Hey friends!
This year has been an exciting one for sure! And… How cool is it that I’m calling you friend now?! I’ve been writing this blog for a month now, but I’m pushing for a consistent year! If you want to be part of the process and see how far we can grow, make sure to subscribe to my Newsletter.
So, here’s the pitch for today’s blog: Are you tired of spending hours editing and sorting through your photos? Well, have no fear because AI tools are here to save the day! I know… I know AI(Artificial Intelligence) has been a controversial topic since it became extremely popular with tools like Chat GPT and AI-Generated Art tools like MidJourney or Stable Diffusion, but AI can really help streamline certain processes for us, as portrait photographers.
As portrait photographers, it's important to have a strong online presence and be able to efficiently manage your business. Tasks like editing, keeping up with social media or managing client communications are becoming tasks that can be improved with the use of AI technology.
AI for Photo Editing
Let's start by talking about using AI for photo editing. With the help of AI-powered editing software, you can easily enhance your photos to make them look their best. This can include things like adjusting the lighting and color balance, removing blemishes and smoothing skin, and even adding a pop of color to make your photos stand out! Yeah, AI can be integrated through our editing process. As a matter of fact, AI is already integrated in editing tools we use everyday.
This portrait was edited using Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop tools to remove blemishes and color correction.
One of the most popular editing software programs with AI-powered features is the popular Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop. These programs have tools that allow you to adjust the lighting, color balance, and even smooth out skin automatically. I know this is something we usually use, but the effectiveness and ease of use of these tools have become more accurate and reliable with their integration with AI technology. Additionally, Adobe has developed a feature called "Adobe Sensei" which uses AI to identify faces and features in photos, making it easy to perform selective edits. If you haven’t tried Adobe Sensei yet, you should check it out, it will surely spark a few ideas!
If your photography style is all about altering reality, or let’s say upgrading the truth! You are gonna love this one. This is an AI-powered editing software called Skylum Luminar. This software offers a wide range of features, including automatic sky replacement, object removal, and skin smoothing. It also has an AI-powered filter called "Accent AI" that can automatically adjust the lighting, color, and other settings to make your photos look their best. Isn’t that mind-blowing?! These tools can easily alter the way we work and actually help us work faster and effectively. This way we can focus more on developing ideas and shooting. Take a minute to check out Skylum Luminar’s demo video, you’ll probably want to try it out!
AI for Keywords
This may be something that you haven’t tried out and I personally didn’t understand the use case for it, but when I integrated it into my workflow it did make a difference. What I’m talking about is integrating AI in your portrait photography business for image recognition and tagging. With this technology, you can easily sort and organize your photos, making it easier to find the perfect shot for a client. Plus, AI can even help with keyword tagging, making it easier for potential clients to find your work online. The magic word is KEYWORDS!
One example of this kind of software is ON1’s Photo RAW editing software. This AI-powered tool can automatically generate keywords for your images while you are editing, making them easier to find online, but not only that you will also have a super organized library for you photo content. Make sure to check them out! It’s not a FREE tool, but it’s definitely worth it to check out their demo and see the power AI brings to the keywording game.
AI for business
Another great way to use AI is by automating repetitive tasks like client communication, scheduling, and invoicing. This can free up valuable time for you to focus on creating beautiful portraits for your clients. One example of this kind of software is StudioCloud. It allows you to automate repetitive tasks such as client communication, scheduling and invoicing, allowing you to focus more on your art. I still haven’t jumped into using this one, but it looks very promising. Remember, these are all evolving tools and companies that are looking for new and effective ways to streamline processes for any industry. StudioCloud caught my eyes, because one of their focuses is creative industries, in other words us!
All in all, AI technology offers a wide range of benefits for portrait photographers. It can save time, improve your images and help you to manage your business in an efficient and effective way. So, don't be afraid to embrace these tools and see how they can help take your business to the next level.
AI for Analytics
Personally, I’m low-key addicted to monitoring my growth and analytics. So, I see that another advantage of using AI in your portrait photography business is the ability to analyze and track your performance. AI-powered analytics tools can help you track how your business is performing, how customers are interacting with your website, and even identify patterns and trends in your photography. This is a key factor in growing your business with data and not with feelings. This can help you make better business decisions and improve your overall performance.
One example of this kind of software is Google Analytics, it allows you to track your website's performance, identify patterns and trends in your photography, and even identify the behavior of your customers. Every day I wake up, get my morning hot water and after a few minutes, I jump into my Google Search Console to see my daily progress. This became like a daily development ritual, because when I see my business growing (even if it’s slow growth) I get hyped for my future. So, get into Google Analytics, it will help you make better decisions based on data.
Key Takeaways:
So, to finish up my ramble about how great AI is for our business or our future business, here are 3 Takeaways from the blog post:
AI-powered editing software, such as Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop, Skylum Luminar, can help enhance your photos and make them look their best. Not only make them look their best, but also do it in a quick and efficient manner. These are integrations that you should be already looking at and taking advantage of them.
Make use of AI-powered image recognition and tagging tools, such as ON1’s Photo RAW can help you sort and organize your photos, quickly find the perfect shot for your client or just have an organized and structured library of your photography content.
Learn how to take advantage of automating repetitive tasks such as client communication, scheduling, and invoicing. Using tools like StudioCloud can free up your valuable time to focus on creating beautiful portraits, developing great ideas or just taking time for yourself and enjoy life!
If you're like me, and want to step up, learn a few things and looking to take your business to the next level, consider incorporating AI technology into your workflow. With the right tools, you can streamline your business, be more efficient, book more clients and focus on creating the next beautiful portrait for your ideal client!
Thank you for taking the time to read this blog! I look forward to sharing more on being a portrait photographer.
Stay tuned for the next blog post!
xx, Yeya
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