AI Trends In Photography – Transforming The Workflow

AI technology is one of the top emerging trends in photography in 2026. This technology is being used every day within marketing and photography workflows.

AI in editing has been the biggest effect seen and used by professional photographers. There is significant potential to use editing with AI masking, background replacement and smart presets, all of which are supported by SoftOrbits AI tools where the software analyses photos. Each photo can be auto-edited.

While these edits are not perfect every time, for a huge client shoot with thousands of photos where a couple hundred are needed within an hour, these tools help. Photos do not have to be exactly perfect for every application; these tools help do that faster, more efficiently and overall photos can look better than doing it manually.

Client Workflows And Portfolio Optimisation

AI is impacting client workflows through AI culling, smart galleries, and specific methods for delivering images. Platforms allow for downloading photos into a portfolio through AI. Even on websites using Squarespace, AI is used for copywriting and for back-end details. It identifies where alt text is needed on photos for a portfolio and adds the alt text.

For a website with 200 photos, AI can do this in 30 seconds. This automation saves time. Software now analyses photos to recommend which ones look good and which ones to send.

Using automated galleries, especially for a one-person team, saves hours on shoots. It allows for tasks like adding metadata. AI determines exactly what needs to be added to these photos and how to add it. Metadata can be added into all photos for export in five minutes. This is important in every platform.

AI Generated Content And Creative Freedom

There is a time and place for AI generated content. For specific projects, the foreground can be totally AI generated. Pulling from one side and then using AI generated content makes it smoother, creating an undistracting foreground and background so all focus is on the subject. This does not necessarily involve changing the product or changing the lighting. Blending real photography plus AI can remove objects like a fence.

In Photoshop and Lightroom, it is possible to make photos and art that are amazing. On social media, labeling is required to avoid being banned. This is important for companies because of new lawsuits. There is potential for creative freedom, though with client shoots, it is necessary to ask before.

Business And Marketing Strategies

AI for business and marketing is used for writing captions, SEO for portfolios, and pricing strategies. It finds emails for potential client companies and has search capabilities for deep research. It creates images, such as logos. The possibilities are endless.

It provides a step-by-step list to generate more sales. It functions as a marketing business consultant, strategist, and tax person. Deep research where it searches information is effective and provides direct links.

Planning Shoots And Lighting Visualisation

AI is used for planning shoots and content. It identifies the best shots for a specific subject and provides ideas to make them stand out. It creates an image of what the shot could look like or what the lighting setup should be like in a studio or outside.

Use has increased from being minimal a year and a half ago to being used daily for almost everything. It even helps with drafting professional posts for networking.

Ethical Considerations And Efficiency

It is important to be ethical and authentic in professional work. Use AI genuinely to speed up workflow and to be more efficient. It is used for editing, showing workflows, or overall business and marketing purposes. Learning how to use it is essential, as eventually everyone is going to use it. It helps in making professional photography more efficient.