Survival strategies for photographers in the AI ​​era

question：AI era、How will the photographer's job change?

As image generation AI spreads、There is a phrase that has become common among photographers.。

“I think photography jobs will disappear.”
“Won’t it be replaced by AI?”

These concerns are understandable.。
because、many visualsUntil now, I had no choice but to take pictures It's from。

But now things have changed。

now

• photo shoot
• visual production
• AI generated

These threeExist within the same visual production area It's now like。

So the problem isIt's not about whether you need a photo or not.、Where in the production process do you need photos? That means。

I need to sort this out、Any discussion of a photographer's work becomes vague。

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Reason for confusion：Thinking of photos as the “final product”

The main reason why the discussion among photographers is confusing is、Considering the photo as the final productです。

However, in actual commercial production、Visuals are created through the following steps:。

1. plan
2. concept design
3. visual design
4. Material production (photography/production)
5. edit
6. Deployment

The photo is in thisMaterial production project is located in。

If you don't understand this、

• do you need a photo
• Can AI be used?

The argument is、It won't mesh forever。

The photographer's job is、Part of the visual production process, not just the shootingThat's what it is。

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Changes occurring in practice：Visual mass production structure

right now、What has changed greatly in visual production?Number of visuals and how to deploy themです。

old advertisements

• key visual
• magazine advertisement
• poster

Etc、Used in relatively few media。

But now

• SNS
• EC
• Web
• digital advertising
• LP
• banner

Etc、Massive visual developmentIt is assumed that。

In other words、Current visual production

• multi-view
• multi-pattern
• Replacement

will be required。

This part、A visual field that until now had no choice but to createです。

And now、in this areaCases where AI generation is possiblecame out。

What's important here is、The role of photography will not disappear;、role changesThat's it.。

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example：Advertising photo production structure

For example, consider the case of advertising photography.。

For brand advertising、

• actual product
• real model
• real location

There are many cases involving。

In these areasPhotography is a prerequisite。

because、This is because brand responsibility and product authenticity are involved.。

But advertising production doesn't end there.。

in fact

• SNSexpand
• ECExpand
• ad variations
• Seasonal development

Etc、The number of visuals will increase。

This partA visual field that until now had no choice but to createです。

here nowCases where AI generation is possibleThere is。

In other words, the structure of advertising production is

• core visual：Summarized shadow
• Deployment visual：generate

It may be designed as。

What's important here is、It's whether the photographer understands this structure or not.。

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AI may be used as an extension of retouching

here、There is another important change.。

it is、A case where the photographer himself uses AI to createです。

in the world of photography、As a process after shooting

• retouching
• synthesis
• color adjustment

There are tasks such as。

In the future, during this editing process、Possibility of including visual production using AIThere is。

For example

• background performance
• Space production
• Variation production
• Visual development

etc.。

What's important here is、People who understand photography can use AIです。

direction of light
lens expression
sense of distance
texture of material

When people who understand these photographic expressions use AI,、
The degree of visual success changes greatly.。

In other words, AI、In the photographer's production processPossibility to enter as a new editing methodThere is。

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Changes happening in other creative professions

This change、Not just photographers。

For example

• illustrator
• designer

The same thing is happening in professions such as。

When people who understand illustration work use AI、

• composition
• Graphic design
• Expression intention

can control。

The same goes for designers.。

When people who understand layout and visual design use AI,、You can design the direction of production。

In other words, AI、A production method that is established when used by people with specialized knowledgeThere is also。

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changes that may occur in the future

As this trend progresses、Changes may also occur in the creative job structure.。

For example

• photographer who doesn't shoot
• Illustrator who doesn't draw

There is a possibility that something like。

of course、Not all jobs are like this。

real person
actual product
real place

In these areas、Shooting and production itself is essentialです。

but、

• visual design
• worldview design
• concept design

The creator responsible for、The number of cases in which visuals are created using AI may increase.。

In other words, the roleFrom production means to design abilitythere is a possibility that it will move。

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Division of roles between human production and AI

In the age of AI、What is the role of the photographer?It's not just about photography。

Rather, it is important、Overall visual production design abilityです。

This is what it looks like when organized。

human production area

• planning design
• concept design
• brand visual design
• real person photography
• Actual product photography
• Real location shooting

Area where AI generation is possible

• image sharing visual
• Variation development
• background performance
• Multi-view visual
• SNS material

In other words, AI、Rather than something that takes away photographers' jobs.

Technology that expands the scope of visual development, which until now had to be produced.

You can also say。

▶︎ [Photographer's work outside of photography]

▶︎ [Client case practice in the AI ​​era]

▶︎ [Photo conditions that become mandatory in the AI ​​era]