Artificial Intelligence. How quickly this tool has swept through the world! Good, bad, ugly… Let’s face it — it’s controversial.

Years ago, I was firmly I’ll never switch to digital, film is the only way! I loved film and couldn't imagine working any other way.

I was proven wrong. 

Although I still use film, digital is my main tool. Even when I do use film, I wind up scanning the negatives and working digitally. The darkroom is a wonderful oasis, but I haven’t managed back in quite some time. 

Digital simply became another tool. 

In some respects, AI feels a little similar. It could never replace the craft. It simply is changing some of the ways we work. The things that matter most remain exactly the same: understanding light, connecting with people, and knowing how to tell a story. 

As Samwise says... share the load!

As a trained professional, I remove distractions from images before I even press the shutter. I consider everything that will be in the frame. Sometimes I might intentionally leave something in, knowing I can remove it later. If we're in a beautiful location but there are people in the background, I'll remove them afterwards. Frizzy hair? My goodness, thank God for AI. For me, frizzy hair one of the most repetitive editing tasks imaginable, and AI has made it incredibly efficient.

Sometimes it does a brilliant job. Other times, it creates something absolutely ridiculous. One time I removed frizzy hair and it actually turned the subject into Medusa. Quickly scrapped that and did it myself.

People often talk about AI as if it's completely replacing skilled work. In reality, it's usually replacing repetitive work. Tasks that used to take ages can now be completed in seconds. The important part is knowing when and how to use it appropriately. You still need to understand the fundamentals. Know the craft. Master your tools. AI can assist the process, but it can't replace years of experience, instinct, and the ability to tell a genuine story. Photography has never been about pressing a button. It's about reading light, understanding people, anticipating moments, and knowing how to bring everything together.

AI can save time and tidy up distractions, but it can't build a connection with a family, calm a nervous child, spot a fleeting expression, or understand why one moment matters more than another. Technology will continue to evolve, and photographers will continue to adapt alongside it. That's nothing new.

The heart of photography has never been the software.

The heart of photography is the person behind the camera and the connection they have with their subject.