Artificial Intelligence has come a LONG way in a short time. There are definitely advantages, especially in the medical field with early detection of diseases, as well as increased efficiency and accessibility. There are also huge negatives with AI, from privacy and artist copyright concerns, to job losses for humans and the colossal energy consumption just to run it.

In the photography world AI has made parts of my job a little easier, particularly in photo editing. It’s much simpler than ever before to extend backgrounds, fill in missing fur that was shaved for a surgery, and even reducing digital noise/grain in images. And the way that cameras can now focus on and track your pet’s eyes is pretty incredible. It’s not perfect, but it’s helpful a lot of the time.

Recently I’ve been seeing people post examples on social media of asking AI to create a high contrast black and white photo from a picture they upload with a copy/pasted prompt. And it’s fine.

I tried both Gemini (left) and ChatGPT (right):

Gemini was much faster but ChatGPT was much more accurate. The image on the left is a generic schnauzer that vaguely looks like Rosie, while the image on the right just enhanced the existing image. And it’s nothing you can’t simply do in photoshop with sharpening, contrast, and darkening the background.

I tried another prompt in Gemini to take a snapshot of Rosie and make it look professional, and got this nightmare fuel:

WHAT THE…?

So while AI is impressive in some regards, the photo generating aspects are not “there” yet for me. It can product some pretty crazy results!

Could AI ever take the place of an actual photo session of your dog with a professional?

I say never, and here’s why:

You’ll always know it’s fake

While some of the above images do really look like Rosie, I know that it’s computer generated – it’s not really her. Something is just a little bit off.

Whether it’s a mushy/blurry area on her body, or fur that’s a little too plastic-y, or monster teeth that look like they crawled out of a low budget horror film, it’s not her. And do you see the weird vertical section on the blue cushions where it couldn’t continue the creases or the texture on the fabric?

Frankly the quality is just terrible. It’s a lower resolution than the original, it’s blurry, and AI generated material always has a strange grid texture to it.

Capturing real moments

When I take a picture of your dog – let’s say one where you’re snuggling them in close – when you look at that image you’ll be taken right back to that moment and remember what their fur felt like, smelled like. You’ll remember the shape of the spot on their ear, their swirly cowlick, or the one white whisker that always grew back.

You’ll remember how you felt at that exact place and time because you experienced it. It’s not some fabricated scene that never happened; it’s your real life.

Capturing authentic expressions

Even when I gave Gemini AI a photo that showed Rosie’s unique underbite, it removed it and gave me a closed-mouth version instead.

During a professional pet photography session, I’m capturing split-second moments and micro-expressions that truly showcase your pet’s true personality. Little side glances, or when their lip gets caught in their teeth, or closing their eyes and smiling because the ear scritches are hitting just right.

AI might be able to give you a passable version of your dog, but it will never capture those little details that make them who they are.

Supporting small businesses and artists

Using AI to make pictures of your pets might be fun for a little bit, but on top of the fake results you’re also only supporting the billionaires who want you to use it.

Working with a professional pet photographer in your area means you’re supporting a small business, an artist who relies on people who value their talent to make a living. It means you’re keeping your hard-earned money in your local community and it does a lot more good than lining the pockets of Google or Microsoft.

Time spent together

Perhaps the biggest reason to hire a professional photographer to create images of you and your pets instead of relying on AI is not just the picture you get at the end, but the experience as a whole.

You’re spending intentional time with your very best friend in the whole world.

You’re stepping out of the role of snapping the iPhone picture or writing the prompt at your desk, and you’re being present in the moment.

You’re IN the photos now: interacting, smiling, laughing, giving kisses and high fives. You’re forgetting about all your mundane responsibilities for a while and relishing in the pure joy that comes from just being with your pet.

When you’re in the moment, experiencing what the resulting images are going to show, it heightens your mind’s recall of those moments. The photographs will become like a little time machine and you’ll relive those moments – and the joy you felt – over and over again.

I’d argue that an AI generated picture of sort-of-your-dog-but-not-really could never, ever be that powerful.

So if you’re ready to experience the real thing, just reach out and let’s get a pet portrait session on the calendar!