Using AI Without Losing Your Soul

A few weeks ago, I was walking through Whole Foods when I saw a piece of broccoli that, oddly enough, reminded me of a Joshua Tree. Seriously. That random grocery store moment ended up sparking an entire photo shoot on the spot, and, more importantly, a deeper reflection on how I can use tools like AI in my photography without letting them take over.

I Needed to Reclaim My Creativity

You’re looking at the final image now. It’s stylized, surreal, and almost cinematic. But here’s the thing: it didn’t start in Photoshop or Midjourney or ChatGPT. It started in my head, with a silly little piece of broccoli and a desire to play again.

Not long before this shoot, I walked away from a toxic job where I’d been the creative director, running everything A to Z. One day, in a meeting, I heard myself say, “This place is a graveyard for creative ideas.” And I meant it. That line came straight from my gut—not once, but twice—to the shock of the CEO. Followed by, “I think my time here is done,” and my soul knew I had to go.

Beyond that experience, the truth is, I had stopped making things for fun. Every shoot was for a client. Every photo had a deadline. I love my clients, but I forgot what it felt like to photograph just because I wanted to. This project with my godson, some wand lights, and a desert pass was the first time I had fun with photography in a long time.

Testing the Concept

Before we hit the desert, I did a test run at home, lighting that same broccoli with a tiny LED light to mimic sunset colors. I asked myself: What happens if I light it blue? What if it’s purple? Can I make it feel like a mystical landscape?

That’s when AI entered the picture—not to create the image, but to support my creativity. Just like I would use Photoshop to clean up a background or enhance a sky, I used AI tools to build on top of the photo I had already composed and shot. The photo was mine. The vision was mine. The idea was born in my brain—natural intelligence.

The AI just helped me enhance it, expand the background, bring in subtle surreal elements, and create an immersive final product that matched the story in my head. I used AI to play and add to my concept, not come up with a concept. There is a difference.

Use AI, But Don’t Let It Use You

There’s a lot of noise out there right now. Photographers saying AI is “cheating,” that it’s the end of photography. Funny that I heard the same thing when digital cameras replaced film.

Here’s my take: AI can be a powerful assistant. Not the director. Not the visionary. If the original idea has soul—if it contains humanity—then using AI is no different than hiring a retoucher or using a filter. It’s just another tool.

But if the idea starts with the AI? That’s when things start to feel soulless. That’s when the final image is beautiful but empty.

Let’s Talk About It

I made this photo—and this video—for myself. But I’m sharing it because I think we need more open conversations about how AI fits into our creative lives. It doesn’t have to be black or white. You don’t have to be for or against it. You just have to lead it.

So I’m asking you: Have you used AI in your work yet? Do you think there’s a right way and a wrong way to integrate it? Does it enhance your creativity or make you feel like you’re cheating?

This should be a conversation, not a debate. Watch the video, and let me know what you think—whether you support this stance or not. I’ll be the first to admit: I’m still figuring it out. But I know that if you lead with your heart, your brain, and your ideas, AI can follow. Just like Photoshop. Just like a camera.

Let’s keep creating. Let’s keep experimenting. Let’s not let the tools outgrow the artist.