Hey Creative Friends!

Just got back from Greece (yes, I was working on holiday because my brain literally cannot turn off when I'm following AI newsletters and finding new tools to test). Today we're discussing AI image generation - specifically the tools I actually use for real work, not the ones I wish I had time to master.

I'll be honest - I'm not an AI art expert. I use these tools for specific work needs (mainly Instagram carousels) and that's exactly what I recommend to everyone else. Don't try to master everything - pick what serves your actual work and get good at that.

80% of my AI image use: Instagram carousel graphics for clients 20% split between: Blog headers, concept visuals, client presentations

I don't use it for: Complex illustrations, professional photography, detailed technical work

You don't need to become an AI art expert. You need tools that solve real problems in your work. Start with what you actually need, not with trying to master every new tool that launches.

These are means to an end - creating functional visual content - not ends in themselves.

How creative careers are evolving in the AI era - who's thriving, who's struggling, and what skills are becoming more valuable.

P.S. - I spent way too much time testing new AI tools instead of enjoying Greek sunsets. Learn from my mistakes and focus on what you actually need for work!

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Hey Creative Pros!

So I was hunting for new podcasts the other day (as one does when you have a podcast addiction), and I found this personal development show with like 200 episodes and tons of reviews. But then I read the description and... oof. It was SO obviously AI-written. Like painfully obvious. "Unlock your true potential," "elevate your business game," "unleash your superpowers" - you know, all those phrases that scream "I wrote this in 2023 and never looked back!"

The weird thing? I actually listened to the host and they're super personable and authentic! But their description made them sound like a robot. It got me thinking - how do we make sure our own content doesn't end up in that same hollow, AI-generated trap?

00:00:00 - Podcast description that inspired this episode

For Content Creation:

The Course That Stalked Me:

The Techniques That Work:

Look, if you're a trained writer who naturally writes formally, don't feel like you need to sound like a TikTok influencer just to avoid the AI trap. The goal is authenticity, not forced casualness. Context matters!

These tips are especially helpful for us creatives who aren't writers first - designers, photographers, video editors - who need to create content but don't have formal writing training. AI tools can be lifesavers for us, just remember to make the output sound like YOU.

Also, there's no "right" way to write. It's like cooking - there are professional chefs and then there's the rest of us who just need to feed people. And cats. Same with writing!

We're rambling about AI image generation tools - and how to use them without losing your creative soul in the process.

P.S. - Once you start noticing these AI patterns, you literally can't unsee them. You're welcome/I'm sorry!

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Hey Creative Friends!

In this episode, I'm sharing some advanced AI prompting tricks that'll help you break free from those bland, generic AI responses we're all tired of seeing. Remember those basic prompting principles from last week? Well, now we're taking the training wheels off! I'll show you how to get AI to surprise you with genuinely creative ideas instead of the same old predictable stuff everyone else is getting.

🎁 Freebie link to my advanced prompt templates (copy/paste ready - no email signup required) - HERE

The AI Tools:

The Advanced Techniques:

00:00:33 - Refresher on what we covered last week

00:02:03 - Why advanced prompting is like collaborating with a creative director

00:03:44 - Chain-of-thought prompting: Getting AI to show its creative process

00:05:37 - Comparative prompting: How to get multiple creative directions

00:07:59 - Constraints-based prompting to force more creativity (just like jazz musicians)

00:09:41 - Reverse prompting: Asking AI to write prompts for you

00:11:12 - Immersive role-playing prompting

00:13:49 - Case study: Applying advanced techniques

00:17:46 - Fitting these techniques into your actual day-to-day creative work

00:19:49 - Quick recap and what to try this week

🎁 Grab all my advanced prompt templates (copy/paste ready!) HERE

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Tired of getting bland, generic responses from AI tools? In this episode I break down the art of effective prompting - think of it as learning how to give AI the perfect creative brief so you actually get what you want. No tech background required, just practical techniques that'll transform your AI interactions from frustrating to fantastic.

🎁 BONUS: Get all the copy-paste ready prompt templates and examples from this episode - CLICK HERE.

Feel free to duplicate this page and save it in your Notion workspace for easy access!

00:00:00 - Welcome back! Why prompting makes or breaks your AI experience

00:03:06 - What is prompting and why does it matter so much?

00:07:03 - The Seven Universal Laws of Effective Prompting

00:16:00 - Discipline-specific frameworks: CATP framework for writers

00:18:40 - VCRT approach for graphic and UI/UX designers

00:20:50 - PAISM framework for marketers and strategists

00:22:17 - Techniques for photographers and videographers

00:23:21 - Podcast and audio creator prompting strategies

00:25:38 - Seven common prompting mistakes (and how to avoid them)

00:31:25 - Recap and teaser for next week's advanced techniques

Part two of our prompting series! We'll explore advanced techniques like chain-of-thought prompting for complex problems, reverse prompting (getting AI to help you write better prompts), comparative prompting for exploring multiple solutions, and more. Plus, a real-world demonstration of the entire prompt crafting and refinement process.

Ready to transform your AI interactions? Download the complete framework templates from this episode HERE and never struggle with prompting again!

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Remember when we all thought layer masks in Photoshop were complicated?

Or when you first encountered the pen tool in Illustrator and wondered if it was designed specifically to make you cry?

Well, AI might feel like that right now - both exciting and slightly overwhelming.

If you've been hiding under your desk hoping this whole AI thing would just go away (I see you!) this episode is your friendly guide to understanding what these tools actually do, how they can save you from soul-crushing repetitive tasks, and how to start using them.

00:00:00 - My story of going from "what's AI?" to "I can't live without it"

00:04:00 - What to expect from this podcast and today's episode

00:05:25 - The evolution of AI: from "meh" recommendations to "wow, did it just write that?"

00:12:19 - How AI works - explained in creative-friendly terms

00:17:07 - Baby steps: How to start using AI without freaking out

00:19:00 - How different creative fields can use AI (designers, writers, marketers, and more)

00:23:08 - Common questions creative professionals have about AI

00:26:23 - "Will AI steal my job and my latte money?" (Spoiler: No, but it will change how you work)

00:31:00 - What's coming in future episodes

00:34:48 - Action steps and thoughts on AI's impact on photography

In our next episode, we'll explore "prompt engineering" - which is simply how to talk to AI so it understands what you're asking for. You'll learn frameworks and techniques that help you get more creative, useful results without any techy background.

Did this episode make AI feel less like scary robot territory and more like a helpful creative tool? Share it with that friend who's still using the "I'm not tech-savvy" excuse to avoid learning new things! (We all have that friend... or we ARE that friend!)

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Remember those moments when your creative tank hits empty but your to-do list is still stuffed to the brim? That point where you're staring at an empty Premiere Pro project and your coffee is doing nothing except making your eye twitch faster? We've all been in that creative quicksand - where even your favorite playlist can't pull you out.😑

After seven years of making things look pretty and pretty useful (mostly) as a visual content producer (dabbled in graphic design, photography, video editing), I've watched the creative world start spinning faster than my tabby cat chasing its own tail. Exciting to watch, impossible to keep up with.

During the last two years as freelance content designer/podcast manager, I witnessed firsthand how AI tools could either become digital tool besties or sources of frustration, depending on how I approached them.

I found myself becoming the unofficial "AI translator" for my friends - explaining these new tools without the tech jargon that makes most of us zone out faster than in science class in high school.

Then it hit me: we creative types need our own guide to this brave new world. Not another tutorial that assumes we all secretly wanted to be engineers, but actual human conversation about tools that can make our creative lives better (and maybe let us sleep occasionally 😳).

Quick confession: If the trailer sounds full of lofty creative renaissance language... blame it on the music track I fell in love with! It was so uplifting and "the-future-is-bright" that I had no choice but to match its energy. When a perfect track speaks to you, you listen. (Fellow creative professionals, you know exactly what I'm talking about - when the right music hits, suddenly you feel like a motivational speaker on their third espresso.)

Every Wednesday, I'll bring you:

This isn't about becoming a tech nerd - it's about having more time for the creative parts you actually love. 

Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Yes, that includes you - the person who still has 37 unplayed episodes in your queue. This one will be worth bumping to the top, I promise.

Let's build a future where your creativity leads and AI handles the tasks that make you question your career choices at 2 AM.

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