Where to draw the line with AI in photography: Q&A with Summer School founder Summer Grace

Summer School is a sponsor of the 2026 Narrative International Photography Awards, and its founder Summer Grace is one of our judges. This post is part of a series showing some love to the brands backing the awards, and the photography community more broadly.

Summer Grace is a wedding photographer, photography educator and the founder of Summer School. She's judging the Wedding: Tender moment category again this year.

We asked Summer about what Summer School offers, what she'll be looking for as a judge, and where she draws the line with AI.

What is Summer School, and who is it for?

"Summer School is an online education platform and community for photographers who want to grow creatively and build businesses that actually work for them. While we have a strong focus on wedding photography and film photography, Summer School is really for photographers of all kinds!

We have an ever-growing library of classes taught by photographers and creatives across the industry, plus live workshops, Q&As, coworking sessions, and opportunities to connect with other photographers. It's for anyone who wants to keep learning, experimenting, and finding their own voice rather than just following what's trending."

What do photographers walk away with?

"The community they've always wanted but didn't know they needed! Photography can be such an isolating career, and I think having people in your corner who genuinely understand what you do is invaluable.

Plus, they essentially get me in their back pocket! Through our community app, members can ask me questions, get advice, and have access to my experience 24/7, whether they're navigating a tricky client situation, figuring out their camera, or just need a second opinion.

Beyond that, there's tons of practical education covering everything from film and lighting to editing and business. My hope is that photographers walk away with new skills, fresh perspectives, genuine friendships, and the confidence to go out and make something they're excited about!"

What will you be looking for in your judging category this year?

"I'm judging the Wedding: Tender moment category, and I personally love those hard-to-capture, candid moments that make you feel like you're right there experiencing it yourself. The kinds of images that transport you into that exact moment, even if you weren't there. Photographs that genuinely evoke emotion and make you feel something will absolutely be top tier for me. I care far more about the feeling an image gives me than whether it's technically perfect."

If you'd like more of her thinking on judging, read our Q&A with Summer from last year's awards.

Where do you draw the line between AI tools that help and tools that take over?

"I think there's a huge difference between using AI to streamline your workflow and using it to replace your creativity. I'm a big advocate for tools that give photographers more time to actually be photographers. I personally use AI for things like culling, but I'm still the one making the final decisions about which images make the cut.

That's a huge reason why I love Narrative and the philosophy behind their brand. AI should be there to assist you, not make creative decisions for you. I think the line gets crossed when we start outsourcing our artistic judgment rather than just the repetitive parts of our workflow. At the end of the day, I want technology to give us more freedom to create, not take the creativity out of the process."

👉 Check out Summer School

More from Summer Grace

You can see more of Summer's work on her website, summergracephoto.com, and follow along on Instagram at @summergrace.photo.

Enter the 2026 Narrative International Photography Awards

Summer School joins Flickr, KEH Camera, LemurStrap, Richard Photo Lab and QT Albums as this year's sponsors, and every one of them has generously put forward incredible prizes. Summer School is gifting category winners a free month of membership.

There are six categories across wedding, portrait and family photography, each judged by an influential photographer. Your first five images are free to enter. Any images after that have an entry fee, and that money goes to Doctors Without Borders. Entries close at 11:59pm ET on 31 October 2026.

Enter the Narrative International Photography Awards

FAQ

What is Summer School? Summer School is an online education platform and community for photographers, founded by Summer Grace. It includes a library of classes taught by photographers and creatives, live workshops, Q&As, coworking sessions, and a community app where members can ask Summer questions.

Who is Summer Grace? Summer Grace is a wedding photographer, photography educator and the founder of Summer School. She judges the Wedding: Tender moment category at the 2026 Narrative International Photography Awards.

What does Summer Grace look for in the Wedding: Tender moment category? Summer looks for hard-to-capture, candid moments that evoke emotion. She cares more about the feeling an image gives her than whether it's technically perfect.

Where does Summer Grace draw the line with AI in photography? Summer is happy to use AI for repetitive parts of her workflow, such as culling, as long as she makes the final decisions. She says the line is crossed when photographers start outsourcing their artistic judgment.

Who sponsors the 2026 Narrative International Photography Awards? This year's sponsors are Flickr, LemurStrap, KEH Camera, Richard Photo Lab, QT Albums and Summer School.

Is the Narrative International Photography Awards free to enter? Yes. Your first five images are free to enter. Any images after that have an entry fee, and that money goes to Doctors Without Borders.

When do entries close for the 2026 awards? Entries close at 11:59pm ET on 31 October 2026, and winners will be announced in November 2026.