I started using ChatGPT for school, then realized it could help my photography too. With film, every click costs money and time. Having a quick second brain lowered the stress and helped me make better choices before I even loaded a roll.
Most of my shoots are low light or mixed neon. I ask for a quick plan: likely shutter speeds for Cinestill 800T or my MARIX 135 T800 and Amber T800, what EV to expect at blue hour, and how far I can push before motion blur ruins the look. It is not magic. It just gives me a sensible starting point so I do not waste half a roll testing the obvious.
I also use it for composition practice. I describe a scene from my contact sheet, like “subject under a shop sign, bright window behind, messy foreground.” It suggests two or three framings to try next time. Step left to kill a distraction. Drop the angle to separate the subject from the background. Add a leading line from the curb. Simple ideas, but it keeps me iterating. My contact sheets feel less random and more like a series with intent.
Metering and color are where it saves me the most. If I am debating 1 stop over for skin indoors, or how much to bias exposure for tungsten under mixed LEDs, I ask for trade-offs. It reminds me what will happen to highlights on 800T and what to expect from halation. When a scan comes back with a green cast, I run a quick checklist for likely causes and fixes. It is the same with push or pull. I still note my lab’s advice, but I go in with clearer expectations.
Trust grew with results. The more useful the output, the more I tried. I still keep guardrails. I verify technical claims, write shot lists, and never paste personal data. The goal is not to outsource taste. The goal is to give my taste more chances to show up.
If you shoot film, try this next roll. Write a one paragraph brief, ask for two lighting setups and a backup plan, and make a tiny shot list. Then compare that contact sheet to your usual one. Did you see more, or just shoot faster?
