Dear First name / Friend, How has your week been so far? It's the same old story here in the North - COLD! But I'm getting ready to escape for a bit to work under some Florida sunshine, so I can't complain too much. 😎 This month's issue of the Pegasus Journal is all about Artificial Intelligence (AI)! As I'm sure you noticed, the photo above is not me! I generated it using DALL*E with the prompt: “photo of a woman with brown hair in winter standing next to a horse while holding a camera.” It's not horrible, but it's not me. 😉 |
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5 Reasons AI Won't Replace Equine Photographers |
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Right now, the most obvious reason AI won't replace us is that people can't get a photo of themselves with the horse they love. Along with that, there are a ton of issues properly rendering horses and people, as you see in the image above. Still, as technology improves, there may be a time when someone could upload an image of them and another of their horse, and AI would generate a portrait. However, I don't believe AI will replace high-quality photos made by a photographer. Here are my top 5 reasons why. 1️⃣ Equine Photography requires a level of skill and detail AI doesn't understand.
The subtle nuances of equestrian photography have long given us a unique edge in the marketplace. From the correct tack to proper safety precautions like helmets, large stock libraries like Shutterstock are brimming with incorrect photos of horses. From my limited experience with attempting to create AI equine photos, they are far from being equestrian-approved. 2️⃣ Equine Photography requires precise timing and expression. When I entered "Photo of a Woman Riding a Horse Over a Jump" into Dall•E, the results were slightly disturbing. Aside from the horse and rider looking strangely warped, there was only one image out of 8 options where the horse was at a flattering moment over the jump. Let's not even talk about the mess of the tack and abstract face in this image (is the chin strap over her eyes?) 😂 |
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3️⃣ AI can't capture the emotion shared between a human and a horse. We all know horses are extraordinary, and the bonds we share with them defy explanation. Capturing this bond takes now only photography skills but empathy and understanding that only comes from someone who has experienced it themselves. For this next photo, I entered the prompt: “Woman gently hugging her horse in soft light.” When I first saw this result, I thought, “wow, not bad!” until I saw that the horse is actually merged with the woman and is hugging itself. I laughed pretty hard! 😂 |
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4️⃣ Nothing can replace the passion and love you inject into your Images. The quality of AI Equine Images is pretty bad at the moment, but it will improve as the software builds a better database of images to choose from. However, I firmly believe that the most impactful, most moving images are the ones we put our heart and soul into. This is something AI will never be able to replicate. But if you like art… Right now, I believe AI is better at replicating art than realism. If you're interested in seeing some interesting AI Horse art, visit Susan McClafferty's Horse.ai Instagram account with AI-generated horses, where she is "Exploring Art history using AI. Generating ideas for composite images and digital art." |
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New AI Watermark Remover 😡 |
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On the topic of AI software, this one really concerns me. WatermarkRemover.io is a website and Android app where you can upload a watermarked photo, and the software automatically removes the watermark. I tried it on the watermark I use in my stock library, and it was removed with almost affect to the image. For the example above, I intentionally chose an image with a lot of detail and you can't even see where the watermark was. 😳 I stopped watermarking my images a few years ago for various reasons (watch for a Mentoring Monday post about this soon). Still, with software like this, it almost isn't worth the effort to put a watermark on your images. A better option is to sign up for Pixsy.com and have them monitor the usage of your photos online. You can link it directly to your Instagram, and if you find someone using an image they didn't pay for, Pixsy will collect payment for you. I have received payment several times through this process! What about ChatGPT AI Writing Software? I have mixed feelings about it and haven't had a chance to use it yet (it's at capacity most of the time right now!) From what I've read and heard, ChatGPT can be a helpful tool for writing blog posts and social media captions, but I still believe that writing from your heart makes a greater impact. |
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Is This Your Year to Learn Video? |
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You’ve seen other photographers use video, and you think it looks beautiful. But, learning video can be intimidating, where do you even start? I know the feeling! Over the years, I tried and failed at video many times, but I didn't give up. Now, my clients love my video work, and I feel confident pressing the red button. That’s why I created this online course - so you can skip the trial and error and go straight to making great videos! Through this course, you’ll get up and running quickly so you can offer video to your portrait clients right away. I will guide you step-by-step through the process, from setting up your camera to filming to editing to a beautiful, heartfelt finished product you can sell to your clients. For full details and to start the course today go to |
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📘 Read I went on a reading binge in January! Partly because I lost my stall cleaning help, so I'm the stall cleaner again. Listening to books on Audible helps pass the time. The Go-Giver A Little Story About a Powerful Business IdeaWhere do I start? This is a short, but VERY impactful book about how giving is the fastest way to find success in business and life. They explore what they call the “Five Laws of Stratospheric Success." It's written like a parable, so it's enjoyable and easy to read. To give you a taste, the first Law is "Your true worth is determined by how much more you give in value than you take in payment.” Ding Ding Ding! I can attest to this law (and the others) in my personal experience. PLEASE read this book! Talent is Overrated What Really Separates World-Class Performers from Everybody ElseI'll admit, I haven't finished this one and I'm not sure I will. Not because I disagree with it, but near the end, it's getting repetitious (as a lot of books do). That said, the premise of this book is that there is NO SUCH THING AS TALENT. That being exceptional at something comes from intentional practice. They have a lot of science and stories to back this up and I generally agree with the author. I think there are some situations where all the practice in the world won't matter (I will never play in the WNBA, for instance!) but I believe people use lack of “talent” as an excuse to be average. The Coddling of the American Mind How Good Intentions and Bad Ideas Are Setting Up a Generation for Failure I feel like this book should be required reading for parents. It was a mind-blowing look at what is happening in our children, youth and young adults due to changes in culture, parenting and education. I don't have children of my own, but I read the book because I have seen some trends in younger photographers I mentor and I wanted to understand them better so I can be a more effective mentor. |
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🎧 Listen My Mentoring Monday post earlier this week was about why you need a website and tips for building an effective one. The very next day, Cowgirls with Cameras posted an episode on the same topic! It's obviously a coincidence, but it's that time of year when photographers have the time to update their websites. This podcast goes into a lot of juicy detail about making your own or working with a designer. Go-Giver Podcast - The Value of Value: I started listening to this podcast after reading the book and wow, this episode about adding value in the sale process is GOLD! If you have a photography business, you NEED to listen to this episode! |
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I sincerely hope you are enjoying the Pegasus Journal. If you know of another photographer you think might benefit from these emails, would you consider sharing it email with them? Thank you! And, as always, if there's anything I can do to help you grow as a photographer, please reach out by hitting reply to this email. 😊 |
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