Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been advancing at a rapid pace, reshaping various sectors of the economy and society. In photography, AI is already everywhere: in cameras, editing software, and retouching tools. This raises a question that’s been on many people’s minds: will this technology eventually replace professional photographers and retouchers? It’s a topic that sparks heated debates and leaves the industry full of uncertainty. In this article, I want to dive into both sides of this story and share some thoughts.
The Fear of Automation
Unlike painting, which is pure craftsmanship, photography was born as a technical art, and its history mirrors technological evolution. It started with daguerreotypes and those bulky large-format cameras, moved on to portable Kodak Brownies (remember their slogan “You press the button, we do the rest”?), and then jumped from analog to digital, to Photoshop, and now to AI. Each technological leap brought a wave of concern among professionals, who always wondered if they’d lose their place or relevance.
Today’s no different. Many photographers and retouchers are on edge, worried that AI might do their jobs faster and cheaper, making their services obsolete. You can understand the fear, especially with some doomsday predictions claiming photography could be entirely replaced by synthetic images. But history shows that never really happened—professionals always found a way to reinvent themselves. Sure, adapting isn’t easy, especially during times of crisis. Still, these disruptions open doors for those willing to innovate.
AI’s Current Role in Photography
AI is already a partner (and sometimes a rival) in modern photography. Cameras use AI algorithms to fine-tune autofocus on the fly, while Photoshop offers AI-powered features that select objects, fill in areas, and enhance images. Plugins like those by Retouch4Me, for instance, automate retouching tasks that used to take hours to be completed and years of study and practice to master. And here’s the paradox: the same technology that scares people is the one that can free up time to focus on creativity, the real magic in photography.
AI’s Limitations
Even with all its progress, AI still stumbles in some areas. It shines at repetitive, rule-based tasks but struggles when it comes to creativity or intuition. For example, it can make a model’s skin look flawless, but it can’t decide whether the retouch should be subtle or heavy—that’s where the artist’s trained eye comes in. It can also replicate colors perfectly, but it’s the photographer who picks the palette to evoke a specific emotion. The unique connection with the subject, the story told through the lens—those are things AI still can’t fully replicate.
That’s why I see AI as just another tool in the kit, like a top-notch camera or a powerful flash. Mastering it takes effort and constant learning, but if you don’t jump on board, you might get left behind, just like some photographers who resisted the digital shift in the early 2000s and later regretted it. Technology doesn’t go backward, and adapting is what separates those who thrive from those who fade.
The Future
Indeed, AI is transforming photography; this cannot be denied, much less avoided. But, definitively, this should not mean the end of the profession. I think the future of photography will be a dance between humans and AI. Instead of replacing us, AI can become a powerful ally in our daily work. Those who learn to use it and lean into their creativity will come out on top — new careers, something like “AI specialists for photography,” – maybe someone who will be responsible for training and supervising algorithms – might even emerge. But there will always be room for the human gaze, for the raw emotion in images, and for those who master both the technique and the art of capturing and conveying authentic feelings. After all, photography has always demanded this from great photographers: expressiveness and objectivity. AI is transforming photography, no doubt about it. But instead of fearing it, we should embrace it as a partner and use it to highlight what makes us unique: our vision, our art, and our connection with people. The future of photography will be shaped by this partnership between AI and humans, in other words, by machine and heart.