This project is a personal exploration of AI-driven art direction. True to my process, I began by developing a concept and mood board. I centered the work around ideas that are often complex and costly to execute in traditional photoshoots—bringing together animals and products, many within water-based environments.
As hazy late-summer days soften into fall, bright sun carves moody shadows across muted colors, leaving everything touched with a veil of sun-washed yellow. Animals stir in preparation for colder months, while plant life drifts just past its peak, subtly signaling the season’s shift. Nature’s tactility carries into our fashion through soft suedes, plush faux furs, texture stamped leathers, corduroys, and sensuous finishes throughout.
This shoot was styled with a curated mix of handbags, shoes, jewelry, beauty, and accessories, emphasizing tactility and tone. Muted pinks, yellows and blues were layered with warm browns, burgundies, and golds. Smooth metals, patents and plastics contrast against richly textured suedes, faux furs and corduroys.
To create these images, I worked across three AI tools: ChatGPT, Midjourney, and Firefly. I began by writing detailed image descriptions and pairing them with product photos in ChatGPT, using its accuracy to establish a strong foundation. While these early images lacked compositional creativity, they helped refine direction for Midjourney. Using my prompts, reference images, and select mood-board swipes, I iterated in Midjourney to achieve more dynamic, photorealistic compositions. Final images were then refined in Photoshop with a mix of traditional retouching and Firefly-powered AI edits. Each image was carefully reviewed to correct AI artifacts and ensure the product remained true to life.
As a final step, I reintroduced the fully retouched still images into Midjourney to explore the addition of movement to this project. Not every image held up to looped animation—some moments felt unnatural—but with thoughtful prompts and setting adjustments, several translated into subtle, atmospheric animations.
