Everything you need to know to turn AI Into Your Assistant: Master Mindful Prompting
Yโall know I love my productivity systems! Iโd love to have an honest heart to heart about the controversial topic of AI (Artificial Intelligence). So lets dive in:
What Even IS AI & ChatGPT tho?
Letโs kick it off by answering the question on everyoneโs mind: "What the heck even IS ChatGPT?" If youโve heard the hype but still feel like itโs just some mysterious tech thing everyone else somehow understands... youโre not alone.
Imagine if Google and your favorite helpful bestie had a baby โ but instead of giving you a list of links to sift through, she gives you direct answers, custom ideas, and even helps you write stuff when your brain is tired. Thatโs ChatGPT. Itโs an AI tool that writes with you, like a creative assistant you donโt have to put on payroll.
It runs on something called an LLM (Large Language Model), which is just the techy engine behind the scenes. Think: ChatGPT is the brand, like Kleenex. LLM is the tissue. One is the product, the other is the tech powering it. So when people say ChatGPT is โAI,โ they mean itโs a product that uses AI tech to chat, write, brainstorm, and more.
โจ TAKEAWAY
ChatGPT is basically your content co-pilot. It's not going to replace you (and it shouldnโt). But it can help you get unstuck, plan content faster, and write in your voice โ when you know how to ask it the right things. Donโt worry, weโll get to that part soon.
๐ TRY THIS
Pop into ChatGPT and say something like: "Hey bestie, Iโm a photographer trying to grow my brand online. Can you give me 5 Instagram post ideas that feel fun, aligned with my vibe, and easy to write when Iโm overwhelmed?"
Then scroll through what it gives you. Does anything spark an idea? Do you feel like itโs close, but not quite? Thatโs totally normal: itโs a starting point, not a final product.
AI and Environmental Mindfulness
Donโt be fooled: AI is amazing but it is also energy-intensive.
Every AI interaction uses significant computational power, translating to higher energy usage compared to a regular Google search (sometimes 10โ30 times more!). This isn't to shame anyone for using AI; itโs about gently nudging ourselves to be more mindful and intentional with our AI use.
Research highlights that even our small interactions add up to significant environmental impactโthink massive data centers requiring tons of electricity and water. But don't panic! You have the power to make choices that blend productivity with sustainability beautifully.
How to Use AI Sustainably
Mindful AI Usage
Start by asking yourself in your brain, "Does this task genuinely need AI?" Traditional methods like a google search or critical thinking might just suffice: helping you save energy and stay eco-friendly. Reserve your AI magic for when your brain truly needs a break or when a creative spark is needed ASAP.
Efficient Prompting = Less Energy Use
Prompt engineeringโcrafting precise, detailed promptsโcan significantly reduce AI's energy footprint. Think of prompts like coffee orders: vague orders get mixed results, clear orders get exactly what you need. Include specifics (role, audience, purpose, context, and desired tone) to ensure the AI gets it right the first time, reducing unnecessary energy-draining revisions.
Prompt Formula Cheat Sheet:
Role ("Act like a social media proโฆ")
Audience ("Busy moms considering boudoir sessionsโฆ")
Topic + Purpose ("Promote my Spring 2025 mini-sessionsโฆ")
Context + Details ("Sessions are body-positive, inclusiveโฆ")
Tone + Format ("Warm, conversational Instagram captionโฆ")
CTA ("Join my VIP Facebook group today!")
Choose the Right AI Model
Smaller, specialized AI models like Grok AI or DeepSeek can handle tasks efficiently and use significantly less energy compared to general giants like GPT-4. Picking the right AI model for your tasks is like choosing the right lensโselect the one designed specifically for your goal.
Hardware & Cloud Choices
Support cloud services powered by renewable energy. Providers like Google and Microsoft actively invest in green energy and optimize their servers to be eco-friendly. Simply choosing the right cloud provider can meaningfully decrease your environmental impact.
Refining, Not Restarting
If AI responses initially feel "off," don't discardโrefine! Gently coach your AI intern:
"Make this warmer and more personal."
"Shorten this, please."
"Rewrite this like a caring bestie hyping up their friend."
Refinement saves energy, respects your mental bandwidth, and makes your collaboration smoother.
Train AI Like Your New Assistant
Consistency is key! Create a reusable doc (an "AI Prompt Kit") with:
Your brandโs voice description
Ideal client details
Effective prompts you've discovered
Signature phrases or CTAs you love
Reuse this toolkit to keep your AI interactions consistent and environmentally mindful.
ChatGPT ainโt Magic
Omg, something that trips so many people up when they first try using AI: they expect it to just... know things. Like itโs a psychic or mind reader or magical content fairy. Spoiler alert: itโs not.
ChatGPT is powerful, yes, but itโs also kind of a people-pleaser. It wants to give you what you ask for, but if your prompt is super vague or missing key info, itโll fill in the blanks โ and not always in ways that feel aligned with your brand or goals.
๐ก WHAT THIS MEANS
Think of ChatGPT like a barista taking your order. If you just walk up and say, โCoffee,โ youโre gonna get whatever they feel like handing you. But if you say, โHi! Iโd love a hot oat milk latte with one pump of vanilla and extra cinnamon on top,โ now weโre talking. You gave them the context to deliver exactly what you want.
Same thing with prompts. Instead of typing, โMake me an Instagram caption,โ try something like, โWrite an Instagram caption for a moody, cinematic boudoir photographer launching a body-positive mini session. My brand is empowering, a little spicy, and deeply inclusive. Use a tone thatโs confident and warm with a CTA to join my VIP email list.โ
โจ TAKEAWAY
The more details you give ChatGPT, the more aligned and you the results will feel. You donโt have to write a novel โ just be intentional. Who are you? Whatโs the vibe? Who are you talking to? What do you want them to do?
๐ TRY THIS
Open a thread in ChatGPT and paste this: "Act as a copywriter for a soulful boudoir photographer who helps women feel confident in their bodies. Write 3 Instagram captions promoting a self-love mini session, using a warm, poetic tone. Include one call to action encouraging sign-ups."
Now that you know AI isn't a mind reader and needs a lil' direction... letโs level up. If youโve ever typed something into ChatGPT and thought, โWhy does this sound like a robot who doesnโt know me at all?โ then this oneโs for you.
๐ก WHAT THIS MEANS
The secret sauce to making ChatGPT feel like a you clone is crafting what I call "Prompt Engineering." This is like handing over a fully-styled mood board and detailed creative brief all in one. When you give ChatGPT the full picture, it can serve content that actually slaps.
Think of it like planning a photo session: You wouldn't show up without knowing the location, the vibe, the clientโs story, or the goal of the shoot. Your prompt should do the same โ paint the picture clearly so AI can bring it to life.
Hereโs your PROMPT ENGINEERING formula:
ROLE:
Who should ChatGPT act as? (Your dream expert โ Instagram coach, copywriter, etc.)
AUDIENCE:
Who are you talking to? (Be specific: moms, creatives, couples, etc.)
TOPIC + PURPOSE:
What are you saying, and why? (Whatโs the point?)
CONTEXT + DETAILS:
Whatโs the bigger picture, and what do they need to know?
TONE + FORMAT:
Whatโs the vibe and how should it show up? (Caption, blog, etc.)
CTA:
What do you want your reader to do afterward?
โจ TAKEAWAY
When in doubt, follow the formula. You donโt have to include every piece, but the more you do, the more your results will actually sound like you โ not a meh version of a Canva template. Less overwhelming, right?
๐ TRY THIS
โI want you to act as a social media coach. Write a confident, bold Instagram caption for a boudoir photographer (me!) whoโs launching a spring self-love campaign. My ideal clients are women in their 30s-50s who want to reconnect with their sensuality. The tone should be edgy, empowering, and playful. End with a CTA to book through the link in my bio.โ๐ฌ YOUR TURN
Try your own Prompt Engineering using the formula above, then tell me if you like what you got!
Use AI as a Content Creation tool for Your Photography Biz without sounding like a robotโฆ
If youโve ever thought, "Ugh, I donโt want AI writing my stuff... itโll sound cold, boring, or nothing like meโฆ"
I get it. Truly. That fear is so valid. But hereโs the thing: ChatGPT only sounds robotic if you donโt tell it how to sound like you. By default, ChatGPT plays it safe. Its responses are often bland on purpose. Itโs like ordering a sandwich and not telling the person at the counter what toppings you want. Sure, youโll get something... but it might be the plainest turkey sandwich of your life. No spice. No sauce. No flavor.
You get to be the one who adds the flavor. ChatGPT will give you the bread, but it needs your help to make it delicious and on-brand. You set the vibe.
You can literally guide ChatGPT to match your voice. Want flirty and fun? Moody and poetic? Confident and cozy? Just say so. And if the first draft feels off, you can ask it to revise with more personality or adjust the tone to sound more like a creative bestie. Itโs not about getting it perfect on the first try. Itโs about collaboration.
โจ TAKEAWAY
ChatGPT doesnโt replace your voice. It helps you access it faster. Think of it like a stylist who helps you pull outfits from your own closet. The pieces are already yours. AI just helps you put them together with more ease.
๐ TRY THIS
Take a caption youโve written (or one youโre struggling with) and paste it into ChatGPT. Then say, "Can you rewrite this in a confident, warm, conversational tone like a photographer bestie hyping me up?"
๐ฌ YOUR TURN
If you feel brave, share in the comments below how it felt to use your own voice more clearly.
ChatGPT Canโt Read Your Mindโฆ But It Can Learn Your Voice
If youโve ever gotten an output that made you go, โUm... this kinda sounds like a corporate email from 2008,โ thatโs your sign to teach it how you talk.
๐ก WHAT THIS MEANS
ChatGPT doesnโt come pre-loaded with your brand tone or the emotional vibe you bring to your audience. It doesnโt know youโre fun, bold, poetic, cheeky, empowering, soft-yet-edgy โ unless you tell it. The cool part? You can train it to speak in your voice, especially when writing to potential clients.
Instead of starting from scratch every time, create a mini "voice memo" prompt you can reuse. Think of it like your go-to client-facing brand intro, the tone you bring to every caption, blog, or email.
๐ TRY THIS
Hereโs an example you can tweak to your own personal taste, personality, and brand voice:
โMy brand voice is warm, supportive, and cinematic. I speak directly to women who want to reconnect with themselves through empowering portrait sessions. I use a tone thatโs reflective and inviting, like a best friend gently hyping you up. I donโt use stiff or corporate language. Please write this like Iโm speaking directly to a potential client whoโs curious about booking a session but might need a little emotional nudge.โWhy ChatGPT Sometimes Misses
Ever typed a prompt into ChatGPT and gotten something that made you go, โOkay, cute idea... but not quite itโ? Maybe it was too vague, too wordy, or just didnโt sound like something youโd say. Thatโs totally normal. The first draft is just that โ a starting point.
ChatGPT isnโt a perfection machine. Itโs a collaboration tool. Think of the first draft like a rough sketch. It gives you something to react to, edit, or build on. The trick is knowing what to ask next.
How to Fix It Fastโฆ
If the response feels off, donโt delete it and start over. Instead, coach it. Literally type: โMake this shorter.โ โAdd more emotion.โ โUse language thatโs more playful and empowering.โ Or even, โThis sounds too formal โ can you rewrite it like Iโm talking to a friend who needs a little encouragement?โ
โจ TAKEAWAY
Youโre allowed to guide the conversation. Think of ChatGPT as your creative intern โ smart, capable, and fast โ but it needs direction. Youโre still the creative director here. Youโre just getting a helpful head start.
๐ TRY THIS
Give ChatGPT a task, then follow up with: โNow revise this to sound more inviting and personal, like Iโm talking directly to a client whoโs been nervous to book their first session.โ My question to you is: have you ever gotten a weird or robotic response from ChatGPT? Drop it below and Iโll show you how Iโd tweak it.
If youโve ever thought, โUgh, I wish it just remembered how I like things,โ youโre going to love this trick.
Ready to save even more time with AI? Letโs talk about how to make it work for you. Consistently. Not just one-off.
Think of ChatGPT like your new creative assistant. You wouldn't expect a fresh hire to read your mind. Youโd walk them through your style, your goals, your vibe. Maybe even show them past work. Thatโs exactly what you can do with ChatGPT too.
Save your favorite prompts and your brand voice description in a notes app or doc. Start every new thread by pasting that in. You can even say, โRefer to the voice guide I just shared for all answers moving forward.โ Boom. Instant consistency.
โจ TAKEAWAY
You donโt have to keep reinventing the wheel. Create a mini prompt toolkit and reuse it. This keeps your content on-brand and saves you brainpower. Especially when youโre juggling 500 other things.
๐ TRY THIS
Create a doc called โMy AI Prompt Kit.โ In it, add: โข Your voice and tone description โข Your ideal client description โข A few example prompts that worked really well โข Any phrasing you always want to include (like your signature sign-offs or CTAs)
๐ฌ YOUR TURN
Do you already have a system for saving prompts or brand voice notes? Drop your favorite time-saving tip in the comments. If you donโt have one yet, no shame. This is your sign to start fresh today!
Writing Captions When Youโre Tired, Overwhelmed, or Just Not Feeling It
Finally, letโs be honest. Some days, writing a caption feels like climbing a mountain in flip-flops. Your brain is foggy, your energy is low, and Instagram is the last thing you want to deal with. Thatโs exactly when AI can help the most.
You donโt have to wait until youโre "in the zone" to create something beautiful or valuable. ChatGPT can take a tiny spark of an idea and turn it into a warm, clear caption that still sounds like you. The goal here is not perfection. The goal is to keep showing up with care and ease.
โจ TAKEAWAY
Youโre still the voice behind the message. But you donโt have to do the heavy lifting alone. Let ChatGPT be the brainstorming buddy who helps you say what you mean, even when youโre not sure where to start.
๐ TRY THIS
When youโre tired or stuck, open ChatGPT and type: โIโm a [your genre] photographer and Iโm feeling low energy today, but I still want to connect with my audience. Can you help me write a short, supportive Instagram caption that reminds people why they deserve to be seen and celebrated in photos?โ
๐ฌ YOUR TURN
Save this prompt for a rainy day and try it when your creativity needs a little love. Let me know if it helped or if you want me to help shape a custom version just for you.
๐ท Starting to see all the ways AI can assist and streamline your workflow?
Starting to see how AI isnโt hijacking your creativity but supporting it?
Donโt stop at chat-based tools!!! As a chronic over-shooter (hi, me ๐), I love to follow the story, the movement, the vibeโฆ and I never want to cut myself off mid-creative flow just to stay within a set image count. But the culling hangover after a big wedding or styled shoot? It used to be brutal.
๐ฆ Enter: Aftershoot.
This AI-assisted culling + editing software has literally given me my time back. It learns my patterns. It sorts the gems. It takes my overwhelm and turns it into order. Itโs not here to replace your eye. Itโs here to lift it up.
If youโre already dreaming about a more streamlined, less soul-sucking post-processโฆ Just try the 30-day free trial. Like, seriously. No pressure. But youโll probably be hooked by week two. Iโm on the Pro plan now and obsessed is an understatement.
๐ Get your time back by clicking ๐
Have fun prompting! ๐ซถ
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Nikki Connor is a ๐ Houston, Texas based photographer and digital planning enthusiast behind ๐ท ClickNikki Photo & Boudoir and โ๏ธ Nikki Plans. She specializes in bright and moody, story-driven imagery celebrating confidence and connection, and also creates cozy iPad planning PNGs and resources. Nikki supports her fellow photographer community through her ๐ป For Togs educational content and templates. Her brand is strongly rooted in empowerment, authenticity, and honest communication: wherever or however you work with her.
Instagram:
@nikki.plans
@clicknikkiphoto
