School marketing photography is about to die

It's true.

In 5 years we’ll be using AI for the website and prospectus images. And if you think that’s a ludicrous idea I’m about to change your mind.

AI photography is growing so fast, we actually have no idea just how quickly things are moving on. We see ChatGPT etc. but the behind-the-scenes activities must be nuts.

So we know it’s going to be possible in the near future, that’s not up for debate.

For a minute imagine a world where AI creates our school images instead of the photographer coming in twice a year.

💡 Think about the parent permission hassles (“Yes for website images, yes for prospectus, no for social media, oh but that one’s OK…”).

Gone without the hint of a tickbox.

💡 Think about representing the school accurately without the awkwardness of certain children always being in photos for diversity representation.

💡 Think about when children leave school and all those photos have to be removed. And deleted.

Still reading? Think about this next part then…

Right now we’re expecting people who pay significant fees to feature in school marketing.

But when was the last time you enjoyed a meal in a restaurant and someone with a camera told you to carry on eating while they took some photos for the restaurant’s website?

Stood in Waitrose doing the grocery shopping? You haven’t even done your hair.

And let’s not go near someone in a hotel bedroom in a dressing gown…

Thing is, we expect these people in magazines to be models. We’d never presume they’re real customers. But at the moment we use children in a way that no other part of society would tolerate.

I’m 100% all for authenticity. And social media is a different conversation of course.

But for the website and the prospectus?

Really?

5 years.

Max.

What do you think?