Why Authentic Photographs Still Matter in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
You’ve seen them. The perfectly lit portraits where not a single hair is out of place. Skies so vibrant they look like they’ve been dropped in from another planet. These images are impressive. Technically beautiful. But let’s be honest — they often don’t feel real.
That’s the tension. As a photographer, part of the job is making people and places look their best. But perfection isn’t the goal. Presence is. And here’s the question that sticks with me: if anyone can fake a photo now, what’s the value of a real one?
This isn’t me slagging off AI. I use the tools too. But there’s a big difference between using tech to support your craft and letting it replace the craft altogether. That line matters. Especially in photography. And when it comes to authenticity, it matters even more.
What Are We Really Talking About When We Say Authentic?
For me, authentic photography comes down to real light, real expression, and real connection. It’s not about being perfect. It’s about being present. It's about telling the truth, not just visually, but emotionally.
Authenticity doesn’t mean only shooting film or never editing your images. The old masters were burning hours in the darkroom tweaking their work. This isn’t about gatekeeping techniques but about intention. It’s about knowing when to wait for the right light, when to lean in for the real moment, and when to press the shutter because something actually mattered in front of you.
That’s where the value is. Real subject. Real time. Real you behind the lens.
People Still Trust the Real Stuff
Whether you're a corporate communications lead, a small business, a creative, or a professional trying to build a brand, real still cuts through. Authentic photos help people connect. They show your audience who you really are. And when done well, they build trust. If done “wrong”, well its going to take a lot of effort to get people back in a world that is already competing for attention.
We live in a world where AI-generated avatars and polished-to-death stock, corporate sanitized images are everywhere. And most people just scroll past. But a photo that feels honest? That makes someone pause and continue to think about you.
I’d argue that real stands out now more than ever. Not in a nostalgic or “hipster” way. Just in a human one.
When AI Helps — and When It Gets in the Way
Let’s be clear. I’m not anti-AI. Used right, the tools are brilliant. I’ll happily use AI for noise reduction, batch editing, sharpening ; all the good the stuff we used to do in a darkroom. It saves time. It helps me focus more on the shoot and less on the screen.
But there are limits. I don’t replace skies. I don’t reshape bodies. I don’t turn faces into plastic dolls. I’ll clean up a blemish or distraction, sure. But I stop well before fiction. Some of today’s AI-enhanced images remind me of a classic episode of Blackadder Goes Forth — Episode 1, Captain Cook. Blackadder and George are sent to no man’s land to sketch enemy defences ahead of yet another “big push.” Of course, they never leave the dugout.
As Blackadder puts it:
“We’ll go straight out to the dugout and do the painting from there. You do the most imaginative, most exciting possible drawing of German defences from your imagination.”
When they return to HQ, there's this gem:
Darling: “Are you sure this is what you saw, Blackadder?”
Blackadder: “Absolutely. I mean, there may have been a few more armament factories, and [glances at George] not quite as many elephants, but…”
Enhancement is one thing. Generating an illusion is something else.
Munitions and Elephants - Imagination At Its Best
AI made George’s recce painting…perfectly
The Craft Still Counts
There’s a kind of magic in getting it right in camera. When the light hits just right, when the composition clicks, when the moment feels honest. That gut-level “I nailed it” feeling? AI can’t give you that.
That moment comes from practice. Patience. Showing up over and over again with your eyes open and your instincts sharp. And that effort shows in the final frame.
In a world where you can fake anything, the ability to shoot something real becomes a signature. It’s what makes the image yours. And that’s where the value is.
Photography Is Still About Storytelling , Not Just Image Generation
When you look through your lens, you’re witnessing something unfold. Or you’re setting up something that’s about to. Either way, you’re there. Present. Watching. Responding.
That’s not something you can automate.
AI can spit out good-looking images. But it can’t feel the moment. It can’t read the room. And it definitely can’t capture what you felt in the moment and translate that to someone else.
That’s your job as a photographer. That’s your superpower.
Closing Thoughts: The Answer Is 42
That’s my way I saying I don’t have a full answer, but it will end up being 42. AI isn’t going away. It’s getting better, faster, and easier every day. Some of the tools are incredible. But if everything can be faked now, maybe the boldest move you can make is to keep it real.
Yes, use the tech. But don’t forget the craft.
Recently, I’ve been digging through corporate and sustainability reports. Looking at how photography is used in these supposedly purpose-driven spaces. I’ve seen some truly questionable stuff — images that look impressive but feel completely hollow. Composites that undermine the message. Generic visuals that could belong to any company, anywhere.
I'll be wrapping up that report soon and reaching out to a few of these organisations. The goal of “Project Authenticity”? Help them get back to something real. To tell their stories with integrity. And to step away from the AI conveyor belt that’s churning out sameness by the terabyte.
Because if you’re going to put something into the world, you may as well make it matter.
You know it makes sense.
