AI for photographers isn’t about replacing your artistry. It’s about freeing up your time for the creative work you love.
On this week’s episode of The Motherhood Anthology podcast, Kim Box sits down with Rick Mulready, a 7-figure business coach who’s been helping online business owners navigate AI since ChatGPT first launched. What started as a tool he initially dismissed has become the center of how he helps thousands of entrepreneurs save time and increase profits.
Here’s what photographers need to know about using AI for their photography business.
Table of Contents
The Reality of AI for Photographers in 2026
Rick doesn’t sugarcoat it: business owners who don’t embrace AI in some way will be left behind. But he’s quick to clarify what “embracing AI” actually means for photographers.
It’s not about automating your entire business or using AI to replace your photography. It’s about asking yourself: where do I want things to be easier? Where would I love things to be faster?
The creative work, the connection with clients, the actual photography? That stays human. Everything else is up for evaluation.
The Problem With “AI Slop” in Photography Marketing
One of the biggest issues Rick sees with AI for photographers is what the industry calls “AI slop.” This happens when someone types a quick request into ChatGPT, copies whatever comes out, and pastes it straight into their marketing.
No personalization. No editing. No voice.
The solution isn’t avoiding AI. It’s learning to use it properly.
Where Photographers Should Start With AI
Rick’s approach for photographers using AI starts with strategy, not tools. Before diving in, get clear on where you need to show up and what kind of content you need to create.
For most photographers, that means email newsletters, Instagram, and Facebook. Rick suggests starting with email because it’s longer-form content that can then be repurposed into social posts.
5 Steps for Photographers to Use AI Effectively
1. Train it on your voice. Give whatever AI model you’re using writing samples. If you don’t have written samples, record yourself talking for a few minutes and upload the transcript.
2. Use custom instructions. Most AI tools have a settings area where you can provide context about your photography business, your audience, and how you serve them.
3. Ask it to help you prompt. Tell the AI what you want to accomplish and ask it to write the prompts for you.
4. Expect to edit. If you’re spending about 20% of your time editing what AI produces, you’re doing it right.
5. Choose the right tool. For photographers focused on content creation, Rick recommends Claude for its natural writing style and privacy consciousness.
The Human Premium for Photographers
Here’s the counterintuitive insight for photographers considering AI: in 2026 and beyond, there’s going to be a premium on human connection.
The businesses that win will be photographers using AI to handle the behind-the-scenes work so they can show up more fully for clients.
Which AI Model Should Photographers Use?
For photographers concerned about privacy and wanting the best writing assistance, Rick recommends Claude by Anthropic. It’s the best writer of the available options and feels the most human when you’re working with it.
Other options include:
ChatGPT (by OpenAI) – The most widely known and used. Great for general tasks and has robust customization options.
Gemini (by Google) – Powerful, but raises some privacy questions given Google’s access to user data.
Grok (by Elon Musk) – Trained largely on Twitter/X content.
Meta AI – Trained on Facebook and Instagram content, with more difficult privacy opt-out options.
For photographers concerned about privacy and wanting the best writing assistance, Claude is the recommendation.
This Episode is Brought to You By Picture Perfect Rankings
Today’s episode is sponsored by Melissa Arlena and Picture Perfect Rankings. Melissa is a TMA mentor and one of our favorite go-to SEO educators for photographers. With 17 years of experience in both photography and SEO, she’s crafted services that truly understand and meet your needs.
Her favorite way to help photographers tackle their website SEO is through Found & Booked, her signature group coaching experience crafted just for maternity, newborn, and family photographers. Over 4 months, you’ll learn to tackle your SEO with confidence and start ranking on Google for keywords your clients are actually searching.
TMA listeners get $250 off Found & Booked with code MOTHERHOOD. Learn more at pictureperfectrankings.com/tma.
The Bottom Line for AI and Photography
The photographers who will thrive aren’t the ones who avoid AI or the ones who use it lazily. It’s the ones who learn to leverage AI for photographers thoughtfully, training it on their voice and using it to free up time.
Listen to the full conversation on The Motherhood Anthology podcast, Episode 157.
