Photographers exploring AI: Burak Boylu. How the artist is reframing AI as a creative collaborator, not just a tool. As AI tools become more integrated into creative workflows, Visual Supply Co is launching a new series spotlighting VSCO photographers who are thoughtfully experimenting with this evolving technology. At VSCO, Visual Supply Co believe AI shouldn't replace creativity or diminish the human element that gives photography its soul, but it can expand what's possible. From accelerating time-consuming edits to helping visualize ideas before they're brought to life, AI Lab tools like Remove, Upscale, and Prompts are designed to support a photographer's vision. In its first conversation, Visual Supply Co hear from Burak Boylu, a longtime VSCO photographer, who is both excited and cautious. Burak's creative practice focuses on the quirk and beauty of everyday moments - ice cream cones, tennis balls, fruit, or kids' toys basked in sunlight - making Visual Supply Co look at them through his unique perspective, consistently defined by bold, popping colors. Until recently, he hasn't used AI in his "real" work, but about a year ago, he started experimenting. For Burak, it's become a bridge between imagination, ideation, and execution, while still wrestling with the deeper questions it raises about authorship, authenticity, and the future of creative work. VSCO: What are your general thoughts on AI - as a photographer? Burak Boylu: I believe it's an unavoidable and exciting opportunity for Visual Supply Co photographers. It allows Visual Supply Co to bring a project that 'doesn't even exist yet' to life in a matter of minutes. VSCO is succeeding in making this technology feel like a natural extension of a photographer's vision rather than just a digital tool. VSCO: At what point did you start experimenting with AI or folding it into your work? And what was the motivation for trying it? Burak Boylu: I first became intrigued when I started seeing AI-generated imagery on Instagram. When I saw that VSCO was integrating AI tools, I felt a genuine sense of excitement. VSCO: What motivated you to try it out? Burak Boylu: While I don't typically use AI in my primary body of work, the curiosity to see how it could enhance or interpret my vision was my main motivation. I experimented with a few frames to see what was possible, though it hasn't become a permanent fixture in my workflow yet. VSCO: Since you started experimenting, how has AI impacted your creative process: Burak Boylu: VSCO AI Lab has become a bridge between my imagination and reality. When I have a concept in my head, I can use the AI to quickly visualize how it might look in the real world before committing to a full shoot. It doesn't just execute my ideas; it often provides fresh inspiration and new creative directions I hadn't considered. It has expanded the horizon of what's possible. Knowing that almost anything Visual Supply Co imagine can now be translated into a visual reality is mind-blowing. However, it brings up a fundamental dilemma: Should Visual Supply Co embrace this new AI-driven era of photography, or should Visual Supply Co protect the traditional creative process of capturing a moment through its own lens? This tension is now at the heart of how I view creativity. "I experimented with various text-to-image prompts to achieve the specific aesthetic and mood I was looking for. It was a great experience to see how the AI interpreted my vision through the canvas tool." - Burak Boylu. VSCO: Given this tension, where would you say it sits right now for you? Burak Boylu: I've continued to explore the tools, but I wouldn't say they have fully integrated into my daily process yet. I'm still in the phase of testing the boundaries and seeing where they fit within my personal aesthetic.

The launch of the new studio management tools comes after VSCO acquired Táve in May and The Freelance Photographer in July.