Finding a rhythm
Like most photographers and creators, I started out skeptical about AI. I’ve always believed the real joy comes from the doing — framing a shot, feeling the light, hearing the shutter. So when I first opened ChatGPT, it wasn’t trust at first sight.
But gradually, I found my rhythm with it. What started as a few test questions turned into real collaboration — ideas developed through back-and-forth conversation. It wasn’t replacing creativity; it was helping me structure it.
Balancing film and digital life
Anyone who follows my work knows I live in both worlds — the craft of film and the convenience of digital. My Hasselblad and Canon AE-1 are my true loves, but when it comes to editing, writing, or planning shoots, I’m fully digital.
That’s where ChatGPT fits in. It remembers my tone, my preferences, and the way I want my visuals and words to align. It helps me plan gallery themes, refine captions, and create visual prompts for thumbnails and social posts — all while keeping the handmade feel of film photography alive.
Working like an editor’s desk
I’ve come to see it as a sort of invisible studio partner. I bring the ideas; it helps refine them. It’s a conversation that works the same way any creative team does — discussion, refinement, final call.
The difference is that this “assistant” never runs out of energy or coffee. It keeps pace, letting me stay focused on the craft itself — the light, the composition, the story.
I’ve started calling this dynamic the Editor-in-Chief approach: I make every final decision, but ChatGPT acts like the newsroom behind the scenes, bringing structure and order to the chaos of inspiration.
What I’ve learned
Used well, AI isn’t the end of creativity. It’s an amplifier — a mirror that lets you see your own thoughts more clearly. For solo creators like me, it’s the bridge between inspiration and finished work.
And that’s what photography has always been about — seeing the potential, refining the frame, and creating something worth sharing.
“Hope isn’t what they promise you. It’s how you carry on when they don’t deliver.” — Dave Carrera
0 Comments