I Let AI Critique My Photos: Here Is What I Learned

As photographers, we often hear about Artificial Intelligence replacing us. But what if we used this "wealth of knowledge" to improve our craft instead? I recently decided to stop resisting and asked an AI to brutally critique my work, providing ratings and actionable advice.

The results were surprisingly insightful. Here is how using Large Language Models (LLMs) can help you step up your photography game, along with a few other creative use cases for AI.

How to Set Up an AI Photo Critique

You might think you need to upload massive raw files to get good feedback, but the opposite is true. To get the best results from an AI model like Gemini, follow these steps:

  1. Resize Your Images: Resize your photos to 2048 pixels on the longer side. This resolution is sufficient for the LLM to understand the image content, and the smaller file size makes uploading faster and easier for the model to process.
  2. Group by Genre: Organize your favorite recent photos into categories (e.g., landscapes, portraits) before uploading.
  3. Ask for Specific Feedback: Use a prompt designed to generate a rating (1 being the lowest quality, 10 being the best) and a high-level overview covering composition, exposure, and colors.

Case Studies: Did the AI Give Good Advice?

I tested this method on several shots, and the AI provided specific "fixes" to make the images better. Subjectively, the results were often an improvement over my initial edits.

1. The Beach Shot

I had a photo of a couple on a beach pointing toward a bird. My initial edit felt okay, but the AI suggested:

  • Cropping: Remove unnecessary dead space on the right and switch to a vertical or square crop to emphasize the couple and the bird.
  • Exposure: Raise the exposure on the couple so they pop against the background.
  • Clarity: Reduce the clarity of the water so it doesn't distract from the subjects.

The Result: The edited shot was much stronger. The couple drew immediate attention because they were brighter and sharper, while the water became a non-distracting background element.

2. The Sunrise Cityscape

For a sunrise photo where the city looked "messy," the AI recommended focusing solely on the sky. It suggested lowering the exposure of the city so it wouldn't compete for attention and removing a distracting "glassy corner" from the frame. Following this feedback lifted the shot significantly.

3. The Adventurer

On a shot of some boys, the AI identified the subjects immediately. It recommended cutting out other people in the frame and brightening the boys' faces to ensure they were readable. For another adventure-style shot, it picked up on specific color elements—like a pair of yellow shorts—and suggested focusing solely on the adventurer to improve the composition.

Beyond Editing: AI for Content Creation

If you create content for YouTube or social media, AI can assist with more than just static images.

AI Music Generation

If you don't have subscriptions to paid services like Artlist, you can use AI to generate background music.

  • The Tool: I used a service called Suno AI.
  • The Process: I asked a text-based AI (Gemini) to write a prompt for an "80s Electro" track, which I then fed into Suno AI. The result was a perfect match for my video intro.

Brainstorming and Structure

You can utilize the compressed knowledge of an LLM to brainstorm video titles, thumbnails, and structural points. However, it is important to note that AI shouldn't do everything. When it's time to record, I don't use AI scripts; I prefer to "freestyle" to keep the content authentic.

The Verdict

Is AI going to replace the photographer's eye? No. However, asking AI for feedback is a genuinely fun exercise that can teach you a thing or two. It serves as a great "second pair of eyes" when you are stuck on an edit, helping you learn and improve your workflow.