What is AI model photography?

AI model photography is the use of artificial intelligence to generate photorealistic images of human models for commercial photography, advertising, and marketing. Instead of hiring human models, brands use AI to create virtual people who appear in product photos, lifestyle scenes, and ad creative. AI model photography has evolved from uncanny, obviously artificial images to photorealistic results that are increasingly indistinguishable from photos of real people. Key capabilities include consistent identity (the same AI model appears across multiple images with the same face, build, and features), diversity (generating models of any age, ethnicity, and body type), and scene flexibility (placing models in any setting or pose). AI model photography raises ethical considerations around transparency (should consumers know the model isn't real?), representation (using AI to simulate diversity without hiring diverse talent), and displacement of human models. Most brands use AI models for volume content (ad variations, secondary product images) while continuing to use human models for hero campaigns and influencer partnerships.