How is AI Being Used By Photographers in the Interior Design Industry, and What Can Designers Learn From That?

Sep 17

AI-powered photography is transforming how designers capture and showcase interiors

A conversation between Jenna Gaidusek, Founder of AI for Interior Designers™, and Julia Reinert, Founder of The Lifestyle Historian™

Based on Podcast Episode 58: “AI for Interior and Architectural Photography with Brian Berkowitz”

Julia: I found this episode especially compelling because it shows just how much overlap there is between the challenges designers and photographers face, especially when it comes to running a creative business. Brian Berkowitz brought so much transparency to the conversation.

Jenna: Yes, Brian really pulled back the curtain on how photographers, especially in the interiors and architectural space, are using AI behind the scenes. And like I mentioned in the episode, "I work with a lot of photographers to teach back-end AI information. I'm not teaching you how to take photos. I'm teaching you how to better your back end of your business and use AI and see what's available and what makes sense for you to use." That is where AI has the biggest impact-behind the scenes, making systems stronger.

Julia: And Brian is a great example of that. His background is fascinating, shooting for luxury brands like Gucci and Chanel, and yet he is so grounded in the day-to-day work of making things more efficient.

Jenna: Yes, and he has been on the front lines of a changing industry. His story of “figuring out that there's a whole other side of the commercial industry where you can shoot physical spaces”, then transitioning into real estate and eventually shooting for architects and interior designers is really inspiring. Now his work is almost entirely design-focused, so he understands the intersection between photography, branding, and design at a really high level.

Julia: One thing I think designers should really take from this conversation is how AI is not replacing creativity, it is supporting it. Brian addressed that fear head-on when he said, "There was a big uproar in the photo community... are we going to be sort of obsolete in a few years?” He acknowledged that AI has a lot of capability but that it is not going to ever replace his profession which is “literally documenting a finished space... and providing content to market your business."

Jenna: That is exactly the point. AI can help us tell the story of our work more efficiently and in a more polished way, but it is not taking the photo or creating the design. It is helping us manage the backend work so we can stay focused on the creative. It's the same for every creative business as I said in the episode. And it's needed.

Julia: Hearing Brian break down how he uses AI was very helpful for me and also relevant as I try to figure out how to use AI in my own business. For his SEO, social media, and blog posts, he has built a workflow that saves him time while keeping his voice intact.

Jenna: Yes, and he is strategic about it. He said, "For me, the biggest thing I'm using AI for is... marketing. So I'm using it for social media, blog posting, even my emails and my client communications... It's just helping me write more polished emails and sound a lot more professional."

Julia: Also his SEO strategy was spot on. That is something I know a lot of designers struggle with, how to make content that works for search without sounding robotic.

Jenna: I agree that Brian has found a great balance. "So, it's a combination of alt text and my blog posting," he explained. "I try to be strategic with my blog posting to sort of encompass all the different genres... I also try to be strategic with making sure the locations are evident from my posts... and especially the images." He is even using ChatGPT to help write and optimize that content.

Julia: Right, and the way he described his blog-writing GPT was so specific. He said, "I have a blog post GPT essentially where I literally upload the images I'm going to post. I just say who the client was and the type of shoot... and it will spit out a 500-word blog post, an SEO title, an SEO description, a URL slug... alt text for all the images." That kind of automation is game-changing.

Jenna: I thought it was really insightful when we started talking about using voice to make AI-generated content sound more natural. Like I said, "I like to write my blogs using my voice first... I do a note transcription and then... turn it into that." And Brian was open to trying it too: "I actually do like it and I think it's going to sound a little bit more human and a little bit more like me and a little bit more on par with my brand voice."

Julia: That human touch is key. Even when it comes to social media. He mentioned going back into Instagram and adding relevant keywords to help with search visibility, now that those posts are getting indexed by Google. But as you said, you can’t just write the longest caption ever and not worry about content and relevancy.

Jenna: And he was clear that search engines are catching on to inauthentic content. "Google... is sophisticated enough to know when you're actually writing a real caption or you're just trying to spam," he said. Designers should definitely take note of that.

Julia: And it was not just static content. The way he is using AI for podcast production was so impressive. Brian shared, "I edit with Adobe Premiere and there's an AI plugin that I use called Autopod... With Autopod, I'm able to assign which camera angle goes with which audio file, and the AI detects when each person is speaking, and it automatically cuts to that person." What used to take him hours is now done in minutes.

Jenna: Plus the automation he built for show notes, just from a transcript, is brilliant. He explained, "From the transcript, it'll create an episode title. It'll create show notes including any relevant links... SEO title, SEO description, and URL slug... YouTube-friendly description and YouTube title." All from uploading the transcript and adding his name. That is a perfect example of leveraging AI to scale content without sacrificing quality.

Julia: It is empowering to see someone in a creative field using AI in such a practical way. It really mirrors what you are teaching designers, how to use the tools and not be overwhelmed by them.

Jenna: The tech is there to support us. As Brian said, "AI is never going to replace creativity, it's just going to replace efficiency."

Final Thoughts from Both of Us

Julia: Brian’s experience shows that AI is not about replacing the creative process. It is about strengthening it. Whether you are a designer, a photographer, or a hybrid of both, AI can help you do what you love more efficiently and professionally. The key is knowing how to integrate it without losing your voice.

Jenna: And that is where strategy comes in. Like Brian said, use it for marketing, content creation, and operational support. But also stay rooted in what makes your work unique. When used well, AI becomes a tool that enhances your business without taking over your creativity. This episode proves that no matter what part of the interior design world you are in, there is a smart way to bring AI into the fold.

Your Turn

How are you using AI behind the scenes in your creative business? Are you finding ways to streamline your content, marketing, or communication? Have you tried creating custom GPTs for your workflow?

Share your thoughts and experiences with us in the AI for Interior Designers community. Your insights might just be the inspiration someone else needs to take the next step.

Let us know what resonated with you in Episode 58 and what you're excited to try next!

Expert Resources and Next Steps

The DAIly Training Program - Comprehensive AI implementation for design professionals
AI for Interior Designers Podcast - Weekly insights and tool reviews
AI Interior Design Tools: Game-Changing Technology for Creative Professionals