Why I Chose AI for The Brand Shot — And Why I’m Not Sorry
Let’s get one thing clear right out of the gate: The Brand Shot is an AI-generated stock photography company. Not because I’m trying to fake realism or blend in with traditional stock agencies — but because I believe AI gives indie creatives more control, more edge, and a hell of a lot more fun.
If you’ve ever scrolled through a stock site and felt the soul drain out of your eyeballs, you already know the problem: generic, polished, lifeless. The same poses, same lighting, same uninspired energy. So I built The Brand Shot for people like me — people who want visuals that actually feel something.
But let’s talk about the AI elephant in the room.
Because lately, there's been a lot of noise from people who hate the idea of AI in creative spaces. They say it’s fake. They say it lacks depth. They say it’s cheating.
And to that I say: Cool. I’m not making it for them.
This post isn’t a defense. It’s a behind-the-scenes walk through how I actually use AI — and why it might just be the smartest tool in the creative toolkit right now.
Yes, It’s AI. And That’s the Point
I’m not pretending otherwise. The Brand Shot doesn’t hide it, mask it, or water it down. My sets are intentionally AI-generated — not because I can’t shoot with a camera, but because AI lets me do something different.
It lets me explore moods and styles that would be expensive, logistically wild, or flat-out impossible to shoot on my own. It lets me create visual essays — not just pretty photos.
I’m not here to replace photographers. I’m here to reimagine stock.
Here’s What That Really Means
People hear “AI images” and assume I’m just typing a phrase and downloading a perfect image.
Nope.
Behind every Brand Shot collection is a process — an actual creative direction that I build from scratch. Each set starts with:
A theme or aesthetic (like “Spoiled Rotten” or “Last Flash Wins”)
A full color palette
A visual style reference board
Real brand use-cases in mind (websites, launches, IG graphics)
Then I generate 50 to 100 test images using carefully written prompts (seriously — 200+ word prompts with composition, color, emotion, lighting, subject notes).
From there, I handpick the best 30 final images — 15 go in the paid set, 15 into The Free Edit (my free stock section).
This isn’t “press button, print set.” It’s more like digital set design, creative direction, editing, and curation all rolled into one.
Realism Isn’t the Goal. Resonance Is.”
This is where most stock fails. It tries to mimic reality so closely that it forgets to feel like anything.
My work isn’t trying to be hyper-realistic. It’s trying to be editorial — cinematic, stylized, emotional, and sometimes even surreal.
It’s meant to evoke a vibe. A story. A moment you didn’t know you needed until you saw it. Like the “burnout but make it sexy” energy in the After Hours set, or the dusty sun-kissed tension in Just Passing Through.
That’s the magic. Not perfect realism — perfect feeling.
The Brand Shot Standards
Let’s talk non-negotiables. Every image that makes it into The Brand Shot meets a few key standards:
Cohesive Styling: Everything belongs to a world. Sets are tightly curated with consistent tones, subjects, and moods.
Brand-Ready Cropping: Cropped with designers in mind — negative space, clean layouts, text-friendly areas.
Emotional Texture: Every image has layers — it’s not just a scene, it’s a story moment.
And yeah, I throw out a ton of images that don’t meet those standards. I’m picky — because you should be too.
Why I’m Not Trying to Look Like Everyone Else
Here’s the thing: a lot of people using AI right now are still stuck on trying to make it “look like a DSLR photo.” That’s not what I’m about.
The Brand Shot doesn’t aim for realism — it aims for recognizability. I want someone to see an image from my shop and know instantly: Oh, that’s one of hers.
I lean into editorial lighting, bold styling, cheeky moments, and slightly messy compositions. Because real brands — real humans — aren’t clean and polished 24/7. They’re loud. Quiet. Confident. Burned out. Alive.
I want the visuals to reflect that.
It’s Not Just Stock. It’s Strategy
Each collection I release is designed with how you’ll use it in mind:
Big landscape shots for your homepage banners
Close crops for carousels
Lifestyle moments for Reels or email headers
Still lifes for filler slides or shop graphics
These aren’t random images. They’re strategic building blocks for building your brand story.
Think of them less like “stock photos” and more like a curated launch library — one you can use to elevate every piece of content without spending hours shooting or sourcing.
Final Thought? I’m Not Here to Convince You
If you’re still side-eyeing AI after all that, that’s cool.
The Brand Shot isn’t for everyone.
It’s for the rebels, the perfectionists, the burnout baddies who want visuals that look like they care but don’t try too hard. It’s for the creative who wants a vibe, not a stock folder full of beige people fake-laughing with salads.
It’s for you if you’ve ever opened Canva, uploaded a cute photo, and thought: “Ugh. It still looks off.”
I get it. And that’s why I’m here.
Want to Try It Yourself?
You don’t have to buy anything to feel the vibe. Head to The Free Edit and grab a whole pack — no strings, no credit card.
Just real images. With real feeling. For real brands.
Still curious?
Here are a few of our most-loved collections lately:
Thanks for coming behind the scenes.
Want to stay in the loop for new sets, spicy hot takes, and launch-worthy visuals?
📩 Subscribe here — we don’t do boring emails.
