382 We're All At It

In this episode of The Future of Photography, hosts Adrian and Jeremiah dive deep into the transformative role of AI in photography, sparked by a recent VSCO report revealing that 83% of surveyed photographers now use AI in their workflows. The conversation explores how curiosity is superseding fear, with both hosts reflecting on their own long-standing engagement with AI tools—ranging from early experiments with generative landscapes to modern 'vibe coding' and AI-assisted digital asset management. They emphasize that AI is no longer a novelty but an integral, evolving part of the photographic process, especially in managing vast archives and enabling new creative workflows. The hosts highlight the shift from image creation to image curation, where AI can describe and organize thousands of images with rich, detailed metadata, unlocking new ways to explore personal archives and discover thematic connections across decades of work. They also discuss the economic implications, suggesting that AI could free photographers from tedious back-office tasks, allowing them to focus on higher-level creative and advisory roles, much like accountants who transition from bookkeeping to strategic advising. The episode closes with a hopeful outlook on AI’s future, comparing its current state to early digital audio technology—still maturing but rapidly improving, with the potential to deliver increasingly sophisticated and artistically meaningful tools. Key takeaways include: AI is now essential for managing large photo archives through automated, detailed image descriptions; photographers can gain significant time and creative freedom by using AI for workflow automation; mastering AI is becoming a critical professional skill, with employers increasingly valuing AI proficiency; the line between 'real' and 'artificial' photography is blurring, making authenticity claims increasingly irrelevant; and the future of photography lies not in resisting AI, but in embracing it as a collaborative partner in creativity and curation. The hosts express optimism that AI will enhance, rather than replace, the human element in photography, enabling deeper exploration of personal work and new creative possibilities.