As a family and nature photographer in Michigan, I've witnessed the magic only real life can offer—kids belly-laughing in golden hour light, tiny fingers wrapped around mom's, leaves swirling in the air as a toddler runs free. AI can't generate these moments. They can't be faked. They have to be lived.

Lately, there's been a lot of buzz around artificial intelligence (AI) in photography. And I'll be honest—it worries me. AI has its place in tech but doesn't belong behind the lens. Photography is about storytelling, connection, and emotion. It's about freezing real life in time—not creating something artificial just because it's faster or easier.

Photography is About Truth, Not Perfection | Michigan family photographer

What makes a family photo meaningful isn't whether the colors are flawless or the background is Pinterest-perfect. It's the feeling—the way your baby clings to you when it's shy, how your partner looks at you when you're not paying attention, the freckles, the wind, the chaos. These things matter.

AI-generated images or heavily over-edited photos erase that truth. They replace emotion with polish. They flatten out the personality, the nuance, the realness. Suddenly, it's not your family—a version of your family through a computer's lens. And that, to me, misses the whole point.

AI Can't Replace Connection

As a Michigan photographer who's worked with families for years, I can tell you that what happens during a real session can't be replicated. The giggles, the hugs, the imperfectly perfect moments—that's not something AI can code.

You don't just hire a photographer for a pretty picture. You hire them for the way they see you. The way they guide your family gently into natural poses, the way they ease nerves, draw out emotion and capture who you are. AI can't do that. It doesn't know your story. It doesn't feel your joy. It doesn't care.

Why I Won't Use AI or Over-Edit My Work

At Kelseycharmayne Photography, my promise is simple: what you see is you. I won't manipulate your body or add fake elements that weren't there. I use Lightroom only to enhance what already exists—to bring out the natural beauty of your family and the Michigan landscape, not to create something false.

I won't swap out skies, smooth every wrinkle, or change who you are. Your story deserves to be told truthfully, with care, respect, and authenticity.

However, there are serious legal concerns beyond ethical reasons.

Over-Editing and AI Can Cross Legal Boundaries

Photographers must be aware that using AI or altering someone's appearance beyond recognition can lead to legal issues:

• False Advertising: If a family hires me based on an AI-generated portfolio or unrealistically edited photos, they're not getting what was advertised. That's misleading—and unethical.

• Defamation: Over-editing can distort someone's likeness to the point where it becomes harmful or humiliating. Altering someone's appearance without their consent can damage their reputation.

• Invasion of Privacy: AI systems often generate composite images based on other people's faces or data without consent. Using or posting AI-manipulated images that include real clients could unintentionally violate their privacy and trust.

  
  

As a professional, I take those concerns seriously. My work isn't just about artwork but also about integrity, trust, and doing what's right.

Let's Keep Photography Human

I get it — AI is everywhere right now. Photography isn't just about aesthetics. It's about creating a family legacy and passing down family portraits for future generations. It's about giving your children, yourself, and future family something tangible to look back on, a picture they can say,

"That was us. That's how it felt."

AI will never replace the warmth of a sunset family session or the peace of a quiet walk in the woods with your little ones. Those moments are real—and real moments are what I'm here to capture.

So no, I won't be using AI or over-editing your photographs. Not now. Not ever. because you—and your story—are enough just as you are.