1) transform="";;
+    2) transform="-flip horizontal";;
+    3) transform="-rotate 180";;
+    4) transform="-flip vertical";;
+    5) transform="-transpose";;
+    6) transform="-rotate 90";;
+    7) transform="-transverse";;
+    8) transform="-rotate 270";;
+    *) transform="";;
+  esac
+
+  if test -n "$transform"; then
+    echo Executing: jpegtran -copy all $transform "$i" >&2
+    jpegtran -copy all $transform "$i" > tempfile
+    rm "$i"
+    mv tempfile "$i"
+    jpegexiforient -1 "$i"
+  fi
+done