AI Photo Portrait Editing – How I Use AI Everyday

Introduction 

 

Almost five years ago, I started getting offers from small startups to integrate AI into my workflow. The first company to approach me was Jarvis . They offered to generate my blog text content using AI. The results did not impress me, but I knew this AI thing might get cool and exciting one day.

Fast-forward to today, and not a day goes by when people aren’t discussing integrating AI into many of their daily tasks.

Glamourous closeup portrait of a short haired blond woman staring straight ahead
From the people that brought you Liminar Neo, Luminar AI comes Aperty. An all in one AI portrait editing solution!
Woman staring at us with head turned up and to the left
This image was edited with Luminar Neo's AI skin smoothing
Profile of woman crouched flicking her hair up in the air
Luminar AI also has hundreds of presets to create cool special effects. It is like having cool filters with a punch

 AI Photo Portrait Editing Can Be A Game Changer

 

I’ve been using AI in photography ever since. However, I primarily use AI for photo portrait editing. 

I hopped on the AI bandwagon quickly and partnered with companies I had no doubt would help me with my photo portrait editing workflow. I am not ashamed to say that AI software has changed my Portrait Editing reality:

Two Software I have embraced and become an expert at are:

 

Skylum Software that offers AI-generated photo editing

Excire Photo offers excellent AI-powered photo culling

Last year, I wrote a blog post and produced a video titled “Will A.I. Replace Photographers?” The post concluded that while AI could eliminate repetitive and mundane photo portrait editing tasks, human innovation and originality would likely remain the domain of photographers.

 However, I am still convinced that AI is changing photography in the post-processing stage more than in any other part of the photography workflow. Whether you are a beginner portrait photo editor or an expert, there is no doubt there is a place for AI tools in your portrait photo edits.

Watch the video below to know more about AI’s impact on photography

AI Portrait Editing Is Personal

 

Using AI for your photography workflow is going to be personal. Hence, where you use AI is still up to you. You might want a 100% AI workflow, or you may want to use AI only 10% of the time. So, to guide those willing to start using AI in their portrait photo editing workflow, I wanted to share where I chose to use AI and where I have chosen not to use AI.

Most importantly, I want to let you know why I work the way I work so that you can choose according to the most critical aspects of your photographic journey:

*Why you photograph 

*One’s portrait editing preferences

*The equipment you use

*Your expertise

*What is your willingness to use AI?

Woman bursting out laughing

Although we talk a lot about photo portrait editing tools, never forget that you need excellent shots to edit. This only happens if you ensure your subject is at ease. Invest time into planning great photo projects that stimulate you and your collaborators.

What Are The AI  Portrait Photo Editing Possibilities?

 

 

Let’s simplify our understanding by grasping how to implement AI in photo portrait editing. There are numerous ways, but these are essentially the four main ways AI is used in photo post-processing.

*Photo generation (give AI a prompt and let it generate an image from scratch)

*Morphing of photo elements (Supply images and let AI “enhance” your photo, take out annoying distractions and add elements to enhance a photo)

*Decision List automation (Given a set of interpreted rules, AI will do edits according to edits you have done in the past. This is an enhanced version of Photoshop ACTIONS)

*Automated photo edits (Edit a photo according to specific global aesthetic guidelines)

Profile of a woman looking to the side at the camera
This photo was edited in Photoshop, exported to Luminar Neo via filters to use SkinAI, and FaceAI. It was then reimported back into Photoshop and later reimported into Aperty for additional edits. Like conventional photo portrait editing, there are many paths to follow when using AI to edit.

How I Don’t Use AI in My Portrait Editing

 

I should cut straight to the point to tell you that I do not use AI to generate images. I have tried generative software like Midjourney, Imagin Art, and others, but I got bored.

Portrait photos do not lend themselves to AI photo generation. For me, portrait editing aims to edit a picture to make the best, most flattering representation of a person. 

Therefore, there is no point in creating a brand new mouth, adding hair to a balding person, or generating a tooth where there was not one before. Some people might be comfortable with this. I am not at all.

Midjourney home webpage
A.I. genrated portrait of a blonde woman gazing to her left

Although at first impression, these images are fun to look at, we quickly get bored of generative results 

How I Use AI in My Portrait Editing

 

While AI does not lend itself to morphing and generation, it is highly effective for editing decision lists, full-on edit automation, and even certain judgment tasks. 

Here is a list of places where AI has been beneficial to my portrait editing workflow.

Photo triage and culling

 

I have used Excire Foto 2024 culling software as a standalone for the past year. It is also available as an Adobe Lightroom plugin. You can do some nifty photo organization tricks like organizing photos by Aesthetics, searching images with a simple text prompt, and photo equipment analysis via Analytics

Excire Foto 2024 has been a game-changer for me. Photo Culling and photo organization are the most important aspects of photo portrait editing. I strongly recommend investing in this solution or other AI photo-culling solutions like Aftershoot.          

Portrait of green eyed woman staring into the camera
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Excire Fotot 2024 interface
Excire Foto photo culling 2024 is where one place where AI excels. Excire 2024 is a robust software that takes photo culling, organization and selection up a notch.
Works as a plugin for Lightroom or Photoshop or as a standalone. Make sure to check the package offers before buying.

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Improving skin tone, texture, and blemish removal.

 

 In the first stages of photo portrait editing, most people go straight to the skin retouching. Skin is so important when editing portraits. Smooth skin sets the stage for all other editing done in the portrait afterward. Colour correction, facial feature enhancement, and LUT choices depend on a solid skin tone and blemish edit.

I use two AI software and one group of Photoshop actions for my portrait editing. Phlearn Beauty actions,  Luminar Neo , and Retouch4Me.

 

Use discount code: Jacques15 to get 15% off your purchase

Luminar Neo subscription page

Luminar Neo AI For Portrait Editing

 

 

I use Luminar Neo primarily as a Photoshop plugin. My go-to tools for photo portrait editing are:

Body and Face AI (offering AI tools like Studio Light, SkinAI, FaceAI and BodyAI)

I also like to use the Luminar LUTS, but technically these are not to be considered AI solutions

I could get into the details for Luminar Neo, but it is best that you check out my in-depth look into Luminar Neo

Retouch4Me For Subtle and Pro-like Portrait Edits

 

For nitty-gritty retouches, like dodge-and-burn, eye retouching, and pin-point healing of blemishes, I either do them myself using my skillset or use an AI retoucher called Retouch4Me. It is an excellent AI tool that is really on another level. 

Retouch4Me is more subtle than many AI solutions and caters to professionals.

Phlearn subscription page
Whether you are an amateur or a professional, Phlearn is worth the money. It offers exclusive tutorials and downloadable Photoshop actions and Lightroom presets.

Phlearn Actions When I Get Down to Basics

 

Although actions are automated Photoshop edits, the Phlearn actions have tapped into the brain of Aaron Nace from Phlearn. I am a fan. Once you subscribe to the Phlearn education portal, you have access to a ton of downloadable Photoshop Actions and Lightroom presets.

I use his Photoshop actions called Phlearn Amazing Eyes, Black and White, and the unparalleled Frequency Separation.

Adobe Photoshop is the go-to software for all portrait editors. They have been dabbling with generative photo editng in the last couple of years.

Photoshop and AI

 

In the past year, Adobe has slowly added AI options to its flagship software, Photoshop. My see of the Photoshop AI functions is limited, but only because I haven’t had the time to explore the new functionalities. For instance, I have not dove into their web application Adobe Express. This seems to be Adobe’s answer to the pressure they have been getting from online media creation portals like Canva. However, I am hard-pressed to use these web-only applications for portrait editing.

 

So far, I have enjoyed the AI implementation in the Photoshop standalone application. Photoshop has new photo generation tools right in the interface, but I see no need for them in my portrait “edits.” However, I have used Generative Expand and Fill, Skin Smoothing, and others. In 2024, they are a bit complicated to access but seem very promising.

Conclusion

 

Ultimately, your preferences will play a big role in what software you use for portrait edits. In the past few months, I have found that it all comes down to pick-and-choose regarding how you implement AI in your portrait photo editing.

I like to start with manual edits and let AI take over afterward, but you might prefer using AI for the whole process.

When deciding whether to use AI in your workflow, here is my advice:

*Look for trial versions of software that tempt you and do some good old-fashioned fiddling.

*While using the trial, think critically: Leave wishful thinking at the door.

*Evaluate the time it takes to edit portraits with the new software. I have found that many AI programs do not save me time and can make the process even longer.

*Map out how you edit, cull, and deliver your photos before shopping for AI portrait editing software

About the Author

My name is Jacques Gaines, and I am a photographer, videographer, and copywriter living in Quebec City, Canada. I also have a YouTube channel and an Instagram account dedicated to creation and creativity via my main loves of photography, music, and writing.

To get in touch with me and discuss a collaboration, service needed, or advice, go to my contact page

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