The Ultimate Guide: How to Use AI for Photography Blogging (Without Losing Your Voice)

Look, I’ll be the first to admit it: AI is everywhere. And honestly? I’m here for it.

On this week’s episode of the Keep It Moving podcast, Melissa and I dove deep into something that’s been on every photographer’s mind lately — how to use AI for photography blogging without sounding like, well, a robot?

Because here’s the thing. AI-generated content is flooding the internet faster than you can say “ChatGPT,” and if we’re not careful, our blog posts are going to get lost in a sea of perfectly formatted, completely forgettable fluff.

So how do we set ourselves apart? The answer lies in learning exactly how to use AI for photography blogging in a way that both Google and our dream clients actually care about.

That’s exactly what we’re unpacking today. By the end of this post, you’ll know exactly how to use AI for photography blogging to save time, create better content, and still sound like yourself.

Listen to the Podcast

Listen to the Keep It Moving Podcast. Whether you’re refining or completely relocating your photography business, this show is for you! We cover all the major topics from money, to relocating, marketing and more. Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

AI Is Your Assistant, Not Your Clone

Here’s how I want you to think about AI: it’s your work bestie sitting at the desk next to you.

You wouldn’t just tell your assistant “write a blog post about family photos” and walk away, right? You’d give them context.

You’d tell them:

• What you want to say
• The tone you’re going for
• Stories you want woven in
• Points you need to cover

That’s exactly how you should be approaching AI for photography blogging.

Melissa and I use it constantly — and I mean constantly. I use it multiple times a day because it makes my life easier. She used it just this week to pull quotes from our podcast episodes instead of sitting through 30 minutes of audio.

I’ve used AI for photography blogging to:

• Brainstorm podcast guest questions
• Create episode outlines
• Generate title options (this episode title came from AI!)
• Repurpose blog content into social media captions

But here’s what we’re NOT doing: copying and pasting whatever it spits out and calling it a day.

PRO TIP: Treat AI like a real assistant. Give it a name if you want. Tell it exactly what you need, including your tone, your audience, and your main points. The better your instructions, the better your results.

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The Problem with Perfectly Forgettable Content

Let me tell you what I’m seeing right now, and it’s driving me nuts.

I’m looking at client websites where they’ve outsourced their blog posts — whether to a blog writer, a company, or straight-up AI — and the posts are… fine.

They’re:

• Thorough
• Well-formatted
• Covering the topic completely
• Giving readers the information they need

But they’re NOT:

• Memorable
• Personal
• Story-driven
• Connecting with readers

And here’s the brutal truth: we’re all competing on content now.

You want to write about the best family photo spots in your city? Cool. So does every realtor, every moving company, and every other photographer within a 50-mile radius.

If your blog posts feel exactly like everyone else’s, you’re invisible.

What Makes Content Actually Memorable?

Think about it. If someone Googles “kid-friendly restaurants in [your city]” and finds ten blog posts that all say the same thing in the same way, what makes them remember you?

Nothing. Because there’s nothing to connect with.

Here’s what DOES make content stick:

Personal stories. Like when Melissa talks about that magical pizza place in Virginia Beach with sports everywhere and an arcade that Google never told her about.

Real experiences. Not just “this restaurant has a kids’ menu” but “this restaurant has a playground in the middle of the outdoor section so you can actually enjoy your drink while your toddler burns off energy.”

Personality. Like how I literally open my what-to-wear guide with “I hate figuring out what to wear for photos” because I DO hate it, and I know you probably do too.

Relatability. Stories about your mom obsessing over finding matching red velvet dresses for Christmas photos? That’s gold.

PRO TIP: If you’re not a natural storyteller, inject personality instead. Own your opinions. Use phrases like “I hate this” or “this is the worst” or “this is my favorite thing ever.” Let people feel your energy through the screen.

What Google Actually Wants (And Why You Should Care)

Let’s talk SEO for a second, because this matters.

Google has something called E-E-A-T: Experience, Expertise, Authority, and Trust. It’s basically their checklist for deciding which content deserves to rank.

And here’s what’s coming down the pipeline for 2025: Google is likely going to start prioritizing content with clear human signals.

That means:

• Content that shows real experience
• Content with personality baked in
• Content that doesn’t read like a bot wrote it
• Content with expert opinions and personal stories

You know what has human signals? Personal stories.

When you write about the best places to take kids for photos in your city, and you mention that weird pizza place with the arcade in the back that saved your sanity during toddler meltdowns — that’s a human signal.

When you lead with personality (like “I hate figuring out what to wear for photos”) — that’s memorable. That’s authentic. That’s YOU.

And honestly? That’s what’s going to win in 2025.

PRO TIP: Google doesn’t just want information anymore. It wants information from real humans with real expertise. Your personal experience as a photographer mom who’s lived in your city? That’s expertise Google can’t get from AI.

How to Actually Use AI for Photography Blogging Without Sounding Like Everyone Else

Okay, so how do you do this? How do you use AI for photography blogging to save time without sacrificing your voice?

Here’s My Exact Process for Using AI for Photography Blogging:

Step 1: Use AI to create your outline

• Tell it what you want to write about
• Share the points you want to cover
• Specify the tone you’re going for
• Let it give you structure

Step 2: Use AI to brainstorm story ideas

• Tell AI what your blog post is about
• Ask it for 10 story ideas
• You won’t use its stories, but it’ll trigger your brain to remember YOUR stories
• (I learned this from Shannon McKinstry — Instagram guru extraordinaire)

Step 3: Write or draft the content

• Let AI help with the first draft if you want
• Or use a blog writer for the basic information
• Get the facts and structure down

Step 4: Add 500 words of YOU

• Go back through and inject personality
• Add your stories
• Rewrite sentences to sound like you
• Make it memorable

I used to order 500-word blog posts from a writer, and I’d always add another 500 words of my own before publishing. That way I had all the information plus my voice.

More Ways to Use AI for Photography Blogging (The Right Way):

For repurposing:

• Write your blog post in YOUR voice first
• Then have AI turn it into social media captions
• Use it to create email newsletter snippets
• You’re using your original words — just reformatted

For editing:

• Copy and paste your existing blog post into AI
• Ask it to help you inject story ideas
• Use its suggestions to stimulate your own memories
• Then write your actual stories yourself

For efficiency:

• Have it scan podcast episodes for pull quotes
• Use it to create blog post title options
• Let it handle the boring formatting stuff
• Free up your brain for the creative work

The key to using AI for photography blogging successfully is remembering it’s a tool to enhance your voice, not replace it.

PRO TIP: Never just copy and paste from AI and call it done. Always add your voice. Always add a story. Always make it sound like YOU talking to a friend.

Real Examples of How to Use AI for Photography Blogging

Let me give you some concrete examples of what I’m talking about when it comes to using AI for photography blogging the right way.

Example 1: The What-to-Wear Post

Boring AI version: “Coordinate your family’s outfits by choosing complementary colors. Avoid matching exactly, as this can look dated.”

My actual version: “What to Wear Is The Worst (yes, all caps, because I truly believe that). Look, my mom was obsessed with finding the perfect matching red velvet dresses for us at Christmas. And you know what? At Thanksgiving this year, she told me she still has my dress from when I was five and wants my daughter to wear it. That’s cute for nostalgia, but let’s not do that for your session.”

See the difference?

Example 2: Kid-Friendly Spots

Boring AI version: “The restaurant offers a children’s menu and high chairs.”

Melissa’s actual version: “This place has a playground in the middle of the outdoor section. You can literally sit at your table, order a drink, and watch your kids play. First time we went, my husband and I looked at each other like ‘why don’t we come here more often?’ Game changer.”

Which one would make you want to book that photographer?

Your Action Plan for This Week

Here’s what I want you to do right now:

Go Back to One Underperforming Blog Post

Look for posts that:

• Have good information but feel flat
• Don’t get many clicks or conversions
• Read like everyone else’s content
• Are missing your personality

Beef It Up

Add these elements:

• One personal story (even a short one)
• Your actual opinion about something
• A specific example from your experience
• Sentences that sound like you talking

Test It Out

Watch for:

• More time on page
• Better engagement
• Email signups from that post
• Clients mentioning they read it

PRO TIP: Don’t try to rewrite every post at once. Start with one. See what happens. Then do another. Small wins add up.

If You’re Thinking “But I Don’t Have Stories…”

Yes, you do. You absolutely do.

You have stories about:

• Why you became a photographer
• Your worst (or best) family photo experience
• Something funny that happened at a session
• A place in your city you discovered
• Why you hate or love something about photography
• How your kids act during photos
• What surprised you about running a business

You just have to slow down long enough to remember them.

Can’t think of one right now while staring at your screen? That’s fine.

Try this:

• Walk away from the computer
• Come back to it later
• Pick a different topic for now
• Let this one marinate
• Keep a running list of stories on your phone

The stories will come. You just have to give yourself permission to tell them.

The Real Reason This All Matters

I was thinking about this the other day, and it hit me: how many movies are out there about robots taking over the world?

A ton, right?

And what’s the moral of every single one? That while technology is cool, human connection is what matters.

We’ve got the shiny new toy. We’re playing with it. Everyone’s obsessed with it.

But we’re starting to lose that human connection in the process.

And that’s exactly what you need to bring back to your blog.

Your Blog Should:

• Connect with dream clients before they reach out
• Show them who you are as a person
• Prove your expertise through real experience
• Make them feel like they already know you

Your Blog Is NOT Just For:

• Ranking on Google (though that’s great)
• Checking a box on your marketing to-do list
• Having content for content’s sake

Here’s the thing: Even if your blog post doesn’t rank #1, if it gets one client to connect with you and book you because they felt like they knew you?

That’s the win.

Melissa talks about this all the time. Her Virginia Beach kid-friendly restaurant blog post is still going strong three years later.

Why? Because it came from a real person with real kids and real experiences.

Google couldn’t tell her about the magical pizza place with the arcade. But another mom could. And that’s exactly what makes her content valuable.

Let’s Recap: The Three Things You Need to Remember About Using AI for Photography Blogging

1. AI will give you a head start Use it for outlines, repurposing, and brainstorming. But personal stories and expertise always win.

2. Google loves content that feels authentic and human E-E-A-T is real. Human signals matter. Your personal experience is your secret weapon.

3. Photography blogging isn’t just about ranking It’s about connecting with your dream clients, being useful, and showing them who you are before they ever reach out.

PRO TIP: If you get even ONE email from someone saying “I loved reading your blog” or “I look forward to your content” — you’re doing it right. That’s the kind of connection that books sessions.

Your Challenge (Start Today)

Pick one blog post this week. Just one.

Add:

• 1 personal story
• 1 strong opinion
• 1 specific example from your life

Then watch what happens.

You’re not just blogging. You’re building trust before someone even picks up the phone.

So let’s make 2025 the year you master how to use AI for photography blogging — with personality, stories, and that human connection that actually books sessions.

Ready to Level Up Your Photography Blogging Game?

Struggling with what to blog about? Want to know exactly how to use AI for photography blogging without losing your authentic voice?

Join The Blogging Club where I give you SEO-friendly outlines, story prompts, and live support every month. Podcast listeners get 50% off with code TBCTRIAL at thebloggingclub.com.

Need help with your brand voice or finding clients? Book a free discovery call at mentor.alisonbellphotographer.com/discovery-call, grab my free guide 39 Ways to Get New Clients at alisonbell.co, or DM me on Instagram @alisonbellphotog.

Let’s keep it moving. 🚀

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  The Ultimate Guide: How to Use AI for Photography Blogging (Without Losing Your Voice)
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