diff --git a/image_classifier/image_classifier.py b/image_classifier/image_classifier.py
index f1ab2a3..2e5de43 100755
--- a/image_classifier/image_classifier.py
+++ b/image_classifier/image_classifier.py
@@ -69,7 +69,9 @@ class image_classifier:
         if people:
             self._log.debug(f"Found {len(people)} known people in the image.")
             self._log.debug(json.dumps(people, indent=2))
-            self.metadata = pyexiv2.ImageData(file)
+            with open(file, 'bw') as image_file:
+                content = image_file.read()
+            self.metadata = pyexiv2.ImageData(content)
             self.metadata.read()
             print(f"IPTC keys: {self.metadata.iptc_keys}")
             print(f"EXIF keys: {self.metadata.exif_keys}")