Yes, As a Photographer I Use AI. Here’s Exactly How — And What I’ll Never Do.

There’s been some buzz lately – and honestly, some pretty unsettling news – about a photographer in the Chicago area using AI in ways that cross a serious ethical line. I want to talk about it openly, because if you’ve heard about it and wondered what’s happening behind the scenes in your photographer’s editing process, you deserve a real, honest answer. So let’s get into it. 😊

The Situation That Started the Conversation

You may have seen or heard about a local wedding photographer who was caught using other photographers’ images and placing her own clients into them. It’s a big deal – and rightfully so. That kind of deception isn’t just unethical, it’s a betrayal of trust. Your gallery should reflect your family, your day, your real moments. Full stop.

I want to be clear: that is not how I use AI, and it’s not how most photographers use it either.

The reason I’m writing this post is because I know how quickly one bad story can make you wonder about everyone. And I’d rather you come to me with questions than sit with worry. That’s just how I operate. 🤍

What AI Actually Looks Like in My Photography Workflow

Here’s the honest, straightforward version of how AI fits into what I do for you.

Skin Retouching – Done with Care

I use AI to remove acne or scars and to soften skin in a natural way. The goal is never to change how you look – it’s to make sure a temporary blemish doesn’t distract from a moment you’ll want to look at for years. You still look like you. Just the version of you that isn’t stressed about that one pimple that showed up the morning of your session. (We’ve all been there. 😅)

Removing Distractions from the Background

Sometimes a random shoe ends up in the corner of an otherwise perfect frame. Or a stranger walks through the background at just the wrong moment. AI helps me clean those things up so the focus stays on what matters – your family, your connection, your joy. Nothing is being fabricated. The moment is still real. I’m just tidying up the edges.

Filling in What Nature Didn’t Finish

This one’s my favorite example to share. I once edited a photo where the flowers in the background hadn’t fully bloomed in that particular spot. Using AI, I was able to fill in that area with flowers that matched what was already there. The details were still true to that day – same location, same light, same feeling. It just elevated the image to be more pleasing to the eye. That’s the kind of tool AI can be when it’s used with intention and honesty.

What AI Is NOT Doing in Your Gallery

Let me be just as clear about what isn’t happening:

I am not placing you into someone else’s photo. I am not swapping out locations, backgrounds, or moments that didn’t happen. I am not altering your body in ways that misrepresent how you looked. I am not using another photographer’s work and calling it mine.

Your gallery reflects your session. The messy hair, the kid who ran off toward the pond, the laugh that caught you both off guard – all of it is real, and all of it is yours.

One More Thing I Added to My Contract (And Why I Want You to Know)

Okay, one more honest moment before we wrap up. 😊

I recently added a clause to my contract that covers AI — both mine and yours.

On my end: formal acknowledgment that yes, I use AI tools as part of my editing process. You’ve read all about it. I wanted it in writing too, not just on a blog post.

On your end: the images I deliver to you cannot be uploaded into AI platforms — and I want to explain exactly why that’s there, because it’s important.

AI tools — even the everyday ones most people use without thinking twice — can use the photos you feed them as training data. That means your face, your children’s faces, and your most personal moments could quietly become part of a dataset you never agreed to. That’s a privacy issue. And it’s a creative rights issue too. Every image I deliver has my work woven into every single edit. Sending it into an AI platform isn’t something either of us should be okay with.

That clause exists to protect you, your family, and the work we created together. I think that’s worth a few extra lines in a contract. 🤍

One More Thing – It’s Okay to Ask Your Photographer

I hear the concern around AI not being the most eco-friendly technology. That’s a valid conversation to have. What I can tell you is that when I use it, it’s at a practical, specific level – to support my workflow, get your gallery to you faster, and make sure every image feels polished and intentional.

And if any of this raises questions for you? Ask your photographer. A good photographer will answer openly and without hesitation. If something feels off or unclear, that’s worth paying attention to. You’re trusting someone with real, irreplaceable memories. You’re allowed to ask how they work. 💛

The photographers I admire – and the kind of photographer I work hard to be – are the ones who have nothing to hide. AI is a tool. How we use it says everything about who we are.

Ready to Work with a Photographer Who Keeps It Real?

If you’re looking for a family photographer in the Chicago suburbs who brings genuine energy, a relaxed approach, and complete transparency to every session – hi, that’s me. 👋

I’d love to connect, answer any questions you have (yes, including more about my process), and talk about capturing your family just as you are – real, full of love, and beautifully imperfect.

Check out my work and reach out at www.nicolelynchphotography.com.

Let’s make something real together. 🤍