diff --git a/movmaker.py b/movmaker.py
index 6e843ea..e535953 100755
--- a/movmaker.py
+++ b/movmaker.py
@@ -504,31 +504,33 @@ def media_embedded_date(path: Path) -> datetime | None:
                 return dt
         except Exception:
             pass
-    return ffprobe_creation_date(path)
+        return None
+    if ext in VIDEO_EXTS:
+        return ffprobe_creation_date(path)
+    return None
 
 
 def parse_date_from_filename(path: Path) -> datetime | None:
-    # Look for 8 digits (YYYYMMDD) followed by optional separator and 6 digits (HHMMSS)
-    m = re.search(r'(\d{8})[_-]?(\d{6})?', path.stem)
-    if m:
-        try:
-            date_part = m.group(1)
-            time_part = m.group(2) if m.group(2) else '000000'
-            full_ts = date_part + time_part
-            return datetime.strptime(full_ts, '%Y%m%d%H%M%S')
-        except ValueError:
-            return None
-    return None
+    # Match exactly YYYYMMDD[_-]HHMMSS as a standalone numeric chunk.
+    m = re.search(r'(?:^|[^0-9])(\d{8})[_-]?(\d{6})(?:[^0-9]|$)', path.name)
+    if not m:
+        return None
+    full_ts = f"{m.group(1)}{m.group(2)}"
+    try:
+        return datetime.strptime(full_ts, "%Y%m%d%H%M%S")
+    except ValueError:
+        return None
+
 
 def media_date(path: Path) -> datetime:
-    # 1. Try embedded metadata
+    # 1) Embedded metadata (EXIF/ffprobe)
     dt = media_embedded_date(path)
-    
-    # 2. Try filename parsing for videos
-    if dt is None and path.suffix.lower() in VIDEO_EXTS:
+
+    # 2) Filename parsing
+    if dt is None:
         dt = parse_date_from_filename(path)
-        
-    # 3. Fallback to mtime
+
+    # 3) Filesystem datetime fallback
     if dt is None:
         dt = datetime.fromtimestamp(path.stat().st_mtime)
 
@@ -616,13 +618,6 @@ def default_output_path(first_media: Path, data: MovieData, out_dir: Path) -> Pa
     return out_dir / f"{date}_{title}.mp4"
 
 
-def natural_key(path: Path) -> list[object]:
-    # Simple natural-ish sort: IMG_2 before IMG_10.
-    import re
-    parts = re.split(r"(\d+)", path.name.lower())
-    return [int(p) if p.isdigit() else p for p in parts]
-
-
 def scan_input(input_dir: Path, image_duration: float) -> tuple[list[MediaItem], list[Path], MovieData]:
     """Detect media/audio/data files inside the input directory and build metadata."""
     if not input_dir.is_dir():
@@ -662,7 +657,9 @@ def scan_input(input_dir: Path, image_duration: float) -> tuple[list[MediaItem],
         sorted_media.extend(media_map.values())
         media = sorted_media
     else:
-        media.sort(key=lambda item: (media_date(item.path), natural_key(item.path)))
+        # Datetime-only ordering (no filename-order fallback).
+        # Python sort is stable, so equal datetimes keep discovery order.
+        media.sort(key=lambda item: media_date(item.path))
     
     return media, audio, parse_data_file(data_file)