AI vs. Manual Editing: Which One Works Better for Photographers?

Admin
Dec 11, 2025
3 min read

Here is Article #8, a hot topic for 2025: AI vs. Manual Editing.

This article is strategically written to position you as a modern expert who understands technology but champions the human touch. It builds trust by showing you use the best tools for the job, but it ultimately argues that your artistic eye is irreplaceable.

Date: December 11, 2025Author: Peyman KhorramReading Time: 7 Minutes

The photography world is buzzing with conversations about Artificial Intelligence. Just a few years ago, "AI editing" meant a simple one-click filter. Today in 2025, AI can remove subjects, change skies, and even generate entire backgrounds with a single text prompt.

For professional photographers and our clients, this raises a critical question: Has the machine finally surpassed the artist? Is a human retoucher still necessary?

As a photographer who embraces technology but is grounded in artistry, my answer is nuanced. AI is an incredibly powerful assistant, but it is not yet the master artist. This guide breaks down where AI excels and where the human touch of manual editing remains unbeatable.

1. Speed vs. Precision: The Core Trade-Off

Where AI Wins: Culling and Batch Processing

Imagine coming back from a 3-hour photoshoot with 1,500 images. The first task is to "cull"—to sort through and find the best shots. This used to take hours.

AI Culling Tools: Software like AfterShoot or ImagenAI can analyze all 1,500 photos in minutes. They detect blinks, out-of-focus shots, and poor composition, presenting you with only the top 10% of images.
The Verdict: For speed and efficiency in the initial stages, AI is the clear winner. It's a game-changer for workflow.

Where Manual Editing Wins: Nuance and Intentionality

Now, let's talk about the final "hero" image—a fine art portrait or a high-end jewelry shot.

AI Retouching: An AI skin-smoothing tool will apply the same level of blur to the entire face. It doesn't know the difference between a temporary blemish and a permanent beauty mark. It might remove freckles that a client loves or create an uncanny, "plastic" look.
Manual Retouching: A human retoucher using Photoshop works with intention. We use techniques like Frequency Separation to remove a pimple while preserving the natural skin texture underneath. We can decide to soften a wrinkle but not completely erase it, maintaining the subject's character.
The Verdict: For final, high-value images, manual editing is non-negotiable. It's the difference between a filtered photo and a masterful portrait.

2. Global vs. Local Adjustments

Where AI Excels: General Adjustments

AI is excellent at "global" adjustments.

AI Sky Replacement: Tools in Photoshop can now replace a boring grey sky with a dramatic sunset in one click.
AI Color Correction: Some AI tools can analyze an image and suggest a "balanced" color profile.
The Verdict: For quick, broad-stroke changes, AI is remarkably effective and saves a ton of time.

Where Manual Editing is Supreme: Storytelling

Photography is about guiding the viewer's eye. This is done with "local" adjustments.

Dodging and Burning: This is a classic darkroom technique, now done digitally. I might manually lighten ("dodge") the subject's eyes to make them pop or darken ("burn") the corners of the frame to create a vignette that draws focus to the center.
AI's Blind Spot: AI doesn't understand the story. It doesn't know that the locket in a portrait is a family heirloom that needs a subtle glint of light added to it. A human artist does. We make emotional decisions, not just technical ones.

3. The Peyman Khorram Studio Approach: A Hybrid Model

So, can AI replace professional photographers? No. But it can make them better.

In my workflow, I use a hybrid model that combines the best of both worlds:

AI for Speed: I use AI to cull my initial images and apply a basic colour profile, saving hours of tedious work.
Manual for Artistry: For the final selected images, I switch to manual editing in Photoshop. Every fine art portrait and every piece of jewelry is meticulously retouched by hand to ensure the final product meets my artistic standards. This is the "Silence & Light" philosophy in action—using technology to create space for silent, focused artistry.

External Resource: For a deep dive into AI's impact, read this analysis from PetaPixel on AI in Photography.

Conclusion: The Tool vs. The Artist

A paintbrush is just a tool. It takes a painter to create a masterpiece. Similarly, AI is the most advanced paintbrush in history, but it still requires an artist to wield it with purpose and vision.

When you hire a professional photographer in 2025, you are not just paying for their camera or their software. You are paying for their taste, their experience, and their ability to make hundreds of small, intentional decisions that elevate a photo from "good" to "unforgettable."