AI technology has infiltrated many photo editing applications, and while I leverage it for certain tasks, I remain skeptical about letting it handle the majority of my editing work.
1
AI Can’t Completely Emulate My Editing Style
Years of honing my photography skills and experimenting with editing software have helped me craft a distinctive editing style. Despite my willingness to explore new techniques, I find that AI often falls short in mirroring my creative approach. Additionally, features like Auto Enhance feel restrictive to me.
Even when using specialized AI photo editing apps, getting the results I desire remains a challenge. Often, I find it more effective to manually edit my images. Generally speaking, while AI excels at resolving technical problems, it struggles to infuse creativity into the final product.
2
I Fear My Photos May Turn Out Generic
You can’t expect unique results if you’re doing the same thing as everyone else, especially in creative fields like photography and editing. While AI has taught me about the interplay of various editing sliders, I’m concerned that solely relying on it will lead to generic outcomes.
Utilizing one-click editing tools excessively can stifle your creativity. This quick-fix mentality leads to mediocrity, making it harder for your work to stand out.
3
Data and Privacy Considerations
In a world increasingly influenced by AI, safeguarding your privacy has become paramount, highlighting significant concerns associated with these technologies. Depending on AI tools for most of my photo edits makes me uneasy, especially if I can’t fully trust the app I’m using.
My main worry about generative AI is how my images might be used. I don’t want my photos to be leveraged to train AI models, nor do I want to expose myself to security risks when providing my personal data to an AI photo editing tool.
To minimize these risks, I opt only for AI editing software that I trust, such as the AI features in Lightroom, which I appreciate for their reliability.
If you decide to use a free AI editing tool, ensure you fully understand the risks involved and are comfortable dealing with them.
4
AI Often Gets White Balance Wrong
Initially in my photography journey, I didn’t pay much attention to white balance. Now that I’ve gained experience, I understand its importance. I always aim to get it right in-camera, managing the Kelvin settings effectively when using my mirrorless camera.
I’ve experimented with using AI for white balance adjustments, but it tends to excessively warm the images. For that reason, I usually adjust white balance manually as needed. I can do this easily with my smartphone’s built-in editing app, and for more advanced edits, I rely on Lightroom to fine-tune the tint and temperature. Mastering color grading techniques has also empowered me to achieve the desired tonalities in my photos.
5
Overreliance on AI Detracts from the Joy of Photo Editing
I often find it amusing when people express disdain for photo editing because I genuinely enjoy it. There have been times when I’ve lost track of the entire day while immersed in editing my photos. It’s essential to engage in activities that bring you joy, which is why I’m cautious with my use of AI.
Even if a one-click solution could produce the exact edits I desire (which it can’t), I would still want to make some adjustments. While efficiency is valuable, it should never come at the cost of joy in the creative process.
To strike a balance, I utilize AI for tedious aspects of editing that I dislike, such as correcting blemishes, as it does a satisfactory job. However, for adjustments regarding lighting, I typically opt for manual edits.
6
AI Struggles With Color Editing
Beyond my personal preference for color editing, I’ve noticed that AI generally doesn’t excel in this area. For instance, when I use the Auto Enhance feature, the results often lean toward oversaturation, while at other times, the colors appear quite flat.
This tendency isn’t unique to Lightroom; I’ve seen similar outcomes with most editing tools. My theory is that these programs’ automatic adjustments move you closer to a technically sound image but don’t go beyond that.
Granted, I might be overanalyzing because I prefer total control over my images. Nonetheless, I prioritize manual editing. If AI ever becomes adept at color correction, I’d be willing to reconsider this stance.
7
AI Can Occasionally Create a Fake Appearance
One of my concerns with relying heavily on AI is that it sometimes gives my photos an artificial look. This tends to happen when I depend on it for adjustments to clarity, dehazing, or texture. I often find that AI overestimates the necessary clarity adjustments.
My editing approach is specific. I typically prefer high-contrast images, but AI has sometimes added too much contrast, which becomes especially problematic on snowy or overcast days.
8
AI Photo Editing Can Result in Overly Polished Images
When I edit photos, my goal is not to create a perfect image but rather to convey the emotions I experienced while capturing it. I aim to encapsulate the overall atmosphere from that moment.
Too much reliance on AI can lead to images that appear excessively polished. Personally, I find this detracts from their uniqueness. Even when attempting to auto-enhance my images, I adjust a number of settings afterward.
While AI does offer certain benefits in photo editing, my increasing experience leads me to rely less on it for the majority of my edits. It’s effective for addressing specific issues, yet I remain cautious about entrusting it with critical adjustments like color correction. Furthermore, the data and privacy concerns attached to these tools make me very selective about my choices.
