Faye

Capturing and Enhancing a Moment: My Process with Faye Hiscock and Runway AI

As a photographer, I’m always seeking new ways to push the boundaries of my work. Whether it’s experimenting with light, exploring emotions, or blending technology with artistry, the goal is always to create something unique that tells a compelling story. In this post, I’ll share the process I followed for a recent project where I worked with model Faye Hiscock and used AI to enhance the photo. From the initial capture to the final output, here’s how it all came together.

1. The Photo Shoot: Capturing the Moment

My session with Faye Hiscock was all about capturing the raw beauty and intensity that she brings to her modeling. We worked together to create a dynamic portrait that captured her essence. The environment was set up carefully to match the mood I wanted to evoke — using light and shadow to draw out the character in her expression. The goal wasn’t just to take a beautiful shot, but to convey a deeper story in the image.

Using my camera, I paid close attention to composition, lighting, and framing. Each click of the shutter was about freezing a moment in time that felt true to her personality and the atmosphere we were creating together.

2. Transferring the Photo: Airdrop to Cellphone

Once the shoot was complete, the next step was transferring the image to my cellphone. I used Airdrop, an efficient and quick method for wirelessly sending photos from my camera’s SD card to my phone. This step is essential for my workflow, as I like having access to images on the go, allowing me to review them instantly and share them quickly if needed.

3. Screenshot of the Image: The First Transformation

Once the photo was on my phone, I took a screenshot of it. The reason for this was that I wanted to create an initial layer of transformation — the graininess and resolution loss that comes from taking a screenshot gives the image a raw, unpolished feel. This serves as a kind of artistic filter, providing an organic distortion that I found to be intriguing and opened up new creative possibilities.

4. Enhancing with Runway AI: A New Dimension

After the screenshot was ready, it was time to bring in AI technology to enhance the image further. I turned to Runway AI, an innovative tool that allows me to push the boundaries of my creativity. With Runway, I was able to input the image and experiment with a wide range of styles and filters that aren’t typically achievable through traditional editing techniques.

Runway AI uses machine learning to transform an image based on preset styles or custom instructions. For this image, I chose to experiment with various visual themes, from painterly effects to abstract transformations. I focused on giving Faye’s portrait a modern, digital edge — blending artistic elements like texture and color with the raw details of the original image.

The AI works by analyzing the content of the photo, then applying its algorithms to generate new variations that retain key elements while introducing new, unexpected effects. In this process, the image starts to evolve in ways that are both surprising and captivating. The beauty of AI-enhanced artwork lies in how it can blend the real and the imagined, creating something that feels both familiar and new at the same time.

5. Final Adjustments: Bringing It All Together

Once Runway AI had done its magic, I took the time to fine-tune the image. While the AI-generated effect was stunning, I still wanted to retain control over certain aspects of the photo. I went back into editing software to tweak the contrast, sharpness, and overall composition, ensuring that the final result had the impact I desired.

6. The End Result: A New Visual Language

The final image is a blend of traditional photography and cutting-edge technology, pushing the boundaries of how we perceive and interact with portraits. The use of AI allowed me to unlock a whole new creative language that wasn’t possible through conventional editing. The shot of Faye now tells a more complex story, both in terms of visual aesthetic and the process behind its creation.

7. Reflection on the Process

Looking back on this project, I’m reminded of how important it is to always experiment and challenge myself as an artist. The fusion of photography and AI represents a new frontier for me, one that invites endless possibilities. It’s exciting to think about the future of photography and digital art, especially as AI tools continue to evolve and offer new ways to create.

This process — from the original capture with Faye to the transformation through AI — was all about merging tradition with innovation. It’s a testament to how art and technology can work hand in hand to create something that’s not just a photo, but an experience.