We have entered a time as photographers where we are seeing monumental changes in the industry. There are more tools than ever before to streamline our workflows, push the bounds of creativity, and increase our visibility as creatives.
While change may be exciting for some, it also comes with a lot of hesitation for others. Change often means being pushed outside of our comfort zone and often raises a lot of questions. Are our jobs going to fundamentally change, and how will that look? I think we can say with confidence that yes, our jobs will change, but that doesn’t have to be a bad thing. When we embrace change and view technological advancements as a helping hand, it can catapult our business, resulting in huge growth.
In this article, I will discuss how the photography industry has changed in recent years and ways you can embrace tech in your business as a catalyst for growth by:
- Using smart post-production software to improve your work
- Pushing yourself creatively by using AI technology
- Utilizing AI tools to automate your marketing efforts to increase visibility
- Enhancing your client care by using technology to automate your workflows
Using Smart Post-Production Software to Improve Your Work
One of the greatest changes in the photography industry has been the increase of software to improve your workflow. When this technology first started emerging, it came with some hesitation from photographers. Questions around control were being asked, and rightfully so. As artists, we feel protective over our craft, and a lot of people could not imagine how software could do our editing and culling better than we could.
As more and more photographers started utilizing smart software in their workflow, the benefits started to become clear. It offers an amazing opportunity to significantly enhance the quality of your work through advanced algorithms and intelligent features. As much as we might hate to admit it, technology this smart is going to do a better job than the human eye sometimes. These tools also save you so much time. That time can be put back into perfecting your work by experimenting with new editing or shooting techniques or simply taking a break, which, in my opinion, can also increase the quality of your work.
A great piece of post-production software to utilize is Imagen. It empowers photographers to spend more time on their passions by automating mundane (and time-consuming) tasks such as culling and editing. With its advanced algorithms, Imagen can efficiently cull and edit your work while still providing you with the flexibility to customize the output to be in line with your artistic vision.
The best part about integrating software like Imagen into my workflow as a photographer is that it frees up my brain space, which allows me to spend more time in my "genius zone." I don’t need to be spending hours doing repetitive tasks like trying to work out the best shots, straightening images, and tweaking exposure. While we initially might feel like we are giving up creative control when software edits for you, I would argue that it’s the opposite. Automating mundane tasks allows you to be more creative and think bigger, and as a result, you will see vast growth in your business.
Pushing Yourself Creatively by Using AI Technology
Pushing yourself creatively is something we all strive to do as artists, and AI technology is a new and exciting way to do this. It allows you to explore, innovate, and tap into a vast range of possibilities.
One way to do this is to use AI-generated imagery as a source of inspiration. Tools such as Midjourney by Discord allow you to generate images that you can then go out and recreate yourself. For example, if you are planning to shoot at a new location and you want to plan out the type of shots you want to take, you can create some AI-generated imagery to spark your imagination. This allows you to think outside the box and open yourself to a world of possibilities. You will end up learning so much about your gear, camera settings, and even yourself as an artist.
Despite our best efforts, sometimes, we create work we don’t love. This can be because of reasons outside of our control, such as unwanted people or objects being in the photo. AI technology can be a powerful tool for enhancing and refining creative work. Tools such as Photoshop's new Generative Fill tool feature can remove unwanted objects in seconds, making your images more visually appealing.
Utilizing AI Tools to Assist Your Marketing Efforts to Increase Visibility
Making use of AI tools to assist you with your marketing efforts can be a game-changer as a photographer. There has been concern that this can take away the human element of marketing, but my view is that it’s a tool to allow you to produce more content and, therefore, have greater visibility.
A tool like ChatGPT can assist with the heavy lifting of your marketing efforts. It can help you to generate content ideas and write content outlines and ad copy. I like to view this tool as a starting point. To create great work, it still needs your input, but ChatGPT does the mundane part, so you can spend more time doing the creative part. The more time you spend doing the creative part (aka your genius zone), the more the quality and quantity of your content is going to increase.
Enhancing Your Client Care by Using Technology to Automate Your Workflows
In the fast-paced nature of photography, integrating technology into your workflows can significantly enhance your client care. It can help streamline your client communications and booking process, which will ultimately increase your client care, which often results in great reviews and referrals.
Using smart CRM software such as Studio Ninja or Honeybook allows you to streamline tedious tasks like shoot scheduling, invoicing, and contract generation. This reduces the risk of double-booking yourself, missing deadlines, and overall provides a better client experience. You can also use this software to automate client check-ins, send questionnaires, and send them shoot or meeting reminders. I love automating my client check-ins, as this is something that can easily be missed when you’re busy. Reminding your clients that you’re there for them will increase your overall client experience.
In conclusion, the photography industry is constantly changing and evolving, and embracing these changes and technological advancements can serve as a catalyst for growth. Using smart post-production software will allow you to enhance the quality of your work and get back valuable time. AI technology opens up exciting possibilities when it comes to pushing creative boundaries, whether that’s through generating imagery for inspiration or refining and enhancing your creative work. Utilizing AI tools for marketing efforts allows you to produce more content and increase visibility, while integrating technology into workflows enhances client care and improves overall experiences. By embracing change and leveraging technology as a photographer, you can position yourself for success in an ever-evolving industry.
Are you ready to embrace the changes in the photography industry? Want to discover how AI can boost your creativity and grow your business?
Part I of the Imagenation Summit dove deep into the intersection between technology and photography. Sign up and discover Imagen to stay tuned for news on Part II as we continue the conversation on how industry leaders foresee the future of the craft.
