The AI Toolbox for Photographers
with Cotton Miller
February 11 and 13, 2025
Course Description
Welcome to the fast-moving universe of Artificial Intelligence for photographers. There’s no denying the impact AI has already had on our world and will continue to have. It’s time to jump aboard this express train and learn how to take advantage of the creative tools AI has to offer our creative endeavors as imagemakers.
Our resident tech guru, Cotton Miler, has put together an online seminar that provides a comprehensive overview of the most innovative AI tools available to photographers. This two-session program provides an overview of the tools and transformative potential of AI in your creative practice. Cotton focuses on AI tools designed for image generation and how AI can be a powerful ally in expanding the possibilities for image creation, manipulation, and aesthetic exploration. He pauses at various times during his presentations and demonstrations to take your questions.
In the first session, Cotton introduces the language of AI for photographers and reviews the various software applications and plugins available, and what they do. He provides an in-depth examination of Midjourney, an AI software that has gained popularity with photographers for its ability to imaginatively generate images from simple text prompts. Unlike traditional editing software, Midjourney allows creatives to craft completely unique visuals by guiding the AI with descriptive prompts that determine style, composition, and mood. Cotton demonstrates writing prompts for visual outcomes, experimenting with styles, and refining outputs.
During the second evening, Cotton introduces and demonstrates Adobe’s Firefly. An AI software integrated into Adobe’s ecosystem, Firefly is a natural fit for photographers already working with Photoshop and Lightroom. This powerful tool extends your digital toolbox, allowing you to generate visuals that complement existing photographs, create assets for mixed-media work, and streamline your creative workflow. Other AI tools that Cotton details in this session include Topaz Gigapixel AI, ChatGPT, Suno, and Runway XL.
Additional Information
WHO SHOULD ATTEND:
What You Should Know:
This seminar is the perfect introduction and overview for photographers as well as other artists, designers, and multimedia creators looking to explore how AI can open new doors in their creative practice. No prior experience with AI is required, just curiosity and an open mind.
Special Notes:
Class will meet 5:00 – 7:00 pm (Mountain Time) on Tuesday, February 11, and Thursday, February 13 (two online group sessions).
Zoom Video Conferencing software (available for no charge from Zoom.com) will be used to facilitate the class sessions. Further details will be emailed to registrants.
Santa Fe Workshops always aims to produce a high-quality experience for our online attendees. That said, variables including regional and local internet provider speeds, traffic on Zoom's servers, and your own computing hardware can contribute to a less than ideal streaming event. While we do our best to minimize the impact of these variables, they are outside the control of Santa Fe Workshops.
Policies:
View Withdrawal and Transfer Policies for online programs.
For the convenience of participants, recordings of each class session are posted privately for one month after the end of each session. Santa Fe Workshops takes the recordings down after one month to protect the intellectual property of our instructors.
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about
Cotton Miller received his MFA in Photography & New Media in 2013 from Lesley University College of Art and Design, in Boston. In addition to being honored by The Boston Globe as one of six artists to watch in 2013, he had multiple exhibits in Boston and has won awards from the Society of Professional Journalists and the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association in 2007. Cotton has also assisted with projects for Time Magazine, ESPN Magazine, Athleta, and Highsnobiety.
Cotton is the Web Manager for Santa Fe Workshops and does web and exhibition consultation projects for a variety of artists, and is Adjunct Faculty for the Glassell School of Art at the Museum of Fine Arts – Houston. He has designed websites for Nevada Wier, Christopher James, Alison Wright, Elizabeth Opalenik, and Santa Fe Workshops. Cotton’s personal work combines traditional printing methods with digital, alternative process, mixed media, and multimedia. He worked as a master printer for Blazing Editions in Providence and Cotton was a research assistant for The Book of Alternative Photographic Processes (third edition) by Christopher James. Cotton collaborates with many artists for not only web design, but also digital retouching, graphic design, exhibition design, exhibition production, and printing fine art editions.
Website: cottonmiller.com
Instagram: @cottonmiller
