If you’re a photographer, you probably have a love/hate relationship with editing. I know I do. I love the creative control, the polish, and the transformation that happens in Lightroom. But wow, do the hours add up fast! Between sessions, marketing, emails, and actual life, editing can easily become the bottleneck of our job as photographers. As much as you might hate editing, you’ve probably also heard a lot about Imagen AI. It’s a (relatively) new AI-powered editing software for photographers, and it’s been generating a ton of buzz. I decided to try it for myself, and spoiler alert: it’s changed everything. Here’s my Imagen AI review!
Before we dive in, hi! I’m Christine Dammann, a SoCal-based family photographer passionate about capturing joyful, personality-filled images (and helping other photographers do the same). Over the years, I’ve learned that building a business you love isn’t just about beautiful photos—it’s about working smarter, not longer. While today’s post is all about Imagen AI, be sure to check out my favorite time-saving tools for photographers (and mentorship) if you’re ready to spend less time editing and more time living.
So, if you’ve been curious about AI editing tools or if you’ve heard other photographers rave about Imagen AI and weren’t sure it was right for you, let me walk you through my real experience. I’ll share what I love, what I don’t, and whether I think it’s worth it for other busy photographers.
And if you’re ready to test it out yourself, you can use my Imagen AI promo code for 1500 free edits!
What Is Imagen AI?
Before we get more into my Imagen AI review, we should talk about what it is first! Imagen AI is an editing assistant built with artificial intelligence that learns your editing style and applies it to your RAW images. Instead of relying on presets or generic “looks,” it builds a custom editing profile based on how you actually work in Lightroom.
You upload a Lightroom catalog with smart previews, Imagen applies your personal edits automatically, and you download the results within minutes. Over time, it even gets smarter as it learns from your feedback.
I’ve been using it for several months now, and I have thoughts!
The Pros: Fast, Smart, Affordable
Lightning-Fast Turnaround
Let’s start with the biggest game-changer: speed. I can upload a catalog of 800 photos and have the edits back in just a few minutes. I used to block out entire days for editing after a full weekend of sessions. Now? I can upload in the evening, wake up to finished edits, and spend my time tweaking instead of starting from scratch.
If you’re behind on galleries or just want to get out from under your editing queue, this alone makes Imagen AI worth a try.
It Learns (And Gets Better Every Time)
One of the things I appreciate most is that Imagen AI learns as it goes. After each job, I download the edits, make any small tweaks I want in Lightroom, and then upload the final version back to Imagen. The software then uses that feedback to refine my profile for next time.
It’s not static like a preset; it grows with you. That means even if your editing style evolves slightly or you have unique lighting conditions, Imagen adjusts accordingly. The more I use it, the more it feels like a true editing assistant that “gets” me.
It’s Genuinely Affordable
Here’s the thing: even if the edits were just okay, the cost would still be worth it. But Imagen AI consistently delivers quality edits, and it’s extremely budget-friendly. I barely have to think twice about using it for every session. It’s priced per image, so you only pay for what you need—and for me, that’s a no-brainer.
Plus, the time I save lets me book more sessions or just enjoy a weekend without my laptop glued to me. It pays for itself a hundred times over.
The Cons: A Few Trade-Offs to Know
The Initial Profile Setup Takes Time
To build a custom editing profile, Imagen needs to learn from a baseline of at least 3000 edited images. I’ll be honest, that part felt daunting. Uploading that many images and organizing catalogs wasn’t exactly exciting.
But once I got into it, it wasn’t as time-consuming as I expected. And the payoff has been so worth it.
My tip: If uploading that many images sounds like a hard pass, Imagen also offers Talent AI Profiles to help you get started. You can use pre-built editing styles from established photographers, and it’s a great option if you want to dip your toe in before training your own profile.
You’ll Need Wi-Fi
One downside I should mention in this Imagen AI review is that Imagen AI is cloud-based, so you do need a Wi-Fi connection to upload and download catalogs. That’s usually no problem, but there have been a couple of times while traveling where my connection wasn’t great, and I had to wait until I got home to send a session off.
It’s not a dealbreaker, just something to be aware of—especially if you’re often editing on the go.
The Culling Feature Isn’t for Me (Yet)
Imagen also offers AI-powered culling, but I haven’t been fully sold on it yet. I gave it a try, and while it’s decent, I’m still pretty particular about the moments I choose to include for my clients. I love the storytelling side of culling (it’s part of how I shape each gallery) so for now, I prefer to do that part myself.
That said, I can see it being helpful for volume shooters or anyone who finds culling to be a big time drain. It’s worth experimenting with, even if you don’t rely on it 100%.
Real-Life Results: What My Workflow Looks Like Now
Here’s a snapshot of how I use Imagen AI in my everyday workflow:
- I finish a session and import the RAWs into Lightroom Classic.
- I build smart previews and export the catalog to Imagen.
- I upload it to Imagen with a couple of clicks and go do literally anything else while it works.
- Minutes later, I download the edited catalog, spot-check a few images, and make any minor tweaks.
- I upload that final version back to Imagen so it can keep learning.
- Then I export and deliver to my client, faster than ever.
This has cut my editing time by more than half. And what’s more, I feel lighter, less pressure, fewer late nights, and more freedom to focus on the parts of my business (and life) I enjoy most.
So, Should You Try Imagen AI?
If you’re a photographer who:
- Feels buried in editing
- Wants faster turnaround times
- Needs a smarter, scalable workflow
- Doesn’t want to sacrifice personal style
Then yes! You should absolutely give Imagen AI a try.
No, it’s not perfect. But it’s the best editing solution I’ve used in over a decade of running my photography business. And unlike presets or outsourcing to a stranger, it grows with me, learns my style, and gives me time back without sacrificing quality.
Imagen AI Review: Try Imagen AI for Free with My Promo Code
I hope this Imagen AI review was helpful! I’m such a fan of Imagen AI that I became an affiliate, but only after I used it, tested it, and saw how much it helped me. I don’t promote things I don’t genuinely love.
If you’re curious, here’s your chance to try it risk-free: Click here to get 1500 free edits with my Imagen AI promo code.
Whether you’re editing newborn sessions, portraits, or back-to-back family shoots, Imagen can help you get your life (and weekends) back. And if you’re anything like me, once you try it… you won’t want to go back.
