AI isn’t replacing photographers - but it is changing processes and output, and maybe even opportunity!

Over the past year, AI has moved very quickly into the visual world — and photography is no exception. Used well, it’s genuinely helpful.

Tools like Generative Fill have become part of the backend of my workflow and I’m currently investigating opportunities with AI-assisted motion. They can speed up retouching, help resolve minor distractions, and extend creative options in post-production — all without changing the integrity of the original space.

This frees up time to focus on the creative decisions — what to include, what to exclude, how images are ordered, and when to stop — which are what ultimately determines the quality of the final photographs.

What AI can’t replace is the work that happens before any editing begins:
being on site, collaborating with the client, reading the light, understanding the architecture and styling within, and making decisions in real time about what should be shown and what should be left out.

Photography, particularly of built spaces, is still about authorship. It’s about accuracy, intention, and trust. It’s about creating images that are publishable, defensible, reflective of the work as it truly exists, AND ITS REAL!

I’m  a member of the Image Makers Association of Australia, who are actively working with the Australian Government on AI copyright protection for Australian creators. That advocacy matters — not just for photographers, but for the designers, architects, and brands who rely on authentic imagery and clear authorship.

AI is a tool — a useful one — but it doesn’t see, choose, or care. That part remains human.