Aiello Studios

08/05/2026

Have you noticed the conversation around AI in photography changing?

Yes, the headlines keep coming, and the important discussions about copyright, transparency, and creator compensation are far from over. But lately, I think something else is happening.

More photographers seem to be asking not "Should I use AI?" or “Is there a place for AI in photography,” but "Where does AI fit into my workflow?" That shift is the focus of my latest article.

I'd be interested to know whether you've noticed the same trend.
https://aiphotographytraining.substack.com/p/have-you-noticed-the-conversation

The latest developments suggest we're moving from debating AI to deciding how best to use it.

07/27/2026

This image began as a close-up photograph of an agave. Rather than editing it traditionally, we used Midjourney Retexture to reinterpret the photograph in the style of abstract color fields. The geometry of the original image remains, but texture gives way to color, light, and form.

If you've been following our work, you've probably noticed a recurring theme. Sometimes we're photographers. Other times, we're simply artists who use a camera as a sketchpad for what we call photography-based digital art. This image belongs to that second category. The photograph established the composition and structure; the creative process continued from there. What you see here is not the final result from Midjourney. It rarely is for any of our images. We took that output and further altered the color, contrast, and other adjustments in Photoshop. In fact, we altered the original in On1 Photo Raw even before running it through Midjourney. It's a process.

Ironically, this may be one of the last images we create with Midjourney. Over the past several months, our workflow has evolved, and we've found ourselves relying more on newer AI tools that better fit the way we work. We'll share our reasons and what we've learned in an upcoming article. Watch this space.

07/21/2026

Photographers: here's a quick heads-up. ON1 is currently offering its NoNoise AI software as a free download until July 31, 2026. It's not a trial and doesn't require a subscription, making it an easy addition to your editing toolbox.

I share a few thoughts on why I think it's worth downloading, along with one lesson we've learned over the years: there's rarely a single "best" editing application. This is no exception. The best approach is knowing which tool works best for each image.

Note: If you get a pop-up asking you to subscribe to our Substack, and as much as we'd like you to (it's free), you can just close it or click past it to read the article.

I hope you find it helpful.
https://aiphotographytraining.substack.com/p/a-free-photography-tool-worth-downloading

Download On1's NoNoise AI for free with no strings attached.

06/26/2026

Adobe's announcement that it plans to acquire Topaz Labs is certainly big news. But I think the bigger story isn't the acquisition itself. It's what this says about the future of photographic editing.

In my latest article, I look beyond the headlines and explore why Adobe's choice of Topaz may signal that AI-powered image enhancement is becoming a core part of professional editing, much as digital editing became standard a generation ago.

I'd love to hear your thoughts after you've had a chance to read it.
https://aiphotographytraining.substack.com/p/adobe-to-acquire-topaz-labs

Why This Matters for Every Photographer

06/22/2026

The controversy over an AI-colorized version of Ansel Adams' famous Moonrise photograph has generated a lot of discussion about ethics, artistic intent, and AI. But I think there's a more important lesson hiding underneath the headlines.

Many creators know that copyright is automatic. Far fewer understand the difference between copyright ownership and copyright protection.

In my latest article, I explore what photographers, artists, musicians, and other creators can learn from this controversy, and why protecting a creative legacy may have more to do with paperwork than technology.

https://aiphotographytraining.substack.com/p/ansel-adams-copyright-lesson

The real story may not be AI, artistic intent, or public outrage. It may be what every creator should know about protecting their work.

06/15/2026

Can AI colorize a black-and-white photograph without otherwise altering it?

We put that question to the test using a 4×5 image of the Bourne Cottage at Empire Mine State Park. The results were surprisingly faithful to the original, right down to the smallest branches in the surrounding trees.

The most interesting part wasn't the color. It was how much detail remained intact.

In this week's article, we look at the workflow, the role of a simple prompt, and why starting with an original scan can make all the difference.
https://aiphotographytraining.substack.com/p/converting-bw-to-color-with-ai

How a simple prompt transformed a 4×5 black-and-white image of Bourne Cottage while preserving the details that made the original photograph work

06/04/2026

A simple botanical photograph became something quite different. For our latest "How We Made It" article, we walk through the transformation of Golden Barrel Cactus DA78, from a straightforward cactus photograph to an abstract, pastel-inspired digital artwork using Flux Kontext Pro, Photoshop, and ON1 Photo RAW.

The process demonstrates how image-to-image AI tools can be used to reinterpret a photograph while still preserving its original structure and character.

The article includes the original image, the AI-generated version, intermediate steps, and the final result.

Transforming a straightforward botanical photograph into a more abstract interpretation.

05/27/2026

Here's our latest article on AI Photography Training. Starting with a straightforward botanical photograph, we explored how subtle AI-assisted edits and creative effects could transform the image's mood without losing its photographic roots. I hope you check it out.

https://aiphotographytraining.substack.com/p/how-we-made-chilicote-2387t

How We Made Chilicote

05/20/2026

Photographers occupy an unusual place in the AI discussion. We increasingly use AI tools in editing, enhancement, and transformation workflows, yet our original images, creative decisions, and visual experience remain central to the process.

Lately, there have been signs that broader AI policy discussions may be starting to recognize that relationship in Washington. That doesn’t necessarily mean new protections are coming, and it certainly doesn’t mean the technology is slowing down. But it may mean creators are becoming harder to ignore, particularly when it comes to training AI datasets.

Our latest article explores what this possible shift could mean for photographers and why provenance, authorship, and participation in the conversation may matter more than ever.

A subtle shift in AI policy discussions suggests photographers and artists may no longer be treated as invisible inputs to AI systems

05/14/2026

AI and copyright debates are no longer staying inside tech circles and lawsuits.

The U.S. Trade Representative recently included AI-related copyright concerns in its annual Special 301 Report, signaling that issues surrounding AI training data, creator rights, and intellectual property are increasingly becoming larger policy discussions.

For photographers, this raises important questions:
• Were our images used in training datasets?
• Will licensing systems eventually emerge?
• How do we balance innovation with creator rights?

At the same time, many photographers are using AI responsibly within their own workflows for editing, cleanup, restoration, and reference-based transformations. That is a very different conversation from the large-scale scraping of copyrighted work without clear consent or transparency.

In our latest AI Photography Training article, we take a practical, photography-first look at what this development may mean for the future.

https://aiphotographytraining.substack.com/p/the-us-government-ai-training