I know AI sometimes gets a bad rap. But it is here and if used as a tool, it can help you take your creativity to a new level. I recently used AI to create a mood board for a photoshoot. I knew roughly what I wanted, but getting these ideas across to my team was challenging. That’s where AI came into it.

Using AI with MidJourney

I use MidJourney. Now, this post is not going to be a how-to guide on using AI. It’s more a positive affirmation for trying it out. AI is a learning experience on its own. If you wish to learn more about HOW to use it, there are loads of tutorials. I’m still figuring it all out myself. But I truly believe with a little practice you can make fabulous creations which you can then use to create your own amazing photos. Think of it like custom-made stock photos you can use as inspiration. Trust me it’s quicker than scrolling other social media platforms trying to find inspiration for hair, makeup, costumes and such.

Prompt parameters

The big thing with AI is selecting the right prompt parameters. I went with what I knew. I wanted a photo. My plan was to work with Nicola, a 16-year-old girl with long blond-ish brown hair. I wanted her dressed in a soft boho outfit, with boho-inspired hair and makeup. For the set, I wanted a ‘tent’ made from lace, with fairy lights and LEDs. Overall, I wanted an ethereal look, soft and had a slightly vintage feel. When it comes to parameters, sometimes, you really do just have to play around.

The mood board

So these are just three of the images that Midjourney created. Gorgeous. Now I could get my team on board, with just a few small changes. We wanted to make her a vintage fairy.

The final images

Of course, we all wanted to put our own creative spin on this. But we had a mood board to get us started. I wanted elf ears, fairy wings, butterflies and a crown. She was a fairy princess after all. So how did we do?