When you book a photographer, you’re trusting someone with more than pictures. You’re trusting them with your family’s memories, and, often, photographs of your children.
You deserve to know how those images are handled.
As AI becomes more common in photography, I want to be clear about where it fits into my business, where it doesn’t, and what you can expect when you book with Light Reclaimed.
Your family should still look like your family
I recently saw a mother share concerns online about her photography gallery (not my client, she booked a different photographer).
She suspected AI had been used because her child’s face no longer looked like them, and even their shirt had changed.
I don’t know what happened behind the scenes of that particular gallery. But I understand why that experience would be upsetting.
You booked photographs of your child. Their little features, their expressions, the details you know by heart. Those things matter.
I will not run your photographs through an outside AI editing program to automatically edit or recreate them.
I will not use generative AI to replace your faces, change your clothing, or reinvent your family’s appearance.
You deserve photographs that feel like the people you love.
How I edit your photographs
I personally edit your photographs exclusively in Lightroom and Photoshop. My process centers on thoughtful adjustments to light, color, exposure, minor skin smoothing and teeth whitening, and removing the small distractions that can pull attention away from your family.
There is one distinction I want to explain openly: Lightroom and Photoshop now include AI-powered features within the software.
The only AI tools I may use on client photographs are the features built into those two programs, such as object removal or background blur.
For example, I might use Photoshop's built-in object removal to remove a distracting object in the background. That is a specific edit I choose, control, and review- not a program taking over the editing of your entire image or gallery.
Those tools are not permission to alter who you are.
Any use will stay within the same boundary: preserving your family’s real features, expressions, clothing, and the moment we photographed.
What about privacy?
I understand that some families are uncomfortable with their photographs (or their children’s faces) being used in AI tools.
My commitment is specific: I will NEVER upload your gallery to a separate AI editing service or use your photographs as references to generate new AI images.
This includes (but is not limited to) AI programs like ChatGPT.
Again, the only editing tools I use are Lightroom and Photoshop.
AI graphics and honest advertising
You may occasionally see me use AI to help create pieces of a graphic, flyer, or other promotional design. This may include designing the text or flyer layout.
However, any images being used to advertise my work will ALWAYS be photographed and edited by me.
Not AI.
The session images you see will be real work that I've created myself.
I will not advertise an AI-generated scene as a real session setup, a photograph I took, or an example of results I can deliver.
When you look at my portfolio or session examples, you should be able to trust that they represent my actual work.
If I’m advertising a special setup, I want you to have an honest understanding of what you’re booking.
If I ever use AI to create an inspiration board or illustrate a concept, I will clearly label it as AI-generated inspiration. It will not be presented as an actual session I've completed.
Why a photograph might have an AI label
A social media AI label does not necessarily mean an entire photograph was generated or that someone’s face was changed.
A limited edit using an AI-powered tool (such as object removal) can lead to a platform displaying "AI information".
This means if I remove a trash can in the background using Photoshop's AI object removal, the image may display the AI label on platforms like Facebook.
If you ever notice a label on one of my photographs and have questions, you’re welcome to ask. I’m happy to explain the editing behind my work.
My promise to you
I want the photographs you receive to bring you back to this season of your life: your newborn’s tiny details, your toddler’s familiar grin, the way your children fit into your arms right now.
My job is to notice those things, photograph them well, and edit them with care.
Your family’s memories deserve an honest photograph, and you deserve an honest explanation of how it was made.