Artificial intelligence has become one of the biggest conversations in the photography industry. Some photographers embrace it wholeheartedly, while others worry it could replace the artistry that makes photography so meaningful. The truth lies somewhere in the middle.
As a cinematic photographer, I believe AI should support creativity; not replace it. That’s why I’ve intentionally incorporated tools like Aftershoot into my workflow. They help me spend less time on repetitive tasks and more time doing what I love: serving my couples, creating intentional images, and delivering a personal experience from start to finish.
If you’ve ever wondered how photographers use AI or whether your images are edited entirely by a computer, here’s a behind-the-scenes look at how I use AI in photography, and where I intentionally keep the human touch.
What Is AI In Photography?
When people hear “AI in photography,” they often imagine a computer creating fake images or editing photos without any human involvement. While those technologies exist, that’s not how I use artificial intelligence in my business.
Instead, I use AI to automate repetitive tasks. Rather than replacing my creative decisions, AI allows me to spend more time focusing on my clients, refining my work, and running my business. Think of it like hiring an incredibly fast assistant. It can organize, sort, and prepare my photos, but I still get to make the creative decisions.
What Is Aftershoot?
Aftershoot is an AI-powered software that helps photographers automate and speed up their post-production workflow. Out of all the AI tools available for photographers, Aftershoot has become one of my favorites because it solves two of the most time-consuming parts of post-production:
- Culling
- Editing
Instead of spending hours sorting through thousands of nearly identical images, Aftershoot helps narrow down the strongest photos while still allowing me to review every decision.
It doesn’t replace my judgment; it simply helps me get to the best images much faster. For photographers delivering hundreds if not thousands of photographs every week, that’s a huge difference.
Common Questions When It Comes To AI
Does AI edit all of your photos?
No. Over the past 7+ years, I’ve dedicated countless hours to carefully crafting and refining my signature editing style in Adobe Lightroom. I use Aftershoot as a starting point to help streamline my workflow, but it relies entirely on my own custom editing data. It takes my historical edits from Lightroom and creates a personalized AI profile that applies my signature look as a starting baseline for each gallery. I still hand-review, tweak, and perfect every single image before it reaches your final gallery to ensure it meets my artistic standard.
Does using AI make photography less personal?
Not when it’s used intentionally. AI helps automate repetitive tasks behind the scenes, while the creativity, storytelling, posing, and emotional moments remain entirely personal.
Why do photographers use AI Culling?
AI culling takes the most tedious and time-consuming part of post production off your plate by sorting through thousands of RAW photos to determine your final selection.
Think about it – one session can easily produce 2000+ images.
Traditionally, photographers spend several hours sorting through every single photograph looking for:
- Closed eyes
- Missed focus
- Duplicates
- Facial expressions
- Sharpness
- Best moments
Aftershoot analyzes these images incredibly quickly and groups similar photographs together, helping me identify the strongest options without manually comparing every frame. I still personally review every single culled image to make sure no candid moments, raw emotions, or hidden gems are missed.
How do you use AI Editing?
One misconception about AI editing is that it completely edits photos on its own.
That’s not how I use it.
Aftershoot learns from my editing style by studying thousands of images I’ve personally edited over time. Instead of creating a generic look, it applies a starting point based on my own color, exposure, white balance, and overall editing preferences. From there, I still review every gallery.
Every session has unique lighting conditions, skin tones, weather, and environments. My job is making sure every image reflects the quality and consistency my couples expect.
Think of AI editing as creating the first draft; not the finished product.
Features I Love About Aftershoot
One reason I continue using Aftershoot is because it genuinely improves my workflow without taking away creative control. Some of my favorite features include:
AI Culling
Aftershoot identifies duplicates, blinking, soft focus, and similar frames, making the selection process dramatically faster.
Personalized Editing Profiles
Instead of applying a generic preset, Aftershoot learns how I edit and builds edits based on my own style. That ensures my galleries remain consistent and intentional.
Speed
Instead of spending days behind a computer, I can spend more time photographing sessions, serving clients, marketing, and enjoying life outside the office.
Continuous Learning
As I continue editing galleries myself, Aftershoot continues learning from my work, making its suggestions even more aligned with my style over time.
What AI Doesn’t Do In My Photography Business
Although AI has become a valuable tool in my workflow, there are many things I intentionally choose not to automate.
AI does not:
- Build relationships with my couples.
- Pose clients during sessions.
- Capture genuine laughter.
- Comfort the pre-shoot nerves.
- Tell the story of your shoot.
- Make creative decisions during a session.
Photography has always been about people. No software can replace human connection, intuition, or the experience of documenting a special moment in someone’s life.
Why Human Creativity Still Matters
Every session is different. Every couple has a unique story. Every lighting situation requires different decisions.
Photography is about far more than pressing a shutter button. It’s anticipating moments before they happen, understanding emotion, reading light, and helping people feel comfortable enough to be themselves.
Those are skills developed through experience, not algorithms. Technology can make photographers more efficient, but it can’t replace the heart behind great storytelling.
The Biggest Benefit For My Clients
At the end of the day, my goal isn’t simply to save time. It’s to serve my couples better. By allowing AI to handle the repetitive tasks, I can dedicate more energy to the parts of my business that matter most:
- Creating a personalized experience
- Communicating with clients
- Refining each gallery
- Delivering images faster
- Continuing my education
- Growing creatively
Technology should improve the client experience; not replace it.
The Future Of AI In Photography
I believe AI will continue becoming part of the photography industry, just as digital cameras, mirrorless systems, and online galleries once did.
The photographers who stand out won’t be the ones who avoid technology completely. They’ll be the ones who use it intentionally.
AI should remove repetitive work so photographers can spend more time creating meaningful images, connecting with clients, and building sustainable businesses. That’s exactly how I use it. AI isn’t replacing photography, it is reshaping the way photographers work behind the scenes.
For me, tools like Aftershoot allow me to streamline culling and editing while preserving everything that makes photography personal. Every gallery is still guided by my artistic vision, reviewed with care, and crafted to reflect the moments that matter most.
The camera doesn’t create meaningful photographs. The software doesn’t tell your story. Those things still come from the person behind the lens. AI simply gives me more time to focus on what I value most: serving my clients well, creating timeless imagery, and delivering a gallery that feels authentically yours.
Interested in trying Aftershoot for yourself? Try one month free, here!
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