Maintaining your You-Ness in a Robot World!

By Keira Maloney – The Salon Photographer

Try this: Ask ChatGPT, “Write a social media caption that will make a potential client book an appointment today. It should showcase expertise, warmth, and the experience of a visit to my salon.”

Read what it spits out. It’ll probably be smooth, engaging, well-structured, and maybe even bang on the brief. But does it actually sound like you? Does it capture how you greet your clients, the hype energy you send them off with, or the personal touches that set your salon apart? AI can automate, but it can’t replace real human connection.

As a salon photographer (ahem, The Salon Photographer), I had a moment where I questioned whether AI could replace me. AI-generated images? Perfect. Almost too perfect. I won’t lie, I looked at them and thought, “Oh crap, is this going to make me redundant?”

But something felt off. AI-generated photos lacked the soul I capture in real salons. They didn’t have the warmth, movement, or beautiful imperfections that make an image feel real. The glow of natural light bouncing off roughly folded foils, the anticipation in a client’s eyes, the unposed moments that tell a story—AI images miss all that. They look like stock photos; technically stunning but emotionally flat.

And here’s the thing: clients don’t come to your salon for perfection. They come for the experience. They trust you to read their expressions, listen to their concerns, and adjust in real time. AI-generated content can’t replicate that level of connection.

It’s also interesting that social media platforms now require AI-generated content to be labelled. Why? Because people can’t always tell the difference! Yet, the more AI content floods our feeds, the more people crave what’s real.

That’s why I love seeing roughly edited salon content like roughly cut reels, a slightly off-centre shot, a raw beforeand-after, a caption with a slight spelling mistake. These things remind me that a real person created them. Imperfections aren’t failures; they’re proof of human touch, which is highly valued in 2025.

• Embrace the mess. A perfectly curated feed can feel soulless. A bit of roughness makes it human.

AI isn’t the enemy. It’s a powerful tool for brainstorming, quick mock-ups, or placeholders, but if you rely on it too much, you risk losing the raw, human element that makes your work unique.

So how do we stay authentic in a fast-paced, AIdriven world?

• Use authentic imagery whenever possible. Your clients want to see you and your work, not an AI-generated salon dreamland.

• Show the process, not just the result. People connect with energy, laughter, and hands-inaction.

• Use AI to support, not replace, ideas. If it helps to refine them, great! But make sure the final product has your creative stamp.

Back yourself. Not everyone will love your raw, authentic work, and that’s okay. The right people will.

Creativity isn’t about automation. It’s about instinct, experience, and human connection. AI can generate all sorts of things, but it can’t replace you. The way you see colour, movement, and emotion is what makes your work stand out.

In a world drowning in AI-generated content, real human artistry will always win. Trust your talent, your ideas, and your vision. Because no bot can do you, boo.

@the_salonphotographer

www.thesalonphotographer.com