I hired a professional with years of experience. Then a chatbot did the job better and in a fraction of the time. Here’s what happened.

I need to be honest. I almost gave up on a project I was really excited about, and it was all because of some photos. The whole experience left me furious, but it also opened my eyes to something I never expected: the incredible power of AI photo editing.

A few weeks ago, I hired a professional photographer for a project. I did my research, found someone with years of experience, and paid the deposit. I was excited to see what they’d create. When the edited photos landed in my inbox a few days later, my heart sank. They just weren’t right. The lighting felt off, the colors were flat, and they lacked the spark I was hoping for. The photographer said the edits took a couple of days, and frankly, I felt completely ripped off.

When Professional Edits Fall Flat

Have you ever had that feeling? You pay for a professional service, expecting a certain level of quality, and the result is just… meh. It’s frustrating. I was angry and felt stuck with a batch of photos I couldn’t use. The photographer was also openly “anti-AI,” which I found interesting. In hindsight, I can see why they might feel threatened.

In a moment of frustration, I decided to try something I’d never considered before. I had heard that tools like ChatGPT could work with images, but I was skeptical. How could a chatbot possibly understand the nuance of a good photo edit? But I was desperate, so I uploaded one of the disappointing photos and gave it a simple prompt.

My First Experiment with AI Photo Editing

The process was shockingly simple. I described the look I was going for—brighter, more vibrant, with a specific mood. I hit enter and waited, not expecting much.

Minutes later, I had a new version of the photo. And it was flawless.

The AI didn’t just tweak the brightness or contrast. It seemed to understand the intent behind the image. It balanced the colors perfectly, sharpened the focus in all the right places, and delivered a professional-grade image that was leagues better than what the human photographer had sent me. It did in minutes what a seasoned professional supposedly spent days on. I did the same for the rest of the photos, and each one came back looking amazing.

You can see similar technology in action with tools like Adobe Photoshop’s Generative Fill, which shows just how integrated this tech is becoming in mainstream creative software.

Why Was the AI Photo Editing So Much Better?

This is the part that really surprised me. I expected a machine to be clumsy and literal, but the AI editor was more like an assistant who instantly understood my vision. Here’s what I noticed:

• Speed: There’s no competition. The AI delivered results in minutes, not days.
• Precision: It made subtle, intelligent adjustments that I would have struggled to articulate to a human editor.
• Consistency: Every photo was edited with the same high level of quality, creating a cohesive look for the whole set.

This experience completely changed my perspective. The “anti-AI” stance from the photographer suddenly made sense. When a tool becomes so good and so accessible that it can outperform someone with years of experience, it’s bound to cause some friction. It’s a topic major publications like Forbes are already discussing—how AI is reshaping creative industries.

Is This the End for Human Photographers?

So, will I ever hire a human photographer again? For photo editing, the answer is probably no. If I can get better, faster results on my own, there’s no reason to outsource it.

However, a photographer’s job isn’t just editing. It’s about being there in the moment to frame the shot, understand the lighting, and capture the human element. The initial photo capture is still a crucial human skill. But for the post-production process, the game has clearly changed.

My frustration has turned into a sense of empowerment. I’m no longer at the mercy of someone else’s creative vision or busy schedule. I have the tools to bring my own ideas to life, and that’s an incredible feeling. If you’ve ever been disappointed by a creative service, I highly recommend giving AI photo editing a try. You might be just as surprised as I was.