The Session
I've been shooting portraits for over four decades now, and every now and then, you meet someone who gets it. Someone who understands that photography isn't about posing—it's about presence.
Maya walked into the studio on a Tuesday afternoon, running slightly late because she'd stopped to help someone change a tire on the freeway. That's just who she is. She works as a graphic designer during the week, spends her weekends hiking with her rescue dog, and makes the best homemade dumplings you've ever tasted (her grandmother's recipe, she'll tell you proudly).
She'd never modeled before. Didn't have an Instagram full of perfectly curated selfies. When I asked what made her want to try this, she laughed and said, "I'm turning 29 next month and figured I should do something that scares me a little."
What struck me most during our session wasn't just how naturally she moved in front of the camera—it was her comfort with herself. No apologizing for her body, no asking if certain angles were "better." Just honest presence.
We talked about everything during the shoot: her mixed Chinese and Brazilian heritage, growing up between two cultures, finding confidence in her thirties, her dreams of opening her own design studio someday. She told me about her mom's advice: "Be so comfortable in your own skin that everyone else gets comfortable too."
That's exactly what you see in these images. Not a model. Just Maya. Real, warm, unfiltered.
Model Notes
Name: Maya Chen
Age: 28
Heritage: Chinese/Brazilian
Experience Level: First-time model
Comfort Level: Surprisingly natural for a first shoot
Energy: Relaxed, genuine, easy to work with
Notable: Great at taking direction but also bringing her own ideas
Technical Notes
Camera: Leica Q2 Monochrom
Lens: Summilux 28mm f/1.7 ASPH (fixed)
Settings:
- Aperture: f/2.8
- Shutter Speed: 1/250s
- ISO: 400
- Format: DNG (RAW)
Shot in native monochrome - no color conversion needed. The Q2M's dedicated black-and-white sensor captures an incredible tonal range and detail.
Lighting Setup
Primary Light Source: Natural window light (north-facing, diffused through sheer curtains)
Time of Day: Late afternoon (around 4 PM)
Fill: White reflector positioned camera-left to soften shadows
Ambient: Minimal - kept studio lights off to maintain natural quality
Light Quality: Soft, directional, with beautiful falloff creating dimension
The natural light created that perfect combination of softness and contrast—enough shadow to show form, but gentle enough to keep skin tones smooth and flattering.
Location & Environment
Setting: Studio with large north-facing windows
Background: Minimal white wall with natural texture
Props: Simple window frame for environmental context
Wardrobe: Maya's own clothing - casual tank top and jeans
Hair/Makeup: Natural - minimal makeup, hair left loose and unstyled
Kept everything simple and authentic. The goal was to capture Maya, not create a heavily produced image.
Post-Processing Notes
Software: Adobe Lightroom Classic + Photoshop
Processing: Since the Q2M shoots native monochrome:
- Adjusted contrast and tonal curves
- Pulled down highlights slightly
- Lifted shadows to maintain detail
- Added subtle grain for classic film aesthetic
Adjustments:
- Minor skin retouching (kept natural texture)
- Dodge and burn to enhance natural contours
- Slight vignette to draw eye to subject
- Sharpening focused on eyes and hair detail
Processing Time: Approximately 15 minutes per image
Final Format: High-resolution JPEG for web, TIFF for print
Creative Direction
The concept was simple: capture authentic beauty without artifice —no elaborate poses, no heavy styling, just natural light and genuine presence. We worked with the window as our primary light source, allowing Maya to move naturally in the space while I adjusted the composition and angle.
The native monochrome sensor of the Q2M was perfect for this—it strips away color distraction and forces you to focus on form, expression, and the quality of light. It also gives the images a timeless quality that feels both classic and contemporary.
Here's the twist.
Maya Chen doesn't exist.
Every word of her backstory? Fiction.
The "photographs" you're looking at? Generated by AI in about 30 seconds.
The camera settings, lighting notes, and processing details? All made up.
There was no Tuesday afternoon shoot. No rescue dog. No grandmother's dumplings. No Leica Q2M with perfect window light. No north-facing studio.
Just a text prompt and an algorithm.
Why AI Can't Replace Real Photography (Yet)
Now that you know these are AI-generated, look again. Really look.
Here's what breaks the illusion:
1. The Fabric Physics Are Wrong
In the second image, notice how the tank top straps literally melt into her skin. Real fabric has weight and sits ON TOP of the body. AI treats clothing like body paint. The material also has an unnatural sheen—more like wet plastic than cotton.
2. The Hands Don't Work
Hands are AI's Achilles heel. The positioning and anatomy are just slightly off in ways that feel wrong, even if you can't articulate why. Real photographers know hands are one of the hardest things to pose naturally—AI doesn't understand anatomy at all.
3. The Eyes Are Empty
Technically correct, but missing that spark of actual presence. When you photograph a real person, there's someone behind those eyes. With AI, you're looking at an average of thousands of eyes the algorithm has seen. It's convincing at first glance, but lacks depth.
4. Zero Actual Collaboration
Everything I wrote about working with Maya, the conversation, the energy—that's what makes a real photo session work. AI provides a result, but there's no process, no discovery, and no moment of genuine connection captured.
The Bottom Line
I use AI constantly for my work—scripts for my YouTube channel, organizing content, and structuring ideas. It's an incredible tool. But creating the actual photographs? The thing I've spent 40+ years learning to do?
That's still mine.
AI can generate images that appear to be photographs. But photography isn't just about the final image—it's about the process, the collaboration, the real human moment captured.
At least for now, you still need a photographer and a real person in front of the camera to create something with actual soul.
So, what do you think? Does knowing the images are AI-generated change how you perceive them? Does it matter? Drop a comment—I'm genuinely curious about your stance on all this.
A Note to Subscribers
This post, which is usually part of our $10 tier content, is being made free for everyone this month as an experiment in AI versus real photography. Consider it a bonus for following along!
On November 22nd, we will feature a $20 tier exclusive shoot, and we'll return to regular scheduling in December.
