Many people still dismiss AI as a shortcut or crutch in photo editing, but I’ve found it incredibly useful. While some prefer the hands-on approach, I have a couple of reasons why I’ve come to rely on AI tools.
1
AI Helps Me Edit Faster
AI tools are a lifesaver, especially when you’re short on time. Using AI photo editing tools allows you to streamline the photo editing process by analyzing your images and providing recommendations and other time-saving features such as auto adjustment and auto mask.
The generated output will need extra tweaking to fix and improve, but overall, I find that it saves me more time when compared to doing everything manually.
In the image above, I used Canva’s auto-adjust tool to quickly apply a comprehensive set of image adjustments—saving me the time it would take to tweak each setting manually. This feature provides a solid starting point for your edits, which you can further refine to match your style.
While the adjustments might not convey any level of artistry or style, they’re usually good enough to use without further edits, especially if you’re short on time and need to edit an entire batch of photos.
2
I Can Easily Change or Remove Anything in My Photos
One of the biggest frustrations with manual photo editing is dealing with unwanted elements in a photo. Imagine taking a perfect picture only to realize there’s a random stranger or an ugly sign in the background. Manually removing these distractions can be painstaking and often requires a lot of time to manually mask and edit out.
This is where AI tools shine. Canva’s AI Magic Eraser allows me to brush over unwanted objects, and the tool seamlessly removes them, leaving the background intact. Adobe’s Content-Aware Fill is another game-changer.
If I need to remove a larger object or reposition elements in my photo, these tools do it effortlessly. Gone are the days of manually cloning pixels or fiddling with intricate layers in Photoshop for hours.
3
AI Helps Beginners Like Me Do More Advanced Editing
Before AI tools, photo editing felt intimidating. Learning software like Photoshop requires time, patience, and a steep learning curve. But with AI, even beginners like me can create impressive edits without feeling overwhelmed.
As a person who doesn’t have the time to learn more advanced photo editing techniques, I prefer using browser-based photo editors as many of them already implement AI, which allows me to output acceptable edits despite my lacking skill.
In the image below, I used AI to extend the whole image to fit portrait resolution so it could be posted as an Instagram reel.
Canva’s set of AI tools allows me to do all sorts of edits without spending time learning how to use them online. If I want to add or replace something in my photo, I just brush over the area and describe what I want. Whether it’s adding a flower bouquet to someone’s hands or replacing a cloudy sky with a sunny one, the tool makes it effortless.
Google Photos’ Magic Editor also deserves a mention. This tool takes beginner-friendly editing to another level by allowing users to adjust backgrounds, reposition subjects, and even change the lighting dynamically. These features were once reserved for professional photographers but are now available to anyone with a smartphone.
What I love most about these AI-powered features is how they make challenging edits accessible to everyone. I don’t need to be a Photoshop expert to achieve good results.
4
Generative AI Is My Go-To for Wacky/Creative Compositions
When I want to go beyond straightforward edits and dive into creativity, generative AI tools are my secret weapon. They unlock artistic possibilities that manual methods couldn’t achieve, at least not without hours of effort.
Canva’s Text to Image tool is a favorite of mine. It lets me describe what I want to see, and the AI generates a custom image based on my description. In this example, I simply shaded the area where I wanted to edit and then gave a description to give the dog a hat.
These tools aren’t just for fun. They’re practical too. I’ve used generative AI to create backgrounds for presentations, placeholders for design projects, and even unique social media posts that stand out from the crowd.
AI photo editing tools like Canva, Google Photos, and Adobe Photoshop Express have changed the way I approach photography. They save me time, let me easily fix or transform images, and open doors to creative possibilities I never imagined. Whether you’re a casual user or a seasoned photographer, these tools can make your life easier and your photos better.
If you’ve been hesitant about trying AI for editing, give it a shot. Like me, you might find yourself reaching for AI tools whenever you want to enhance or transform your photos.
