7 Best AI Photo Editors for Photographers in 2026

February 12, 2026 6 min read

Quick Answer

For photographers, the best AI editor depends on your workflow. EditThisPic excels at one-off creative edits like background replacement and object removal through text prompts. For batch color grading, Lightroom's AI masking is industry standard. For culling, Aftershoot saves hours. Here's how they compare.

How AI Is Changing Photography Workflows

AI isn't replacing photographers—it's eliminating the tedious parts of post-processing. Culling 2,000 wedding photos down to 200 used to take half a day. AI does it in minutes. Masking a complex subject used to require 30 minutes of brushwork. AI masking takes seconds. The best photographers use AI to free up time for creative work and client relationships.

Which AI Tools Should Photographers Use?

Most working photographers need a combination. Lightroom with AI masking and Denoise AI remains the core workflow tool. Add EditThisPic for quick creative edits and client requests (background swaps, object removal). If you shoot weddings or events, Aftershoot for culling is transformative. Topaz Photo AI is essential if you frequently rescue noisy or soft images.

Step-by-Step Guide

Upload the Photo You Need Edited

For creative edits, background changes, or object removal, drop the image into EditThisPic. For batch color grading and RAW processing, use Lightroom.

Describe the Edit in Natural Language

Type what the client wants: 'replace the background with a sunset,' 'remove the person on the left,' or 'make this look like a golden hour portrait.' The AI handles the execution.

Download the Finished Image

Get the result at full resolution. For client delivery, the output from EditThisPic is print-ready and web-ready.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can AI replace Lightroom and Photoshop for photographers?

Not entirely. AI tools like EditThisPic are excellent for specific tasks—background replacement, object removal, creative effects. But Lightroom's non-destructive RAW workflow and Photoshop's compositing depth are still essential for professional photography workflows.

Which AI tool saves photographers the most time?

Aftershoot, if you shoot events. It automates culling—the most time-consuming non-creative task in photography. For individual image editing, AI masking in Lightroom saves the most time per edit.

Is AI photo editing good enough for client delivery?

Yes, for many edits. AI background replacement, retouching, and enhancement have reached professional quality. The key is reviewing results carefully and refining when needed.

Should photographers worry about AI?

AI automates tedious editing tasks, not creativity. Photographers who embrace AI tools deliver better work faster. The ones at risk are those whose value was purely in post-processing mechanics, not creative vision or client relationships.

Speed Up Your Editing Workflow

Upload a photo and describe the edit. Background swaps, retouching, and creative effects in seconds.

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