diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 64441b7..34d10f5 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -46,7 +46,16 @@ slide [-t rotation_seconds] [-a aspect] [-o background_opacity(0..255)] [-b blur
     * `<dir>`directory of the current image
     * `<path>`path to the current image without filename
   * Example: `slide -p ./images -O "20|60|Time: <time>;;;Picture taken at <exifdatetime>"`
-      
+
+## Folder Options file
+When using the default or recursive folder mode we support having per folder display options. The options are stored in a file called "options.json" and currently support the following option
+```
+{
+    "fitAspectAxisToWindow": false
+}
+```
+* `fitAspectAxisToWindow` : apply the --stretch option to files in this folder
+
 ## Dependencies
 
 * qt5-qmake
diff --git a/src/imageselector.cpp b/src/imageselector.cpp
index 5271291..803a867 100644
--- a/src/imageselector.cpp
+++ b/src/imageselector.cpp
@@ -12,8 +12,8 @@
 #include <algorithm>    // std::shuffle
 #include <random>       // std::default_random_engine
 
-ImageSelector::ImageSelector(std::unique_ptr<PathTraverser>& pathTraverser, char aspectIn):
-  pathTraverser(pathTraverser), aspect(aspectIn)
+ImageSelector::ImageSelector(std::unique_ptr<PathTraverser>& pathTraverser, char aspectIn, bool fitAspectAxisToWindowIn):
+  pathTraverser(pathTraverser), aspect(aspectIn), fitAspectAxisToWindow(fitAspectAxisToWindowIn)
 {
 }
 
@@ -50,12 +50,11 @@ int ImageSelector::getImageRotation(const std::string &fileName)
   return degrees;
 }
 
-bool ImageSelector::imageValidForAspect(const std::string &fileName)
+bool ImageSelector::imageValidForAspect(const std::string &fileName, const int rotation)
 {
   QPixmap p( fileName.c_str() );
   int imageWidth = p.width();
   int imageHeight = p.height();
-  int rotation = getImageRotation(fileName);
   if ( rotation == 90 || rotation == 270 )
   {
     std::swap(imageWidth,imageHeight);
@@ -83,15 +82,15 @@ bool ImageSelector::imageValidForAspect(const std::string &fileName)
 }
 
 
-RandomImageSelector::RandomImageSelector(std::unique_ptr<PathTraverser>& pathTraverser, char aspect):
-  ImageSelector(pathTraverser, aspect)
+RandomImageSelector::RandomImageSelector(std::unique_ptr<PathTraverser>& pathTraverser, char aspect, bool fitAspectAxisToWindow):
+  ImageSelector(pathTraverser, aspect, fitAspectAxisToWindow)
 {
   srand (time(NULL));
 }
 
 RandomImageSelector::~RandomImageSelector(){}
 
-std::string RandomImageSelector::getNextImage()
+const std::string RandomImageSelector::getNextImage(ImageOptions_t &options)
 {
   std:: string filename;
   try
@@ -101,7 +100,8 @@ std::string RandomImageSelector::getNextImage()
       QStringList images = pathTraverser->getImages();
       unsigned int selectedImage = selectRandom(images);
       filename = pathTraverser->getImagePath(images.at(selectedImage).toStdString());
-      if (!imageValidForAspect(filename))
+      options.rotation = getImageRotation(filename);
+      if (!imageValidForAspect(filename, options.rotation))
       {
         filename.clear();
       }
@@ -113,6 +113,9 @@ std::string RandomImageSelector::getNextImage()
     std::cerr << "Error: " << err << std::endl;
   }
   std::cout << "updating image: " << filename << std::endl;
+  options.aspect = aspect;
+  options.fitAspectAxisToWindow = fitAspectAxisToWindow;
+  pathTraverser->UpdateOptionsForImage(filename, options);
   return filename;
 }
 
@@ -129,8 +132,8 @@ unsigned int RandomImageSelector::selectRandom(const QStringList& images) const
   return rand() % images.size();
 }
 
-ShuffleImageSelector::ShuffleImageSelector(std::unique_ptr<PathTraverser>& pathTraverser, char aspect):
-  ImageSelector(pathTraverser, aspect),
+ShuffleImageSelector::ShuffleImageSelector(std::unique_ptr<PathTraverser>& pathTraverser, char aspect, bool fitAspectAxisToWindow):
+  ImageSelector(pathTraverser, aspect, fitAspectAxisToWindow),
   current_image_shuffle(-1),
   images()
 {
@@ -141,7 +144,7 @@ ShuffleImageSelector::~ShuffleImageSelector()
 {
 }
 
-std::string ShuffleImageSelector::getNextImage()
+const std::string ShuffleImageSelector::getNextImage(ImageOptions_t &options)
 {
   if (images.size() == 0 || current_image_shuffle >= images.size())
   {
@@ -164,24 +167,28 @@ std::string ShuffleImageSelector::getNextImage()
       std::cout << "file not found: " << filename << std::endl;
     }
     current_image_shuffle = current_image_shuffle + 1; // ignore and move to next image
-    return getNextImage();
+    return getNextImage(options);
   }
-  if (!imageValidForAspect(filename))
+  options.rotation = getImageRotation(filename);
+  if (!imageValidForAspect(filename, options.rotation))
   {
     if(debugMode)
     {
       std::cout << "image has invalid aspect: " << filename << "(images left:" << (images.size()-current_image_shuffle) << ")" << std::endl;
     }
     current_image_shuffle = current_image_shuffle + 1; // ignore and move to next image
-    return getNextImage();
+    return getNextImage(options);
   }
   std::cout << "updating image: " << filename << std::endl;
   current_image_shuffle = current_image_shuffle + 1;
+  options.aspect = aspect;
+  options.fitAspectAxisToWindow = fitAspectAxisToWindow;
+  pathTraverser->UpdateOptionsForImage(filename, options);
   return filename;
 }
 
-SortedImageSelector::SortedImageSelector(std::unique_ptr<PathTraverser>& pathTraverser, char aspect):
-  ImageSelector(pathTraverser, aspect),
+SortedImageSelector::SortedImageSelector(std::unique_ptr<PathTraverser>& pathTraverser, char aspect, bool fitAspectAxisToWindow):
+  ImageSelector(pathTraverser, aspect, fitAspectAxisToWindow),
   images()
 {
   srand (time(NULL));
@@ -203,7 +210,7 @@ bool operator<(const QString& lhs, const QString& rhs) noexcept{
 
 }
 
-std::string SortedImageSelector::getNextImage()
+const std::string SortedImageSelector::getNextImage(ImageOptions_t &options)
 {
   if (images.size() == 0)
   {
@@ -229,17 +236,21 @@ std::string SortedImageSelector::getNextImage()
     {
       std::cout << "file not found: " << filename << std::endl;
     }
-    return getNextImage();
+    return getNextImage(options);
   }
-  if (!imageValidForAspect(filename))
+  options.rotation = getImageRotation(filename);
+  if (!imageValidForAspect(filename, options.rotation))
   {
     if(debugMode)
     {
       std::cout << "image has invalid aspect: " << filename << std::endl;
     }
-    return getNextImage();
+    return getNextImage(options);
   }
 
   std::cout << "updating image: " << filename << std::endl;
+  options.aspect = aspect;
+  options.fitAspectAxisToWindow = fitAspectAxisToWindow;
+  pathTraverser->UpdateOptionsForImage(filename, options);
   return filename;
 }
diff --git a/src/imageselector.h b/src/imageselector.h
index 645f5af..1c4093b 100644
--- a/src/imageselector.h
+++ b/src/imageselector.h
@@ -8,28 +8,36 @@
 class MainWindow;
 class PathTraverser;
 
+struct ImageOptions_t
+{
+    char aspect;
+    bool fitAspectAxisToWindow;
+    int rotation;
+};
+
 class ImageSelector
 {
 public:
-    ImageSelector(std::unique_ptr<PathTraverser>& pathTraverser, char aspectIn);
+    ImageSelector(std::unique_ptr<PathTraverser>& pathTraverser, char aspectIn, bool fitAspectAxisToWindow);
     virtual ~ImageSelector();
-    virtual std::string getNextImage() = 0;
+    virtual const std::string getNextImage(ImageOptions_t &options) = 0;
     void setDebugMode(bool debugModeIn) { debugMode = debugModeIn;}
 
 protected:
     int getImageRotation(const std::string &fileName);
-    bool imageValidForAspect(const std::string &fileName);
+    bool imageValidForAspect(const std::string &fileName, const int rotation);
     std::unique_ptr<PathTraverser>& pathTraverser;
     char aspect;
+    bool fitAspectAxisToWindow = false;
     bool debugMode = false;
 };
 
 class RandomImageSelector : public ImageSelector
 {
 public:
-    RandomImageSelector(std::unique_ptr<PathTraverser>& pathTraverser, char aspect);
+    RandomImageSelector(std::unique_ptr<PathTraverser>& pathTraverser, char aspect, bool fitAspectAxisToWindow);
     virtual ~RandomImageSelector();
-    virtual std::string getNextImage();
+    virtual const std::string getNextImage(ImageOptions_t &options);
 
 private:
     unsigned int selectRandom(const QStringList& images) const;
@@ -38,9 +46,9 @@ private:
 class ShuffleImageSelector : public ImageSelector
 {
 public:
-    ShuffleImageSelector(std::unique_ptr<PathTraverser>& pathTraverser, char aspect);
+    ShuffleImageSelector(std::unique_ptr<PathTraverser>& pathTraverser, char aspect, bool fitAspectAxisToWindow);
     virtual ~ShuffleImageSelector();
-    virtual std::string getNextImage();
+    virtual const std::string getNextImage(ImageOptions_t &options);
 
 private:
     int current_image_shuffle;
@@ -50,9 +58,9 @@ private:
 class SortedImageSelector : public ImageSelector
 {
 public:
-    SortedImageSelector(std::unique_ptr<PathTraverser>& pathTraverser, char aspect);
+    SortedImageSelector(std::unique_ptr<PathTraverser>& pathTraverser, char aspect, bool fitAspectAxisToWindow);
     virtual ~SortedImageSelector();
-    virtual std::string getNextImage();
+    virtual const std::string getNextImage(ImageOptions_t &options);
 
 private:
     QStringList images;
diff --git a/src/imageswitcher.cpp b/src/imageswitcher.cpp
index 5e57331..1a0b8e2 100644
--- a/src/imageswitcher.cpp
+++ b/src/imageswitcher.cpp
@@ -21,7 +21,8 @@ ImageSwitcher::ImageSwitcher(MainWindow& w, unsigned int timeout, std::unique_pt
 
 void ImageSwitcher::updateImage()
 {
-    std::string filename(selector->getNextImage());
+    ImageOptions_t options;
+    std::string filename(selector->getNextImage(options));
     if (filename == "")
     {
       window.warn("No image found.");
@@ -29,7 +30,7 @@ void ImageSwitcher::updateImage()
     }
     else
     {
-      window.setImage(filename);
+      window.setImage(filename, options);
       timerNoContent.stop(); // we have loaded content so stop the fast polling
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/main.cpp b/src/main.cpp
index 871cb9f..7d25f5b 100644
--- a/src/main.cpp
+++ b/src/main.cpp
@@ -116,29 +116,29 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
   std::unique_ptr<PathTraverser> pathTraverser;
   if (!imageList.empty())
   {
-    pathTraverser = std::unique_ptr<PathTraverser>(new ImageListPathTraverser(imageList));
+    pathTraverser = std::unique_ptr<PathTraverser>(new ImageListPathTraverser(imageList, debugMode));
   }
   else if (recursive)
   {
-    pathTraverser = std::unique_ptr<PathTraverser>(new RecursivePathTraverser(path));
+    pathTraverser = std::unique_ptr<PathTraverser>(new RecursivePathTraverser(path, debugMode));
   }
   else
   {
-    pathTraverser = std::unique_ptr<PathTraverser>(new DefaultPathTraverser(path));
+    pathTraverser = std::unique_ptr<PathTraverser>(new DefaultPathTraverser(path, debugMode));
   }
 
   std::unique_ptr<ImageSelector> selector;
   if (sorted)
   {
-    selector = std::unique_ptr<ImageSelector>(new SortedImageSelector(pathTraverser, aspect));
+    selector = std::unique_ptr<ImageSelector>(new SortedImageSelector(pathTraverser, aspect, fitAspectAxisToWindow));
   }
   else if (shuffle)
   {
-    selector = std::unique_ptr<ImageSelector>(new ShuffleImageSelector(pathTraverser, aspect));
+    selector = std::unique_ptr<ImageSelector>(new ShuffleImageSelector(pathTraverser, aspect, fitAspectAxisToWindow));
   }
   else
   {
-    selector = std::unique_ptr<ImageSelector>(new RandomImageSelector(pathTraverser, aspect));
+    selector = std::unique_ptr<ImageSelector>(new RandomImageSelector(pathTraverser, aspect, fitAspectAxisToWindow));
   }
   selector->setDebugMode(debugMode);
   if(debugMode)
@@ -149,9 +149,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
   Overlay o(overlay);
   o.setDebugMode(debugMode);
   w.setOverlay(&o);
-  w.setAspect(aspect);
   w.setDebugMode(debugMode);
-  w.setFitAspectAxisToWindow(fitAspectAxisToWindow);
   w.show();
 
   ImageSwitcher switcher(w, rotationSeconds * 1000, selector);
diff --git a/src/mainwindow.cpp b/src/mainwindow.cpp
index 804a212..ae927dd 100644
--- a/src/mainwindow.cpp
+++ b/src/mainwindow.cpp
@@ -53,47 +53,13 @@ void MainWindow::resizeEvent(QResizeEvent* event)
    updateImage(true);
 }
 
-void MainWindow::setImage(std::string path)
+void MainWindow::setImage(const std::string& path, const ImageOptions_t& options)
 {
     currentImage = path;
+    imageOptions = options;
     updateImage(false);
 }
 
-int MainWindow::getImageRotation()
-{
-    if (currentImage == "")
-        return 0;
-
-    int orientation = 0;
-    ExifData *exifData = exif_data_new_from_file(currentImage.c_str());
-    if (exifData)
-    {
-      ExifByteOrder byteOrder = exif_data_get_byte_order(exifData);
-      ExifEntry *exifEntry = exif_data_get_entry(exifData, EXIF_TAG_ORIENTATION);
-
-      if (exifEntry)
-      {
-        orientation = exif_get_short(exifEntry->data, byteOrder);
-      }
-      exif_data_free(exifData);
-    }
-
-    int degrees = 0;
-    switch(orientation) {
-        case 8:
-        degrees = 270;
-        break;
-        case 3:
-        degrees = 180;
-        break;
-        case 6:
-        degrees = 90;
-        break;
-    }
-
-    return degrees;
-}
-
 void MainWindow::updateImage(bool immediately)
 {
     if (currentImage == "")
@@ -184,11 +150,6 @@ void MainWindow::setOverlay(Overlay* o)
   overlay = o;
 }
 
-void MainWindow::setAspect(char aspectIn)
-{
-  aspect = aspectIn;
-}
-
 QPixmap MainWindow::getBlurredBackground(const QPixmap& originalSize, const QPixmap& scaled)
 {
     if (scaled.width() < width()) {
@@ -206,21 +167,21 @@ QPixmap MainWindow::getBlurredBackground(const QPixmap& originalSize, const QPix
 QPixmap MainWindow::getRotatedPixmap(const QPixmap& p)
 {
     QMatrix matrix;
-    matrix.rotate(getImageRotation());
+    matrix.rotate(imageOptions.rotation);
     return p.transformed(matrix);
 }
 
 QPixmap MainWindow::getScaledPixmap(const QPixmap& p)
 {
-  if (fitAspectAxisToWindow)
+  if (imageOptions.fitAspectAxisToWindow)
   {
-    if ( aspect == 'p')
+    if (imageOptions.aspect == 'p')
     {
       // potrait mode, make height of image fit screen and crop top/bottom
       QPixmap pTemp = p.scaledToHeight(height(), Qt::SmoothTransformation);
       return pTemp.copy(0,0,width(),height());
     }
-    else if ( aspect == 'l')
+    else if (imageOptions.aspect == 'l')
     {
       // landscape mode, make width of image fit screen and crop top/bottom
       QPixmap pTemp = p.scaledToWidth(width(), Qt::SmoothTransformation);
diff --git a/src/mainwindow.h b/src/mainwindow.h
index d83f436..464c648 100644
--- a/src/mainwindow.h
+++ b/src/mainwindow.h
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 
 #include <QMainWindow>
 #include <QPixmap>
+#include "imageselector.h"
 
 namespace Ui {
 class MainWindow;
@@ -20,23 +21,20 @@ public:
     void keyPressEvent(QKeyEvent* event);
     void resizeEvent(QResizeEvent* event);
     ~MainWindow();
-    void setImage(std::string path);
+    void setImage(const std::string& path, const ImageOptions_t &options);
     void setBlurRadius(unsigned int blurRadius);
     void setBackgroundOpacity(unsigned int opacity);
     void warn(std::string text);
     void setOverlay(Overlay* overlay);
-    void setAspect(char aspectIn);
     void setDebugMode(bool debugModeIn) {debugMode = debugModeIn;}
-    void setFitAspectAxisToWindow(bool fitAspectAxisToWindowIn) { fitAspectAxisToWindow = fitAspectAxisToWindowIn; }
 private:
     Ui::MainWindow *ui;
 
     std::string currentImage;
     unsigned int blurRadius = 20;
     unsigned int backgroundOpacity = 150;
-    char aspect = 'a';
+    ImageOptions_t imageOptions;
     bool debugMode = false;
-    bool fitAspectAxisToWindow = false;
 
     Overlay* overlay;
 
diff --git a/src/pathtraverser.cpp b/src/pathtraverser.cpp
index bb20a0f..488381f 100644
--- a/src/pathtraverser.cpp
+++ b/src/pathtraverser.cpp
@@ -4,11 +4,16 @@
 #include <QTimer>
 #include <QApplication>
 #include <QDir>
+#include <QFileInfo>
+#include <QJsonDocument>
+#include <QJsonObject>
+#include <QJsonValue>
 #include <iostream>
 #include <stdlib.h>     /* srand, rand */
+#define UNUSED(x) (void)(x)
 
-PathTraverser::PathTraverser(const std::string path):
-  path(path)
+PathTraverser::PathTraverser(const std::string path, bool debugModeIn):
+  path(path), debugMode(debugModeIn)
 {}
 
 PathTraverser::~PathTraverser() {}
@@ -20,8 +25,38 @@ QStringList PathTraverser::getImageFormats() const {
   return imageFormats;
 }
 
-RecursivePathTraverser::RecursivePathTraverser(const std::string path):
-  PathTraverser(path)
+void PathTraverser::LoadOptionsForDirectory(const std::string &directoryPath, ImageOptions_t &options) const
+{
+  QDir directory(directoryPath.c_str());
+  QString jsonFile = directory.filePath(QString("options.json"));
+  if(directory.exists(jsonFile))
+  {
+    if(debugMode)
+    {
+      std::cout << "Found options file" << std::endl;
+    }
+    QString val;
+    QFile file;
+    file.setFileName(jsonFile);
+    file.open(QIODevice::ReadOnly | QIODevice::Text);
+    val = file.readAll();
+    file.close();
+    QJsonDocument d = QJsonDocument::fromJson(val.toUtf8());
+    QJsonObject jsonDoc = d.object();
+    if(jsonDoc.contains("fitAspectAxisToWindow") && jsonDoc["fitAspectAxisToWindow"].isBool())
+    {
+      options.fitAspectAxisToWindow = jsonDoc["fitAspectAxisToWindow"].toBool();
+      if(debugMode)
+      {
+        std::cout << "Fit Aspect:" << options.fitAspectAxisToWindow << std::endl;
+      }
+    }
+    // read json
+  }
+}
+
+RecursivePathTraverser::RecursivePathTraverser(const std::string path,bool debugMode):
+  PathTraverser(path,debugMode)
 {}
 
 RecursivePathTraverser::~RecursivePathTraverser() {}
@@ -44,8 +79,14 @@ const std::string RecursivePathTraverser::getImagePath(const std::string image)
   return image;
 }
 
-DefaultPathTraverser::DefaultPathTraverser(const std::string path):
-  PathTraverser(path),
+void RecursivePathTraverser::UpdateOptionsForImage(const std::string& filename, ImageOptions_t& options) const
+{
+  QDir d = QFileInfo(filename.c_str()).absoluteDir();
+  LoadOptionsForDirectory(d.absolutePath().toStdString(), options);
+}
+
+DefaultPathTraverser::DefaultPathTraverser(const std::string path,bool debugMode):
+  PathTraverser(path,debugMode),
   directory(path.c_str())
 {}
 
@@ -62,9 +103,14 @@ const std::string DefaultPathTraverser::getImagePath(const std::string image) co
   return directory.filePath(QString(image.c_str())).toStdString();
 }
 
+void DefaultPathTraverser::UpdateOptionsForImage(const std::string& filename, ImageOptions_t& options) const
+{
+  UNUSED(filename);
+  LoadOptionsForDirectory(directory.absolutePath().toStdString(), options);
+}
 
-ImageListPathTraverser::ImageListPathTraverser(const std::string &imageListString):
-  PathTraverser("")
+ImageListPathTraverser::ImageListPathTraverser(const std::string &imageListString,bool debugMode):
+  PathTraverser("",debugMode)
 {
   QString str = QString(imageListString.c_str());
   imageList = str.split(QLatin1Char(','));
@@ -81,4 +127,11 @@ QStringList ImageListPathTraverser::getImages() const
 const std::string ImageListPathTraverser::getImagePath(const std::string image) const
 {
   return image;
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
+
+void ImageListPathTraverser::UpdateOptionsForImage(const std::string& filename, ImageOptions_t& options) const
+{
+  // no per file options modification supported
+  UNUSED(filename);
+  UNUSED(options);
+}
diff --git a/src/pathtraverser.h b/src/pathtraverser.h
index 8d32e08..976969d 100644
--- a/src/pathtraverser.h
+++ b/src/pathtraverser.h
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 #include <iostream>
 #include <QDir>
 #include <QStringList>
+#include "imageselector.h"
 
 static const QStringList supportedFormats={"jpg","jpeg","png","tif","tiff"};
 
@@ -11,32 +12,37 @@ class MainWindow;
 class PathTraverser
 {
   public:
-    PathTraverser(const std::string path);
+    PathTraverser(const std::string path, bool debugModeIn);
     virtual ~PathTraverser();
     virtual QStringList getImages() const = 0;
     virtual const std::string getImagePath(const std::string image) const = 0;
+    virtual void UpdateOptionsForImage(const std::string& filename, ImageOptions_t& options) const = 0;
 
   protected:
     const std::string path;
+    bool debugMode = false;
     QStringList getImageFormats() const;
+    void LoadOptionsForDirectory(const std::string &directoryPath, ImageOptions_t &options) const;
 };
 
 class RecursivePathTraverser : public PathTraverser
 {
   public:
-    RecursivePathTraverser(const std::string path);
+    RecursivePathTraverser(const std::string path, bool debugModeIn);
     virtual ~RecursivePathTraverser();
     QStringList getImages() const;
     virtual const std::string getImagePath(const std::string image) const;
+    virtual void UpdateOptionsForImage(const std::string& filename, ImageOptions_t& options) const;
 };
 
 class DefaultPathTraverser : public PathTraverser
 {
   public:
-    DefaultPathTraverser(const std::string path);
+    DefaultPathTraverser(const std::string path, bool debugModeIn);
     virtual ~DefaultPathTraverser();
     QStringList getImages() const;
     virtual const std::string getImagePath(const std::string image) const;
+    virtual void UpdateOptionsForImage(const std::string& filename, ImageOptions_t& options) const;
   private:
     QDir directory;
 };
@@ -44,10 +50,11 @@ class DefaultPathTraverser : public PathTraverser
 class ImageListPathTraverser : public PathTraverser
 {
   public:
-    ImageListPathTraverser(const std::string &imageListString);
+    ImageListPathTraverser(const std::string &imageListString, bool debugModeIn);
     virtual ~ImageListPathTraverser();
     QStringList getImages() const;
     virtual const std::string getImagePath(const std::string image) const;
+    virtual void UpdateOptionsForImage(const std::string& filename, ImageOptions_t& options) const;
   private:
     QStringList imageList;
 };