5 Ways AI Photography Editing Can Optimize Your Workflow

Last updated on 08/25/2024

Cover image by REDPIXEL

In the fast-paced digital era, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has significantly impacted various industries, including photography. AI photography editing, an exciting advent, can cut down photo culling and editing time drastically while enhancing photo quality. For instance, a task that previously took hours can now be executed within minutes, as experienced personally during a re-editing project featuring my best friend in front of a Parisian castle.

To help us learn more about ways in which AI Photography can optimize workflow, we sat down with Soraiya Merali of Linx Productions, an aspiring travel, documentary, and street photographer.

1. Auto-Selection Features

The foremost time-saver in AI culling and editing is the auto-selection feature, which automatically recognizes and selects the subject, a task traditionally performed manually with a graphics pen or mouse. By allowing AI to handle this mundane and time-consuming task, photographers can maintain their creative control and focus on making the desired adjustments. Furthermore, this feature becomes especially useful when dealing with a series of photos with a similar context.

“Using AI tools shouldn’t detract from the value of traditional editing skill sets. While AI can simplify the process, over-reliance could potentially undermine skill development and artistic creativity.”

2. Auto-Enhancement Tools

AI offers auto-enhancement tools for lighting adjustments, providing a solid starting point for photographers. These tools can analyze the overall lighting conditions and suggest optimal settings for your photos. Although manual intervention may still be needed for perfect results, the auto-enhancement feature significantly speeds up the editing process.

3. Automation in Basic Adjustments

Automation can save a significant amount of time, especially when dealing with thousands of photographs simultaneously. Upon importing your photos, certain settings like exposure, contrast, and noise reduction can be automatically applied to your entire catalog. This function facilitates basic adjustments and provides a uniform starting point for further personalized editing.

Be mindful of maintaining your cohesive style while using automation. Use it at the beginning, then add your personal touch to the photo afterward. For staged or studio photoshoots, you can edit one photo and apply your preset to the remaining ones, saving a considerable amount of time.

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4. AI Assisting in Background and Subject Manipulation

AI has provided photographers the ability to manipulate specific aspects of their photos easily. Automatic subject or sky selection, for example, can be incredibly effective, allowing photographers to focus on detailed edits instead of spending valuable time on the selection process. AI can detect and separate elements like the sky, water, the foreground, or the subject, which can be edited individually, uncovering more details in the photo that were previously unnoticed.

“I don’t believe creativity is necessarily lost by using AI. However, there’s a risk of over-reliance, which might lead to more automated and less thoughtful edits.”

5. Learning and Adapting to Personal Editing Styles

AI tools are now capable of analyzing your photographs, picking up on your editing style, and creating presets based on your habits. Tools like iGen learn your editing style and apply it to your photos, optimizing your workflow further. Such technology can assist you in maintaining a consistent style across all your photographs without the hassle of manual editing.

Additionally, in the context of AI editing, transparency becomes important, especially when you’re a professional or a business owner. As discerning real from fake becomes increasingly difficult, being clear about the use of AI in your process enhances accountability.

The Future of Photography Workflow

Embracing AI technology in photography editing has revolutionized workflow processes, offering several benefits like auto-selection, auto-enhancement, automation in basic adjustments, subject manipulation, and personalized presets. While these advancements make the process more efficient, it’s crucial to maintain the balance between using AI tools and preserving personal creativity.

Soraya has one final tip for photographers new to AI editing: “It can indeed be overwhelming. Stick with the editing software you’re already using and gradually incorporate AI tools into your workflow. Use tutorials, experiment with different options and settings, and don’t be afraid to explore this exciting new realm in photography.“

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Soraiya Merali from Linx Productions is a seasoned photographer, video editor, and producer with 8+ years of industry experience, and a Bachelor of Media and Communications from the University of Kent.