How can photographers utilize and benefit from AI?

At its core, photography is a creative expression. Whether you're a professional photographer with a deep client list or a hobbyist growing your portfolio, AI can level up your creativity — and your workflow, too. The use of AI has been hotly debated across the creative industry since the debut of generators like Midjourney and DALL-E. But it's likely you're already using AI in your photography practice. Take Lightroom Classic, for example. Editing tools that you probably use every time you sit down to edit, like the content-aware remove tool, are powered by AI. Ultimately, photographers can benefit from and utilize AI without compromising creativity and originality. 

Improved workflows and results

Right now, AI tools are being rapidly adopted in the field of photography. And in some instances, AI is even beginning to reshape industry standards. For example, AI-powered software has transformed post-processing, a key stage of contemporary photography, by enabling the alteration and enhancement of photos while keeping the photographer's original vision intact. There's no denying it. You can edit faster and easily create new concepts with AI-powered tools with little manual effort on your end. Today's top software leaders see the benefit in improving user workflows. And users are relishing the results. 

Start thinking of AI as a springboard for your next project or shoot. Photographers are adopting AI tools like Midjourney's Image Prompts to assist in the pre-visualization phase. This AI tool uses a series of detailed text prompts to create stunning photorealistic images. Savvy creators then put the Image Prompts tool to work to create client-ready mock-ups and storyboard visuals. With Image Prompts, you can streamline your pre-visualization process and explore various concepts without investing too much time or resources into a campaign prior to shooting. Ultimately, AI tools like this one can enhance your abilities and broaden the overall scope of your creativity. 

And there's more: You can use Midjourney's AI tools to enhance and alter your own existing sets of photos. With the AI tool Blend, you can create an entirely new work by using the concepts that you have fleshed out and photos that you already have on file. All you have to do is upload two to five images and watch the AI tool merge the existing aesthetics and concepts from your uploads into an original new image.

Adobe is also no stranger to the evolving world of AI. Adobe Firefly is among the latest post-processing tools that have joined the Adobe Creative Suite. Firefly's generative AI capabilities and simple text prompts open new pathways for creative expression and give photographers the ability to rework photos or create new images altogether. Generative Fill, for example, allows you to remove objects from a photo or paint in new ones. You can also generate vivid, detailed images from scratch with just a few words by using the Text to Image tool. 

There's a good reason why Adobe continues to rank as an industry leader. Consider this: Imagine you've just captured a breathtaking landscape shot, but when you zoom in, you notice it lacks the crispness you desire for a large print. That's where the Adobe AI Generative Expand tool swoops in like your digital superhero. It's like having a magic wand that can enhance the resolution of your image without sacrificing the quality.

Here's how it works: Open your image in Adobe Photoshop, select the Generative Expand tool, and watch as it works its AI-powered magic. With a few clicks, you can upscale your photo, bringing out details you didn't even know were there. It's like giving your image a high-def makeover. 

But it's not just about making your photos bigger; this tool can do so much more. For example, if you want the background of your image to be packed with urban city lights or need an expanded desert background to be full of wildlife or nothing but tumbleweeds, you can use text prompts to achieve your desired results. Just type a description of what you want to fill your expanded canvas with, click Generate, and watch as your new high-quality image "develops" in seconds.

The Generative Expand tool is also your go-to for refining textures and fine details. Whether you're capturing the intricacies of a delicate flower petal or the rugged textures of a mountain range, this tool helps you bring out every detail in stunning clarity.

And the best part? It's incredibly easy to use — you don't need to be a tech genius to master it. With its intuitive interface, you can quickly, and easily, incorporate the Generative Expand tool into your post-processing workflow, giving you more time to focus on what you do best: capturing unforgettable moments through your lens.

While Adobe continues to push the limits in AI technology, the company is also putting up guardrails to protect the original work of photographers, artists, and creators. Firefly's AI model is trained on openly licensed content from Adobe Stock. Adobe is also working on enabling a Do Not Train metadata tag that users can use to keep their works out of AI training datasets across the entire AI ecosystem. It's all part of Adobe's commitment to putting creators first. 

AI doesn't have to be seen as an enemy. Photographers and AI tools can and do coexist. AI cannot replace the connection and rapport a photographer has with a subject. AI can, however, churn out product photos or rework a selfie into a studio-style portrait with just a few concise prompts. Innovative AI-powered tools like these are invaluable additions to any modern photographer's creative process and workflow.

Additional resources

Need some additional help with learning and mastering the various AI tools available for photographers? 

• Check out these lessons and tutorials from your peers on Fiverr in the AI space.
• Watch photographer and YouTuber Saurav Sinha discuss her take on the future of AI and photography. 
• Enroll in an Udemy course to learn more about generative AI.
• Read Fstoppers take on the impact AI has had on the photography industry. 



You can also discover more in Fiverr's AI knowledge hub, from AI basics to AI-powered content creation tools, and get inspired by design and photography experts who specialize in all things AI today.