Despite Doomer Doubts, We Wedding Photographers Are Here to Stay
DALL-E generated image using Bing. Prompt was “humanoid robot looking at the viewer through the lens of a digital camera”
Lately, it seems like every day we see a new, incredibly advanced artificial intelligence (AI) product released on the market. With generated images and videos becoming ever more convincing, artists are understandably fearful about the future of their craft. While there's recently been a call to action by experts in the AI space for companies like Microsoft and Google to halt public releases of future AI¹ products out of fear of unknown impacts on culture, economics, and humanity as a whole, I'm here to assuage my fellow photographers because I believe that so long as love persists, so will we.
For those out of the loop, AI is a powerful technology that has revolutionized many industries and fields, including photography. AI-powered software can automatically categorize, tag, and organize images based on their content, making it easier for photographers to manage their photo libraries. This can save hours of time that would otherwise be spent manually sorting through thousands of photos.
AI can also help photographers improve their editing workflow. With advanced algorithms that can detect and correct common image issues like exposure and color balance, photographers can achieve stunning results with minimal effort. AI-powered editing tools like Adobe's Sensei and Skylum's Luminar AI allow photographers to spend less time editing and more time shooting.
In addition to streamlining workflow and improving editing, AI can also help photographers with image analysis. For example, AI can detect and track faces and even recognize specific individuals in photos. This can be especially useful for wedding photographers, who need to capture specific shots of the couple and their guests. There is one thing that AI can never do, however: replace wedding photographers.
Wedding photography is not just about taking pictures of a couple's big day; It's about capturing the emotions, the moments, the stories, and the personalities of the bride, groom, and their loved ones. Photographers are tasked with documenting a visual legacy that will last for generations. There's an irreplaceable bond between people who are present for one of the most important and intimate events in someone's life.
AI can be an incredibly valuable tool
we’ve seen products come to market recently that can upscale and restore damaged images of ourselves and loved ones² that would otherwise become lost to time.
While AI may be able to mimic some aspects of wedding photography, such as lighting, composition, and style, it can never replicate the human touch, the artistic vision, and the personal connection that wedding photographers bring to their work. For now, AI can't understand the nuances of human expression, the subtleties of body language, and the significance of cultural and religious traditions. AI as we know it now can't anticipate the spontaneous moments, react to these moments on a human level, and improvise when things go wrong. While AI is often convincing at first, these tools can't communicate with the couple, make them feel comfortable and confident, and guide them through their photo session over extended periods of time.
I'm convinced that AI can't replace wedding photographers because wedding photography is more than just a technical skill: it's an art form, a craft, and a passion tied to a specific moment in a human's life. While AI can generate images of people looking 10 years younger, basking on a beach in Jamaica, or flexing a chiseled physique, they can't replicate the memories and feelings we create in these important moments. There's a way of seeing and telling stories that only humans can currently do.
So while AI can be a useful tool for wedding photographers to enhance their workflow and improve their results, it can never take their place. Wedding photographers are irreplaceable because they are not just photographers–they are storytellers, artists, and friends. Please consider hiring the author of this post for you next session/event!
Sources:
2: Topaz Labs’ Gigapixel AI (not sponsored)
